Match Preview 2024 2025
Heart of Midlothian B
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Ainslie Park
Friday 06 September 2024

Following two tough games in four days, Gretna 2008 at home and away to Broxburn Athletic, Bo’ness United travel to Ainslie Park in Edinburgh to face Heart of Midlothian B. Another difficult contest but Bo’ness are keen to achieve a first victory away to the young Jambos.

The last visit to the Capital was near the end of last season where the BUs dominated the first half although had only one goal to show for their efforts, scored by Ryan Stevenson. After the turnaround it was a different story, Hearts scoring four goals before Jamie Hamilton got a late consolation for Bo’ness (Report). Hearts finished second in the final table, one place above United and this time round they hope to go one better. Hearts had a great start to this campaign, winning their first three matches at home to the Shire and at Gala Fairydean Rovers and Linlithgow Rose. Since then, they won handsomely against Berwick Rangers but lost heavily at Gretna. They also went down narrowly versus Tranent and in their last two drew at both University of Stirling and Cumbernauld Colts. Hearts are only three points and two places ahead of Bo’ness in the table.

After three league wins in a row Bo’ness were disappointed to come away from Albyn Park with only one point. They were the better team overall, recovering from an early Errol Douglas strike for Smart Osadolor to equalise soon after with Shaun Rutherford putting the BUs ahead seven minutes from time. Unfortunately for the BUs they conceded an Alassan Jones goal in time added on, the third game this season where late goals have cost them. (Report) In their first two fixtures they lost to University of Stirling in the dying moments and conceded a late penalty at Tranent. In these games the BUs were chasing a winner but at Broxburn they were unable to hold on for the victory.

There’s no doubt that Bo’ness have improved since their first few games and they play some great football while managing the physical side of the game. In saying that,
the manager wants to see the ratio of goals to chances created improve and obviously look to tighten things at the back. The last few games have been entertaining and the BU Faithful heading to Ainslie Park on Friday look forward to a good match and would love to kick off the weekend with another three points on the scoreboard.

John Spowart
Thursday 06 September 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 12 April 2024

Competition –Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Heart of Midlothian B 4
(Wilson 48 68, Stevenson 50, Ross 59)

Bo'ness United 2
(Stevenson 41, Hamilton 83)

Bo’ness United lost out at Heart of Midlothian B in a classic game of two halves won by the team able to put their chances away.

In the first half Bo’ness dominated the play and were well able to deal with anything the young Hearts threw at them. The BUs created a number of good opportunities to go ahead but it was only with four minutes left to the break they scored thanks to a superb Ryan Stevenson free kick shot that found the top corner of the Hearts net.

Just three minutes into the second half Bo’ness were left to regret the earlier missed chances as Hearts scored twice through James Wilson and Gus Stevenson. Just on the hour mark Hearts scored a third, courtesy of Mackenzie Ross and eleven minutes later it was four, this time Wilson bagging his brace.

Bo’ness had rallied, finally getting to grips with the elements and the slick opposition and both Scott Dalziel and Fin Malcolm saw efforts saved by Hearts keeper Liam McFarlane. With seven minutes remaining Bo’ness did get a goal back when JJ Henderson found Jamie Hamilton with a through pass and his low drive zipped into the opposite corner of the net. The BUs pushed forward and looked to have a couple of decent shouts for a penalty turned down and it’s time to regroup for the game at Broomhill on Tuesday.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Irving, Travis (McArthur 61), Hawkins (Macaulay 74), Henderson, Malcolm, Johnston, Dalziel, Grant (Hamilton 74), Porteous (Kennedy 70).
Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Rutherford, SG Ruddy:

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 03 September 2024

Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Broxburn Athletic 2
(Douglas 16, Jones 90+2)

Bo'ness United 2
(Osadolor 21, Rutherford 83)

Bo’ness United once again conceded late in the game at Broxburn Athletic that cost them precious points. They came back from a goal behind but were unable to hold on to their lead losing a goal just before the final whistle.

The home side started well and could have been up in the first minute as Alassan Jones crossed only for Calum Heath to shoot wide at the far post. Broxburn did get ahead after fifteen minutes, Bo’ness losing possession in the middle allowing Errol Douglas to run through to slide past exposed Bo’ness keeper Cade Melrose. Ironically the goal came when Bo’ness were getting back into the game but they resumed their positive play and only five minutes later were back in the game when Keir Macaulay’s perfect cross was headed home by Smart Osadolor. Bo’ness continued to push forward but spurned a number of good chances meaning it remained all square at the break.

As with the first half, Broxburn started well but Bo’ness were soon back at it as they took the game to their hosts. It was fast paced and competitive, both sides looking to get that second goal. With seven minutes remaining Broxburn were penalised for a handled pass back and only ten yards from goal Smart Osadolor laid the ball back for Shaun Rutherford to find a way through the eleven man wall across the goal line. Unfortunately, the BUs were unable to hold on for the win as two minutes into time added on, a cross from the right found Alassan Jones who knocked the ball in at the back post.

This will be considered two points dropped by the BUs who now go on to Ainslie Park on Friday night to meet Heart of Midlothian B.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Hawkins (Stevenson 69), Macaulay, Duffy, Rutherford, Gemmell, Stenhouse, Johnston (Irving 66), Osadolor (Mitchell 88), Porteous, Trialist. Subs (Not Used) Malcolm, Kennedy Grant. SG: Campbell

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 07 October 2023

Competition – Park’s Motorgroup Lowland League

Bo'ness United 3
(Travis 56 86, Porteous 65))

Hearts B 3
(Kirk 3p 7 72p)

After a disastrous start to this match losing two early goals, Bo’ness United showed true grit to fight back to gain a draw against Hearts B. Only three minutes in Michael Gemmell tripped Makenzie Kirk in the box Kirk getting up to smash the resulting penalty past Musa Dibaga. Shortly after the same player hit a speculative shot from twenty-five yards, this time the unfortunate BU keeper allowing the ball to slip through his hands and over the line. At this point Bo’ness looked all over the place but settled into the game although had to be mindful as the young Hearts continued to look dangerous going forward.

After the turnaround a more determined Bo’ness emerged and it was the Hearts goal that came under pressure. Nine minutes in the BUs made the breakthrough as a JJ Henderson free kick to the back post was headed back across goal findin Michael Travis in the right place to nod in on his Bo’ness debut. Hearts were still getting up the park and BU keeper Dibaga made a great save from Callum Sandilands to stop the visitors regaining their two-goal cushion. The save proved invaluable as soon after Bo’ness got an equaliser, a Lucas Stenhouse cross finding Ryan Porteous who slotted in at the far post.

There followed a dramatic period when young Jambo Ethan Drysdale received a second yellow card after fouling Stenhouse and a minute later the referee decided to even things up adjudging Michael Gemmell to have gone down too easily in a tussle warranting his second yellow. Hearts B then regained their lead from the spot, a disputed handball decision giving Kirk his hat trick for the day. A blow for Bo’ness but they kept going and shortly before the end equalised, Travis heading in his second from a Tom Grant free kick cross. Right on the whistle from a corner only a great stop on the line prevented Hearts achieving a last gasp winner.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Irving, Macaulay (Grant 75), Hawkins, Gemmell, Stenhouse, Johnston, Dalziel, Porteous (Mooney 80), Henderson. Subs (Not Used). Kennedy, Malcolm, McArthur SG Fullerton