Bo’ness United make the first of the football journeys that will see them cover around six hundred miles over the next three games. A Scottish Cup tie at Deveronvale and a League match at Berwick Rangers await but on Saturday it’s a trip to Galashiels to take on Gala Fairydean Rovers. The BUs visited Netherdale in the latter part of last season and completed the double having beaten Gala at Newtown in the first game of the campaign.

The game at Bo’ness saw an early Ryan Porteous debut double with Scott Dalziel opening his account just before the break. There was no scoring in the second half and the BUs were glad to get off to a winning start. (Report). At Netherdale Bo’ness were four up before the turnaround, another Ryan Porteous double followed by strikes from Fin Malcolm and Kieran Mitchell. Jamie Hamilton sealed the win early in the second half with Lwendo Kazoka scoring a consolation for the home side. (Report).

Gala Fairydean Rovers have yet to chalk up a Lowland League victory having four points gained from four draws. Interestingly these results were against Celtic B and East Kilbride as well as Cumbernauld Colts and Albion Rovers. Their defeats have been conclusive, Gala conceding twenty five goals in five games and even in the draws they shipped a further thirteen. Gala have scored fifteen, only one less than the BUs so it would seem clear where the manager needs to direct his attention. They did get a win on Saturday with a home victory against Camelon Juniors in the South Challenge Cup.

Bo’ness United were also on South Cup duty on Saturday with a victory at Livingston United. It took the BUs some time to breach the East of Scotland Division three side’s defence, Daniel Irving heading Bo’ness into the lead just on half time. With twenty minutes remaining Bo’ness scored two in five, Lewis Hawkins and Fin Malcolm finding the target. (Report).

A first victory at Hearts B confirmed an upturn in Bo’ness United’s Lowland League form, having accumulated thirteen points from a possible fifteen in their last five games. Now only a single point worse off than they were at this juncture last season the win at Hearts B was particularly satisfying. A goal in each half from Tom Grant and Kyle Johnston did the damage but the result was achieved, the whole team playing their part on the night. (Report)

As is the case in the Lowland League there are no easy games with anything short of one hundred percent likely to result in points being dropped. Bo’ness have fared well at Netherdale and obviously hope to maintain their good form there. The players will be up for it and hopefully a fair number of the BU Faithful can negotiate the Bypass and the A7 to enjoy a good day in the Borders.

John Spowart
Friday 20 September 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH REPORT SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 22 July 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 3
(Porteous 2 11, Dalziel 40)

Gala Fairydean Rovers 0

Bo’ness United made a bright start to the season with a comprehensive home victory against Gala Fairydean Rovers. The BUs got off the mark after two minutes as Louis Kennedy put over a cross from the right and although Ryan Porteous headed onto the bar, he followed up to smash the ball into the net. It was only nine minutes later when Bo’ness were two up, a long clearance from keeper Musa Dibaga headed on by Scott Dalziel and Porteous ran onto the ball, lifting his shot past Jay Cantley in the Gala goal.

The home side continued to push forward with a number of chances created and eight minutes before the break Cantley stuck a foot out to divert Scott Dalziel’s shot past his post but soon after the Gala keeper could do little as a good move saw the BU forward react to head home from close in.

In the second half Gala were more into it but the BU defence dealt with anything that came their way and still looked the most likely to score. Cantley made a couple of great saves to keep his side in with a chance and the closest the visitors came was a Danny Galbraith corner to the near post caused a minor flutter before being cleared away.

This was the result Bo’ness were looking for but the next games at Berwick Rangers on Tuesday and Tranent the following Saturday will provide a much stiffer test, giving a better indication of the strength of the squad.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Rutherford (Ward 80), Hawkins, McArthur, Henderson, Kennedy (Irving 80), Johnston (Gemmell 63), Dalziel (Malcolm 63), Porteous, Grant (Mooney 71).
Subs (Not Used): SG Fullerton

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 02 March 2024

Competition –Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Gala Fairydean Rovers 1
(Kazoka 65)

Bo'ness United 5
(Porteous 1 42, Malcolm 19, Mitchell 31, Hamilton 48)

Bo’ness United won a comprehensive victory at Gala Fairydean Rovers, getting off to the best of starts with a goal in forty-two seconds, Fin Malcolm ran onto Kieran Mitchell’s chipped pass forward before crossing to the far post where Ryan Porteous and Gala’s Logan Boyle competed with the BU player getting the final touch to score.

The goal knocked the wind out of the home side but they recovered their composure only to concede again just short of twenty minutes. Porteous won the ball and Mitchell took the pass, his low cross knocked in at the near post by Fin Malcolm.

