After the long journey to Banff at the weekend, Bo’ness United now make the midweek trip across the border to meet Berwick Rangers in the Lowland League. The BUs enjoyed their victory against Deveronvale in the Scottish Cup as did Berwick at home to Cupar Hearts and both anticipate their second round games at Hill of Beath and Forfar Athletic respectively. That’s for the future though as league business takes precedence for the next few weeks.

Bo’ness visited Shielfield Park early last season, coming away with all the points in a tough encounter where Liam Buchanan put Berwick ahead for a half time lead. After the break Fin Malcolm got Bo’ness level and Shaun Rutherford scored the winner from the spot (Report). In the pre Christmas return at Newtown Bo’ness enjoyed another win. Following a blank first half, fifteen minutes after the turnaround Ryan Stevenson put Bo’ness ahead. In the final ten minutes it was a goal fest, Russell McLean scoring a hat trick for Bo’ness before Kyle Baker pulled one back for the visitors. In time added on Lucas Stenhouse completed the scoring for the BUs (Report).

In a season where most teams are struggling for consistency Berwick enjoyed a three game winning start but following a draw against Broomhill, lost the next four. More recently they won at East Stirlingshire and drew at Celtic B in among cup wins against Heriot Watt University and Cupar Hearts. Bo’ness meanwhile saw a good league winning run falter at Gala Fairydean Rovers but redeemed themselves with a sound Scottish Cup win at Deveronvale. Louis Kennedy put the BUs ahead but Harry Noble replied for the home team. Smart Osadolor and Kyle Johnston put Bo’ness in the driving seat before half time. Just before the end Michael Watson pulled one back for the now ten men, only for Osadolor to complete the scoring and make the tie safe (Report).

Bo’ness United and Berwick Rangers are on the same points with Berwick having played one game more, Bo’ness have a decent record at Shielfield although that counts for nothing as the usual rules apply. Bo’ness can take nothing for granted and need to be at their best to get something from the game. A midweek game with a three hour and one hundred and fifty mile round trip is likely to limit the number of the BU faithful able to make the match. No doubt some will be there, appreciated as ever by the players who want to make every effort to ensure it’s a worthwhile journey.

John Spowart
Monday 30 September 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH REPORT SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Tuesday 25 July 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Berwick Rangers 1
(Buchanan 34)

Bo'ness United 2
(Malcolm 66, Rutherford 76 pen)

Bo’ness United enjoyed a midweek trip over the border to notch up a hard-fought win in a tough contest at Berwick Rangers.

The first half was an even affair, both sides getting forward in a free-flowing game. The BUs came close on a number of occasions, their best opportunity a Tom Grant shot that went narrowly past the upright. Berwick also came close, a Lewis Baker shot from distance just on the half hour cracking off the Bo’ness bar but only a few minutes later the home side did get ahead. James Stevenson crossed from wide on the right, the ball finding Liam Buchanan at the far post, the Rangers’ forward slotting past BU keeper Musa Dibaga from close in. Bo’ness were unable to respond although just on the whistle Michael Gemmel touched a free kick to Shaun Rutherford but Berwick keeper, Calum Antell had the shot from outside the box well covered.

The initial stages of the second half saw Berwick push forward looking for a second goal and Bo’ness took a few minutes to get to readjust but soon settled and were soon getting up the park looking to hit back at their hosts. With just short of twenty-five minutes remaining the goal did come, Finn Malcolm meeting Lucas Stenhouse’s low cross to dink in at the near post. Ten minutes later Bo’ness scored what proved to be the winner as Callum Mackay fouled Ryan Porteous in the box and Shaun Rutherford dispatched the resulting penalty.

