Match Preview 2024 2025
Gretna 2008
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Newtown Park
Saturday 31 August 2024

After the late postponement at Broomhill last Sunday, Bo’ness United are back at Newtown Park to face Gretna 2008. The Dumbarton Stadium had been declared playable in the late morning but unfortunately the continuing rainfall caused the match referee to call the game off just over an hour before kick-off. The Bo’ness United party were all at the stadium and they will require to return in an as yet unknown date later in the season.

Gretna 2008 come to Bo’ness having turned a few heads with the start to their campaign. Three wins from seven starts may not be considerate a great return but given the border side achieved only three victories over the whole Lowland League programme last season they will be pleased with their progress. They are keen to make sure it’s not an early flash in the pan. Gretna lost their initial match at home to Albion Rovers but wins at University of Stirling and Cumbernauld Colts sandwiched a draw at home to Caledonian Braves. Since then, they lost against both Linlithgow Rose and Celtic B but bounced back with an impressive victory against Hearts B. On Saturday they did lose to Lowland League newcomers Broxburn Athletic at Raydale. A mixed bag of results means Bo’ness may not know what to expect on Saturday but recognise they must be at their best to get a win to overtake Gretna in the table.

Bo’ness achieved a clean sweep against Gretna last season including a League Cup tie at Newtown Park. That game was probably the most straightforward but both league games proved difficult, the BUs having to work hard for the points on both occasions. The game at Newtown was won with a goal in each half, Louis Kennedy and Fin Malcolm the scorers. (Report). Just before Christmas, Bo’ness made the long journey to Gretna to win by the odd goal in three. Ryan Porteous gave the BUs a half time lead with Russell McLean doubling the BU lead from the spot. Bryan Gilfillan hit back for Gretna with a spectacular free kick effort but it turned out no more than a consolation. (Report) The League Cup tie at Newtown on a cold Tuesday night in February had Gretna having to make the two hundred round trip, though it proved fruitless with a convincing home victory. A brace either side of half time by Tom Grant and Kieran Mitchell had the tie won although Gretna did score a late goal courtesy of Iain Anderson. (Report).

The Gretna game is the first of three matches to be played in less than a week and United are keen to get points on the board to move them up the table. They are well aware a trio of tough fixtures await, although the full focus for the moment is the game on Saturday with the matches at Broxburn Athletic and Hearts B on the back burner for now. Starting this weekend the players require to roll up their sleeves with everyone prepared to fulfil their role to achieve the win. Bo’ness have a talented group of players with a motivated management team who are working hard to get the best from their squad. Either side of the cup disappointment at Jeanfield Swifts, the wins from their last two league games against Albion Rovers and Civil Service Strollers show things may be coming together on the field and the BU Faithful can turn up to do their bit, hopefully witnessing a Bo’ness win to set them up for the week ahead.

John Spowart
Friday 30 August 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 05 August 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 2
(Kennedy 19, Malcolm 57)

Gretna 2008 0

Bo’ness United continued their winning run although Gretna 2008 provided tough opposition as they were determined to avoid the heavy defeat experienced in their previous three games to date. As predicted Bo’ness enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and were unfortunate not to win by a greater margin. In saying that, the visitors did create a few chances but were unable to get on the scoresheet.

The early part of the game was all Bo’ness, a goal line clearance from a Tom Grant corner only delaying the breakthrough. That was just short of twenty minutes when Carter Jenkins passed back to the Trialist keeper who dallied allowing the sharp Louis Kennedy to pounce, dispossessing the Gretna number one before sliding the ball into the empty net.

Despite continuing to press Bo’ness were unable to add to their lead and just before half time Gretna could and should have got themselves back on equal terms. The first was a Robbie Ivison cross that the Trialist forward headed over and the same player missed a great chance this time from a Joseph Dixon cross, again the header missing the target.