Gala were getting forward but with no success in the final third and in thirty minutes they lost yet another as Michell latched onto a great through ball from Lewis Hawkins to slide under the advancing keeper Jay Cantley. Three minutes before the break Bo’ness made it four after a slow build up finished with a Tom Grant defence splitting pass finding Ryan Porteous who coolly slotted past Cantley. Just on the whistle Ben Lamount intercepted a short passback but BU keeper Musa Dibaga was quick off his line to block the header at source.

Bo’ness rang the changes at half time and three minutes in it was one of the three substitutes, Jamie Hamilton who got onto the end of a Kieran Michell cross to slide in at the far post. Despite being so far behind Gala never gave up and the BU defence had some work to do with keeper Musa Dibaga having to make a few saves. With under thirty minutes remaining, Dibaga made a great block from a Jorfan Hunter point blank shot but the ball fell nicely for Lwendo Kazoka who smashed home for a consolation. Bo’ness might have added to their tally but the nearest it came to another goal was just before the end when a Liam Watt free kick shot smacked off the Bo’ness post.

This was a fine display from Bo’ness, a result that keeps them near the top of the Lowland League although they know there are still very difficult games to come.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Irving (Rutherford 46), Travis (McArthur 46), Hawkins (Macaulay 60), Henderson, Mitchell, Johnston, Malcolm, Grant (Hamilton 46) Porteous (Kennedy 60). Subs (Not Used): Gemmell SG Ruddy:

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 14 September 2024

Competition – CaMat Kings South Challenge Cup Round 2

Livingston United 0

Bo’ness United 3
(Irving 46, Hawkins 66, Malcolm 75)

Bo’ness United negotiated this potentially tricky game at Livingston United to progress in the South Challenge Cup. The BUs never looked in any danger of losing and persevered to get the goals that made the tie secure in their favour.

Livingston defended in depth to thwart the BU efforts and actually had the first shot on target, a Zac Avinou effort saved by keeper Liam Campbell, However Avinou ploughed a lone furrow up front as Bo’ness pushed forward looking for an opening. Livi keeper Dominic Duffy made two particularly good saves to block from Kieran Mitchell but just on half time Bo’ness made the breakthrough, Dan Irving heading home from a Tom Grant cross.

Bo’ness made four changes for the start of the second half while Livingston changed their formation as they now needed to score to stay in the tie. As it worked out, twenty minutes in Bo’ness scored a second as Lewis Duffy headed a corner back across goal for Lewis Hawkins to volley in. With fifteen minutes remaining the Livingston keeper could only parry a Kieran Philibin shot the ball falling for Fin Malcolm to angle low into the net. Livingston brought out a couple of saves from substitute BU keeper Cade Melrose but it was Bo’ness who now wait to see who they’ll meet in the next round.

Bo'ness: Campbell (Melrose 46), Stevenson, Rutherford, Masson, Duffy, Irving (Hawkins 46), Mitchell, Henderson, Nicol (Malcolm 46) Grant (Philibin 65), Kennedy (Osadolor 45). Subs (Not Used): Johnston, Macaulay,

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Friday 06 September 2024

Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Heart of Midlothian B 0

Bo'ness United 2
(Grant 20, Johnston 62)

Bo’ness United enjoyed a successful Friday night at Ainslie Park where they achieved a well deserved win against Heart of Midlothian B. A goal in each half inflicted the damage in a contest that was played at a fast pace throughout.

In the first half play raged from end to end though without too many clear cut chances created. Just before the twenty minute mark Ryan Porteous connected with a Tom Grant free kick cross but his header hit the bar. Just after that Bo’ness thought they had earned a penalty when Smart Osadolor was fouled but the officials adjudged the offence to be just outside the box. It didn’t matter anyway as Osadolor’s shot from the edge of the box was too hot for Hearts keeper MacDonald to handle and Tom Grant followed up to put the loose ball away. Hearts were getting forward but their final ball and shooting was letting them down, their technical area having to ensure they had a good supply of balls to let the game continue.

The second half continued in the same manner, Hearts keen to get themselves back in the game. As it was, with just under thirty minutes remaining Bo’ness scored as a second when Ryan Porteous flicked on a Tom Grant corner and Kyle Johnston was in the right place to knock the ball home. Hearts worked hard to stage a revival but they were up against a set of players desperate to take all the points. Bo’ness matched the energy levels of the young Jambos until the final whistle and left the field to the applause of an appreciative BU Faithful.

Bo’ness have now won four of their last five league games and thirteen from a possible fifteen points see them only one short of where they were at this time last season. The BUs want to continue this improved form and everyone will be working hard to make this possible.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Stevenson, Macaulay, Trialist, Irving, Grant, Stenhouse (Mitchell 88), Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Henderson 80). Kennedy (Malcolm 88) Subs (Not Used): Gemmell Hawkins Duffy, SG: Melrose

Match details

Match date

Sat 21 Sep 2024

Kickoff

15:00

Team overview

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