Match Preview 2024 2025
Caledonian Braves
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Newtown Park
Saturday 02 November 2024

A busy October saw Bo’ness play seven games with five wins and two draws and they move into November hoping for similar success. That may prove a difficult challenge with just as many games, starting with current Lowland League table toppers Caledonian Braves visiting Newtown Park on Saturday. The Braves are undefeated in the league including a win at Title favourites East Kilbride, although Kilby are only a point behind Caledonian Braves with a game in hand. The Braves were defeated on Saturday, going down at Musselburgh Athletic in the Scottish Cup, the side Bo’ness go up against in the next round as well as a home tie in the South Challenge Cup. Two difficult games in prospect but that’s for another day.

Bo’ness are fully focussed on Saturday’s game and would love to be the first to inflict a defeat on the league leaders. Bo’ness managed the double last season, winning at Alliance Park and Newtown both by the odd goal in three. In the Strathclyde Park Lucas Stenhouse gave Bo’ness a half time lead with Kyle Johnston extending the advantage in the second half. Cameron Breadner pulled one back for the home side in time added on from a great free kick shot but it proved a mere consolation (Report). In the return fixture Dan Irving struck early for Bo’ness and Lewis McArthur made it two after half time. A Ross McNeil strike gave the visitors hope for a comeback but they were unable to add to their tally (Report).

All the games against Caledonian Braves have been closely fought affairs and given their good form, this one is likely to be the toughest yet. Bo’ness are also enjoying a decent run including coming through a tricky Scottish Cup tie at East of Scotland Premier League side Hill of Beath. There was no scoring at full time but goals in each half of extra time from Lucas Stenhouse sent the BUs through to the next round (Report).

As usual the players will put in a hundred percent effort over the ninety minutes while doing their best to play a bit as well. A good combination to achieve a positive result with the added boost of a noisy backing from the BU faithful.

Prior to the match players from the 1984 Scottish Junior Cup winning squad will join the Bo’ness United fans in a minute’s applause to celebrate the life of BU legend Lex Shields who recently passed away.

John Spowart
Friday 01 November 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 09 September 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Caledonian Braves 1
(Breadner 90+3)

Bo'ness United 2
(Stenhouse 27, Johnston 77)

After three games without a win and no goals scored Bo’ness United enjoyed a well-deserved victory at Caledonian Braves. A goal in each half earned the points although the Braves pulled one back into time added on.

The home side made the early running and might have got themselves ahead, Ross McNeil looking dangerous up front. Jamie Watson saw his shot deflected for a Braves’ corner but the BUs settled and started to push forward. Play moved from end to end without either goal coming under serious threat until just short of half an hour when the BUs took the lead. A defensive clearance went straight up into the air dropping nicely for Lucas Stenhouse whose shot deceived Braves goalkeeper Bernie White and although his defender cleared it away the ball had crossed the line and the goal was awarded. Bo’ness were boosted by the breakthrough and started to play with more confidence. A Stenhouse low cross just needed a touch in front of goal, the BUs having to be happy with their single goal lead at the break.

Bo’ness resumed the mission in the second half and dominated the play. Caley Braves did get forward and a shot from distance just drifted wide of the post. Bo’ness came close with a Kieran Mooney cross, Scott Dalziel’s header hitting the post with Ryan Porteous’s follow up shot blocked by the Braves’ keeper. At the other end a McNeil header at the near post was saved by BU keeper Musa Dibaga.

With just under fifteen minutes left Bo’ness did get the second goal. Kyle Johnston took a pass inside from Shaun Rutherford before lashing a twenty-yard shot into the top corner of the net. Just before the end Caledonian Braves pulled a goal back, a brilliant Cameron Breadner free kick shot from distance curling past Musa Dibaga. Merely a consolation and three points see Bo’ness maintain their top five place in what is a tough Lowland League.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Rutherford, Macaulay, McArthur, Henderson, Stenhouse (Kennedy 82), Johnston, Dalziel (Grant 82), Porteous, Mooney.
Subs (Not Used). Ward Gemmell SG Fullerton

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 17 February 2024

Competition –Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 2
(Irving 2, McArthur 62)

Caledonian Braves 1
(McNeill 66)

It was mission successful for Bo’ness United as they won the points against Caledonian Braves in a closely fought game. The BUs got off to the best of starts, scoring in the second minute when Dan Irving followed up his low cross from the left to fire a shot from just inside the box beating Braves keeper Bernie White at his right-hand post.

A few minutes later White had to look lively to tip a Tom Grant corner over his bar and Lewis McArthur got onto the end of a Ryan Stevenson cross, his shot just drifting wide of the far post. The Braves had steadied the ship but came close to losing a second, Louis Kennedy’s lobbed shot from outside the box coming back off the crossbar.

The Braves had showed little up front in the first half but after the break brought out a save from BU keeper Musa Dibaga from a free kick shot. However, it was the BUs who scored the next goal. Bernie White made a great save from a Louis Kennedy low shot and from the resulting corner Scott Dalziel crashed his header off the bar, Lewis McArthur quickest to react knocking the ball home from close in. Caley Braves did pull a goal back after a slick move allowed Ross McNeill to fire past Musa Dibaga from twelve yards.

It was now a rejuvenated Braves who enjoyed their best spell of the game but were unable to capitalise and only a goal line clearance stopped Tom Grant scoring a third for Bo’ness. Caledonian Braves never gave up with some late pressure on the Bo’ness goal but they were kept at bay and over the piece the BUs deserved their victory.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson (Hawkins 62), Irving, Travis, McArthur, Porteous (Henderson 85) Mitchell, Johnston, Dalziel (Malcolm 64), Grant (Hamilton 87), Kennedy. Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Macaulay. SG Ruddy:

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 26 October 2024

Competition – Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Round 2

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0

Bo’ness United 2
(Stenhouse 92 110)

On a difficult day for football in a game that was only settled after extra time Bo’ness United emerged as winners and look forward to round three of the National Competition.
Shooting into the strong wind, Bo’ness withstood early Hill of Beath pressure though created the first real chance, a Keir Macaulay angled shot that just beat the far post. Jordan Tosh also went close for the Haws but it was the conditions that were dominating proceedings. Lucas Stenhouse had a couple of efforts, one that brought out a great save from Hill of Beath keeper Blair Penman and a Stuart Love header went just wide of the Bo’ness post.

The second half proved as scrappy as the first although both sides had chances to go ahead. A Ryan Stevenson free kick shot was well saved by Blair Penman and at the other end a Hill of Beath break finished with Cade Melrose getting down to hold a Calum Runciman shot. Just before the whistle Hill of Beath had a chance to win it but Jordon Tosh watched as his effort went narrowly wide of the goal.

Ninety minutes without a goal but only two into extra time Bo’ness went ahead. Tom Grant saw his shot blocked before the ball broke to Lucas Stenhouse who drilled a low shot into the net. Hill of Beath tried to respond but five minutes into the second period Bo’ness scored a vital second goal Keir Macaulay’s diagonal ball found Lucas Stenhouse who cut inside before his fabulous shot from outside the box flew into the top corner of net past the helpless Penman.

Hill of Beath continued to work to get back but Bo’ness managed the final minutes and celebrated a great win against very difficult opponents in very difficult conditions.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Stevenson, Macaulay (Masson 111), Duffy, Travis, Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor (Hawkins 109), Porteous (Henderson 111), Kennedy (Grant 70). Subs (Not Used): Gemmel, Mitchell,