Berwick threw everything into the quest for an equaliser but Bo’ness were equally determined to hold out, the players getting in the way of the ball as they blocked and tackled like their lives depended on it. The final whistle eventually blew much to the delight of the travelling support and it’s now onto Tranent for the biggest challenge in this early part of the season.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Rutherford (Ward 77), Hawkins, McArthur, Gemmell, Kennedy (Malcolm 59), Johnston (Henderson 45), Stenhouse, Porteous, Grant (Mooney 75).
Subs (Not Used): Irving, Macaulay SG Fullerton

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 23 December 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 5
(Stevenson 60, Trialist 80 83 88, Stenhouse 90+2)

Berwick Rangers 1
(Baker 90)

Bo’ness completed the league double over Berwick Rangers with a great victory on Saturday after the early season win at Shielfield Park. The driving wind and rain made things difficult day for all the players but Bo’ness coped very well playing into the gale in the first half while harnessing the elements in their favour after the break.

Jackson Mylechreest got in the first shot his effort going straight at BU keeper Musa Dibaga. The BUs responded with a couple of close things from the Trialist, a shot going just wide before a free kick strike was tipped over by Calum Antel in the Berwick goal. The trialist also headed just over but just before the whistle Berwick had a great chance, Mylchreest pouncing on a misplaced passback only to be defied by Dibaga rushing off his line to save round the post.

In the second half Mylchreest’s free kick shot was saved by Dibaga as Bo’ness took some time to adjust to the strong wind at their backs. With thirty minutes remaining the BUs made the break through when a cross was cleared only as far as Ryan Stevenson who run into the Berwick box before shooting low, the ball nestling just inside the far post. Bo’ness had few efforts on goal although it was the final ten minutes that saw five goals including a home debut hat truck The Trialist headed home from a Tom Grant corner his second coming after a good passing move finished with a low shot tucked just inside the post. The third came with two minutes to go another Grant corner another header from the trialist, On ninety minutes the visitors pulled one back through Kyle Baker but the BUs finished off proceedings with a Grant through ball finding Lucas Stenhouse who colly rounded the advancing Antel before sliding into the empty net.

A great win achieved in horrible conditions or the BUs who now look forward to the festive double header against old rivals Linlithgow Rose.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay (McArthur 85), Travis, Hawkins, Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Trialist, Grant. Kennedy (Foster 61). Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Porteous Malcolm. SG: Thomson

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 28 September 2024

Competition – Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Round 1

Deveronvale 2
(Noble 20, Watson 90)

Bo’ness United 4
(Kennedy 12, Osadolor 37 90+3, Johnston 39)

Bo’ness United progressed in this Scottish Cup tie at Deveronvale but not without some jitters towards the end of the game. After the initial sizing up period, the BUs went ahead in twelve minutes, an Adam Masson long throw cleared only as far as Louis Kennedy who steadied himself before curling a great shot over Deveronvale keeper Ethan Hopkinson’s head and into the opposite top corner of the net. Lucas Stenhouse had a couple of efforts on goal but in twenty it was Deveronvale who equalised, a Harry Noble freekick shot flashing past Cade Melrose in the Bo’ness goal,

Eight minutes before half time two goals in two put Bo’ness in a commanding position. Lucas Stenhouse ran onto a great JJ Henderson through ball before slipping it inside to the alert Smart Osadolor following up to slot into the net. Then Dan Irving flicked on a Stenhouse corner to the near post and Kyle Johnston pounced to shoot home from close in.

Into the second half Deveronvale hoped to get back and Garry Wood was unlucky in front of goal, unable to get the ball out of his feet to get in a decisive shot. The player manager’s day was to go from bad to worse as only minutes later a second yellow card saw him dismissed. Bo’ness set about putting the game beyond their hosts but their efforts were unable to find the target. Typically, on ninety minutes Deveronvale gave themselves some hope with a fine shot from Michael Watson finding the net but only a minute later the BUs sealed the win, Smart Osadolor in fine isolation to receive a pass before smashing past the exposed Deveronvale keeper.

This was a well-deserved result for Bo’ness United who played some great stuff although perhaps should have had more to show for their efforts. In the end it’s the win that important and the BUs go through to the next round,

Bo'ness: Melrose, Kennedy, Macaulay, Masson, Duffy (Travis 74), Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Malcolm 65), Henderson (Gemmell 73), Subs (Not Used): Mitchell SG: Campbell

Match details

Match date

Tue 01 Oct 2024

Kickoff

19:45

Team overview

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