After the break Gretna took the game to Bo’ness but ironically it was during this period the BUs scored a second as Ryan Porteous sent Tom Grant up the left wing and his ball into the middle was met perfectly by Fin Malcolm to shoot home from close in. Gretna were unable to respond and their cause was not helped by Ivison receiving a straight red card for something said. Just before the end Bo’ness were unlucky not to add to their tally when substitute Kieran Mooney not once, but twice hit the woodwork to give a fairer reflection of the game.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Ward, Hawkins, McArthur, Gemmell (Henderson 62), Kennedy (Stenhouse 62), Johnston (Macaulay 81), Malcolm (Dalziel 62), Porteous, Grant (Mooney 77).
Subs (Not Used): Irving, SG Fullerton

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 16 December 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Gretna 2008 1
(Gilfillan 77)

Bo'ness United 2
(Porteous 9, Trialist 65 (pen)

Bo’ness United returned from Gretna with all the points in a game where the final score did not reflect the gulf between the sides on the day. Bo’ness scored early in the first half, the second coming with twenty-five minutes remaining. The Gretna strike came soon after but they were unable to build on this, Bo’ness finishing the stronger side.

It was in nine minutes when Bo’ness went ahead as the Gretna keeper cleared a Keir Foster corner, the ball going only as far as Ryan Porteous who fired in from the edge of the box. After that Bo’ness pressed forward with a series of corners and opportunities. Scott Dalziel headed over from a Keir Macaulay cross, the same player seeing an angled shot cleared off the line. Mike Travis saw his header saved by McCreadie and Foster had a couple of attempts, one going just wide, the other saved by the Gretna keeper.

At the start of the second half Gretna rallied briefly, Travis intercepting a Robbie Ivison low cross but Bo’ness were soon pressing again. Kyle Jonston had a shot saved by McCreadie, his follow up effort just clearing the far post. With thirty minutes remaining the Bo’ness trialist was introduced to the game and within two minutes was booked by the referee, three minutes later converting a penalty. The award angered the Gretna players, perceived injustice spurring them into action. Travis headed a Gretna cross off the goal line and soon after diverted a shot for a corner. With just under fifteen minutes remaining Gretna did get a goal and it was something special as Bryan Gilfillan hit a free kick shot from around thirty yards, the ball rocketing into the top corner of the Bo’ness net. The revival was short lived and towards the end of the game Bo’ness might have added to their lead with Ryan Stevenson hitting the wood work and the Trialist running through but his shot was saved by McCreadie.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay, Travis, McArthur, Irving, Stenhouse (Mooney 71), Johnston, Dalziel (Trialist 60), Foster (Grant 71) Porteous (Kennedy 60). Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Hawkins, Malcolm.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Tuesday 06 February 2024

Competition –Lowland League Cup

Bo'ness United 4
(Grant 28 37, Mitchell 51 64)

Gretna 2008 1
(Anderson 84)

Bo’ness United progressed to the next round of the League Cup after what turned out to be a straightforward win against Gretna 2008. After Kieran Mitchell had struck the Gretna bar early on it was the visitors who might have made things more difficult when Robbie Ivison intercepted a Musa Dibaga throw out but Cameron Mulvanny somehow failed to connect with the low cross right at the far post.

Bo’ness responded with a series of corners with Gretna keeper Scott McLellan making some great while Michael Gemmell and Scott Dalziel went close. Gretna had another opportunity as Dean Brotherston ran though on goal but Dibaga got down, his outstretched arm scooping the ball from the forward’s foot. The BUs had created most of the chances and just short of half an hour finally converted when Tom Grant dispossessed a Gretna defender before rounding McLellan to roll the ball into the empty net. A few minutes later Kieran Mitchell was felled in the box but the same player saw his spot kick well saved by McLellan. However, Bo’ness did get another goal, again from Grant, this time connecting with a Dalziel cut back to shoot low into the Gretna net.

A few minutes into the second half Finlay Godfrey replaced the injured Lewis Hawkins, the U20s player slotting into the same position. Carrying on, the BUs scored a third goal soon after a Grant free kick cross was headed on by Dalziel to Mitchell who fired in at the far post. With under thirty minutes remaining Bo’ness sealed the win a great through ball from Grant finding Mitchell who slotted past the advancing keeper. Before the end Gretna scored a consolation as Dibaga parried an angled shot from Ivison , substitute Iain Anderson on the spot to fire in the rebound. Just before the whistle the same player might have got a second but he shot over from close in.

On a fine night for football this proved a good BU display to go onto to the next round of the League Cup. It was also pleasing to see another U20 player gain some first team experience as the club hopes to progress the pathway from the community teams all the way to the senior side.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Hawkins (Godfrey 49), Travis, Irving, Henderson, Mitchell, Gemmell (Johnston 72), Dalziel (Malcolm 55) Grant (Porteous 72), Kennedy, Subs (Not Used): Hamilton. SG Ruddy: