Match Preview 2024 2025
East Stirlingshire
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Newtown Park
Saturday 11 January 2025

After last week’s weather induced postponement at Linlithgow Rose, Bo’ness United hope the elements are kinder this weekend as they host East Stirlingshire. The Shire come to Newtown Park on the back of a win against Cowdenbeath, a result that will give them confidence facing up to the BUs who have not won a league game in almost three months. Like Bo’ness, East Stirlingshire have only six league wins and are only three points behind the BUs having played four games more.

Bo’ness visited East Stirlingshire earlier in the season, the game finishing all square in a contest thar could have gone either way. Gregor Nicol put Bo’ness ahead in the first half, Jamie Penker equalising shortly after the break (Report). Last season’s game at Newtown saw a Bo’ness win despite being two goals down after only half an hour, Luke Rankin and Jamie Penker doing the damage. Lewis Hawkins struck for the BUs before the break and in the second half a Fin Malcolm double and a late Ryan Porteous goal completed the comeback (Report)

The last outing for Bo’ness was the home defeat against Linlithgow Rose. Dylan Paterson and Dean Watson had Linlithgow two goals up when just before the break the Rose were reduced to ten men and Ryan Porteous pulled one back for the BUs. In the second half, despite being a man up Bo’ness were unable to break down the Rose defence and Calum Rae fired in a late third to secure the points for the visitors (Report).

It's seven games since Bo’ness last won a league match and are now twelve points behind the same number played last season. BU Manager Stuart Hunter has a lot to ponder and after the Linlithgow defeat there are likely to be changes for the Shire game. The manager is looking for the right blend to combine effort and skill to get the positive result Bo’ness requires. It will then be up to the players to get that win and give the BU Faithful hope for the coming weeks and months.

John Spowart
10 January 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 03 August 2024
Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

East Stirlingshire 1
(Penker 49)

Bo'ness United 1
(Nicol 20)

Bo’ness United collected their first point of the Lowland League campaign in a draw at East Stirlingshire where the outcome could have gone either way.

There was a decent crowd in the Falkirk Stadium, both sides well represented and in the first few minutes, goal efforts at both ends gave promise of what may follow. As the half developed, Bo’ness looked the better side, threatening going forward while dealing with anything the Shire threw at them. The BUs went ahead in twenty minutes when Lewis Hawkins chased a ball, pressuring a mix up between defender and keeper allowing Gregor Nicol to benefit, firing his comeback goal into the unguarded net.

Despite creating a number of chances Bo’ness were unable to add to their tally and the second half saw a rejuvenated Shire get at the BU rearguard. Within four minutes they were back in the game after good play on the left finished with a ball across goal landing at the feet of the unmarked Jamie Penker to fire home from six yards out. The Shire were looking the more dangerous side although Bo’ness came close to regaining the lead when a good move saw new signing Smart Osadolor cut inside to curl a great shot that smacked off the underside of the Shire crossbar before being cleared. Chances were created at either end but with no more scoring, each side having to be content with the point.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Hawkins (Irving 56), Macaulay, Duffy, Travis, Henderson, Stenhouse, Grant (Johnston 65), Osadolor, Porteous (Kennedy 88), Nicol. Subs (Not Used): Stevenson, Gemmell, Malcolm, Trialist.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 06 January 2024
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 4
(Hawkins 35, Malcolm 55 75, Porteous 90+3)

East Stirlingshire 2
(Rankin 15 pen, Penker 29)

After a slow start losing two goals in the first half hour, Bo’ness United dug in to stage a great fight back to win the points against East Stirlingshire who finished the match with only nine men.

A quiet initial period saw both sides in possession but after fifteen minutes the visitors got their noses in front when BU Keeper Musa Dibaga got himself into a fankle bringing down Scott Honeyman in the box, the resulting penalty put away by Luke Rankin. Bo’ness responded with a couple of efforts on goal but in twenty-nine minutes went further behind as the ball fell nicely for Jamie Penker to fire in from close in. The BUs set about getting back and six minutes later a corner resulted in a scramble in the six-yard box, Lewis Hawkins forcing the ball home to narrow the gap.

Before half time Bo’ness came close on a number of occasions but it was ten minutes after the break they got the equaliser, a good passing move finishing with Fin Malcolm angling low past Shire keeper Jordan Pettigrew. Bo’ness were on the ascendancy and with fifteen minutes remaining took the lead when Malcolm latched onto a great through pass from Keir Foster to cooly slot into the Shire net.

To compound East Stirlingshire’s misery the final ten minutes saw two players sent off, Matty Flynn and Tony Coutts both shown red cards and three minutes into time added on a sweeping Bo’ness move finished with a great angled shot from Ryan Porteous, the ball finding the far top corner of the net.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Hawkins, Macaulay (Foster 67), Travis, McArthur, Irving, Kennedy,
Johnston, Malcolm, Grant (Henderson 78), Porteous. Subs (Not Used): Dalziel, Gemmell, Stevenson. SG: Thomson

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 28 December 2024
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 1
(Porteous 45)

Linlithgow 3
(Paterson 35, Watson 37, Rae 79)

It proved a disappointing afternoon for Bo’ness United as they lost out to Linlithgow Rose in the first of the festive derbies. Two down, just before the break the BUs pulled one back as Linlithgow were reduced to ten men but with a punchless second half display Bo’ness were unable to take advantage, Linlithgow sealing the points with a third just before the end.

In the first thirty minutes play was even with opportunities at either end, the closest a Dylan Paterson free kick shot well saved by Cade Melrose who also stopped Dean Watson’s follow up. However, two Linlithgow goals in two minutes had the visitors firmly in the driving seat, the first Dylan Paterson connecting with a Jack Ogilvie low cross to divert the ball into the opposite corner of the Bo’ness net. The second saw Dean Watson making room for himself to hit a low shot that beat Melrose from twenty yards. Just on half time Linlithgow were reduced to ten men as Louis Maguire’s barge on Kyle Johnston was judged to be preventing a goal scoring opportunity and the player was sent off. From the resulting free kick Ryan Porteous fired low past Cameron Binnie

A great time to score but after the break Bo’ness struggled to break down the Linlithgow defence and it was the Rose who looked the more dangerous with their quick breaks up the park. Unable to make the breakthrough, any hope of a Bo’ness comeback was shattered late on as the ball was given away allowing Calum Rae to run from half way before smashing an unstoppable shot past Cade Melrose.

This was a deserved Linlithgow Rose win and Bo’ness are left to lick their wounds, leaving manager Stuart Hunter with plenty to think about as the sides meet again at Prestonfield next weekend.

Bo’ness: Melrose, Stevenson, Macaulay, Irving, Travis, Johnston (Henderson 79), Stenhouse, Grant (Hamilton 74), Osadolor (Schiavone 63), Porteous, Mitchell (Kennedy 74). Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Duffy, Masson,

Linlithgow: Binnie, Thomson, Thom, Skinner, Paterson, McMullen (McMartin 74), Brown (Devine 63), Watson (Rae 74), Ogilvie, Allan. Maguire. Subs (Not used): Wallace, Allison, Sneddon, McCracken.