After Saturday’s East of Scotland Qualifying Cup defeat at Jeanfield Swifts, Bo’ness United quickly return to action with the visit of Civil Service Strollers. The Strollers fared better in their tie at Hawick Royal, winning by the odd goal in five. Bo’ness had a disappointing day in Perth as veteran Archie Campbell put the Swifts ahead in the first half. After the break Bo’ness were reduced to ten men after Lucas Stenhouse was shown a red card and before the end Jeanfield clinched the tie thanks to a super strike by substitute Kyle Green (Report).

The Edinburgh side have made a slow start to their Lowland League campaign with only one win from four starts. That was a home victory against Cowdenbeath but they lost at East Kilbride, Caledonian Braves and at home to Berwick Rangers.

Civil Service Strollers were at Newtown in the latter part of last season, Bo’ness winning by a late Kieran Mitchell goal. Callum Yeats put the visitors ahead before Ryan Porteous equalised from the spot. In the second half Michael Travis put Bo’ness ahead only for Strollers to draw level courtesy of an Innes Lawson penalty kick. (Report). The BUs lost the initial encounter at Christie Gillies Park, losing to goals scored by Harry Girdwood and Matthew Cunningham. (Report)

Bo’ness have had a faltering start to their season with the two league losses against University of Stirling and Tranent and a draw at East Stirlingshire. They lost at Rangers B in the SPFL Trust Trophy and are now out of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. The single home league win against Albion Rovers gave Bo’ness a boost with a good performance on the day and it’s a repeat of that form that’s need on Tuesday night. The first match of the season to be played under the lights and the BU Faithful can add to the atmosphere hoping for a positive response from their team.

John Spowart
Monday 19 August 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 17 August 2024

Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Jeanfield Swifts 2
(Campbell 36, Green 86)

Bo'ness United 0

As predicted Jeanfield Swifts proved difficult opponents for Bo’ness United and it was the Perth side that progressed in this hard fought cup tie. The first half was fast paced end to end, if lacking in too many clear cut chances. The Swifts defence blocked Smart Osadolor and Kyle Johnston efforts in quick succession while at the other end BU keeper Melrose cleared only as far as Rhys Davis but got back to his goal to hold the incoming shot. Ten minutes before the break Jeanfield made the breakthrough as Bo’ness failed to clear their lines and Archie Campbell’s chipped shot from the edge of the box went in off the post.

After the turnaround Bo’ness worked to get back but with thirty minutes remaining went down to ten men when the substitute was shown a straight red card after a clash with Grant Fergus, the players challenged for the ball, Fergus going down and the referee looked to be brandishing a yellow card changed his mind, deciding to show the red. The BUs probably enjoyed their best spell after this, Swifts keeper Cole Arnold gathering a Smart Osadolor header and Lewis Duffy was unlucky to see his header come back off the bar. It was a short-lived revival any hopes of a BU comeback were dashed in the final ten when Kyle Green entered the field and only a minute later curled a great shot from the edge of the box into the top corner of the Bo’ness net.

It was a disappointing day for Bo’ness who although played some good football, were unable to make an impact in the top third and want to improve in that area. There’s little time to ponder this issue as they go again on Tuesday night, hosting Civil Service Strollers in the Lowland League.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Stevenson, Macaulay, Duffy, Rutherford (Irving 70), Grant (Stenhouse 58), Kennedy (Dalrymple 88), Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous, Nicol. Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Henderson, Manlove. SG: Campbell.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 09 March 2024

Competition –Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 3
(Porteous 44 pen, Travis 54, Mitchell 90)

Civil Service Strollers 2
(Yeats 19, Lawson 68 pen)

A late Kieran Mitchell winner ensured Bo’ness United were able to bank all the points in a hard-fought encounter against Civil Service Strollers, a game where the final outcome was never certain until that late strike.

It was also a story of two first half penalty kicks. After twenty minutes Callum Yeats scored with a great free kick shot to put his side ahead then the Strollers had the chance to double their lead when awarded a penalty kick. BU keeper Musa Dibaga was adjudged to have felled a Strollers player in the box but after a fruitless appeal plus earning a yellow card for his troubles Dibaga faced up to Marc Laird and pulled off a great save low at his post. A great opportunity scorned by the visitors and just before the break Bo’ness were presented with their chance to convert from the spot after Michael Travis was pushed in the box and Ryan Porteous stepped up to fire home the equaliser.

Bo’ness had played the first half with the strong east wind at their backs but Civil Service Strollers had probably performed the better football and it was the BUs who now had to face the elements and likewise upped their game, enjoying some good possession. Ten minutes into the half Bo’ness got themselves ahead with a Tom Grant short corner to Ryan Stevenson, his cross headed in by Michael Travis. The Strollers hit back when they won a second penalty kick and this time Innes Lawson successfully beat Musa Dibaga from twelve yards.

In the twenty minutes remaining the game could have gone either way but Bo’ness triumphed, scoring that that late, late goal when Jamie Hamilton won possession from a Civil Service throw in and Tom Grant chipped forward to Kieran Mitchell who dinked the ball over Stollers keeper Jacob Pazikas.

The win sees Bo’ness move into second place in the table but with a challenging run in they know there are many battles to be fought to ensure they can finish in a top position in this season’s Lowland League

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay, Travis, Irving, Henderson, Mitchell, Johnston, Malcolm (Hamilton 77), Grant, Porteous. Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Godfrey, Dalrymple SG: Ritchie

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 02 September 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Civil Service Strollers 2
(Girdwood 28, Cunningham 89)

Bo'ness United 0

Bo’ness United’s recent slump continued with a defeat at Civil Service Strollers in a season that has taken on a similar pattern as this time last year. That started with six games undefeated followed by a series of defeats, once again the BUs looking to find a way to get back to the winning habit.

At Christie Gillies Park Bo’ness went close early on, a Scott Dalziel shot crashing off the underside of the bar before being cleared. As it turned out it was the Strollers who took the lead in half an hour as the BUs failed to clear their lines allowing Harry Girdwood to fire home on the turn from close in. Girdwood had another chance saved by BU keeper Musa Dibaga. In between Kyle Johnson saw a cross ball saved by Strollers trialist keeper at the second attempt and Johnston was in action at the other end blocking a goal bound Callum Yeats effort.

In the second half Bo’ness set about getting back into the game and dominated the play in their attempt to get that vital strike. Unfortunately, all too often the final ball let them down while unable to find the target with their goal attempts. The closest Bo’ness came was a Ryan Porteous shot tipped over by the Strollers’ keeper. As the game drew to a close the BUs continued to press but were caught out as Kris Amponsah won the ball wide on the right and Matthew Cunningham converted the incoming low cross.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay, Gemmell, McArthur, Henderson, Kennedy (Stenhouse 46), Johnston, Dalziel, Porteous, Grant (Mooney 56).
Subs (Not Used). Ward SG Fullerton

Match details

Match date

Tue 20 Aug 2024

Kickoff

19:45

Team overview

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