Bo’ness United get back to league action this weekend at Albion Rovers where due to the Groundhop weekend face an unusual Saturday evening 7.45pm kick off. This is the BUs second visit to Coatbridge in just over a month having won a narrow victory in the first round of the League Cup thanks to a single Kieran Mitchell goal (Report). Albion Rovers visited Newtown very early in the season losing by the odd goal in three. Ryan Porteous scored a first half double with the Albion trialist scoring a late consolation (Report).

Albion Rovers are one place and five points ahead of the BUs with a game in hand. In the last month they have won three and lost two in the league and a win over Bo’ness would give them some breathing space. Conversely a win for Bo’ness would close the gap as the BUs strive to improve their league position. If Bo’ness want to achieve this their league form has to improve, having accumulated only four points from a possible fifteen in recent weeks. Last weekend they lost at home to bottom side Broomhill. Callum McKenzie quickly cancelled out an early Lucas Stenhouse penalty strike, the same player putting the visitors ahead from the spot before half time. Late on Keir Foster equalised for Bo’ness but before the end another Callum McKenzie penalty conversion won three valuable points for the visitors (Report).

On the plus side Bo’ness have won through to the final of the Lowland League Cup after their penalty shoot out win at home to Tranent. BU keeper Liam Campbell saved twice in the shoot out with Shaun Rutherford, Dan Irving and Lennon Connolly the scorers for Bo’ness (Report). Throughout this tournament Bo’ness have competed well, getting the wins at Albion Rovers and versus Civil Service Strollers. That form should not be limited to that competition and there is no reason why, if applied to the rest of the league matches Bo’ness can’t rise up the table. Saturday evening will be the first test of that resolve and no doubt BU manager Stuart Hunter will be conveying this to the players. As for the BU faithful it is not clear how many will give up Gladiators and Britain’s Got Talent to spend time in Coatbridge on a Saturday night but the players would love to see you there.

John Spowart
07 March 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 01 February 2025

Competition –Lowland League Cup Round 1

Albion Rovers 0

Bo’ness United 1
(Mitchell 4)

Bo’ness United edged through to the next round of the Lowland League Cup courtesy of a single Kieran Mitchell strike. The goal came early, Mitchell nodding in from a corner but this victory was achieved largely thanks to resolute Bo’ness defending, the players working hard getting in the way of anything and everything Albion Rovers threw at them,

After the Bo’ness goal Rovers dominated the possession, their best chances coming from a Dom McMahon shot that went narrowly past and a Peter Mendy effort saved by BU keeper Liam Campbell. In the second half the hosts continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball but the BUs kept them at bay with very few clear cut chances. Indeed, Bo’ness had a great opportunity to double their lead, a Ryan Stevenson low ball across the face of the goal, Smart Osadolor just short of touching in on the line. In the final minutes Albion threw everything into getting back but Bo’ness held out for a hard earned victory.

New Queens Park loan signing Lennon Connolly showed up well for Bo’ness on his debut but it was a farewell outing from. Michael Travis whose new work commitments sees him leaving the BUs. A big loss for the club but all the best to ‘Trav’.

Bo’ness: Campbell, Hawkins, Macaulay, Rutherford (Duffy 46), Travis, Gemmell, Mitchell, Connolly, Osadolor, , Grant Stevenson 71), Dowling (Irving 58),. Subs (Not Used): Kennedy, McCormick, Hutchison, Henderson

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 10 August 2024

Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 2
(Porteous 2 27)

Albion Rovers 1
(Trialist 90)

Bo’ness United achieved the first win they’ve been looking for, deservedly taking all the points in their clash with Albion Rovers on a windswept Newtown Park. Shooting with the gale at their backs the BUs were ahead after only two minutes, Ryan Porteous heading home a Ryan Stevenson cross. Just before the half hour it was a second for Bo’ness and Porteous, this time a Tom Grant corner landing at the far post for him to head back over the head of Rovers keeper Ross Connelly. Before the break Rovers had a chance with an Adam Fernie shot across goal, the ball just beating the far post. Bo’ness might have made it three but Connelly brought off a great save to deny Lewis Hawkins.

In the second half Bo’ness faced into the breeze but coped well with the elements, playing the ball on the ground as much as possible while putting in a resolute rearguard operation. They created a few chances, Gregor Nicol getting a shot in at the near post and a Fin Malcolm header going wide. The BUs were closing down the Albion moves at every opportunity but just before the end they did concede, the Trialist’s angled shot deflected past BU keeper Liam Campbell. It was a nervous five minutes time added on with Dean McMahon shooting wide of the post but Bo’ness held on for a welcome three points.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Stevenson (Trialist 75), Macaulay, Hawkins, Rutherford, Grant (Gemmell 87), Stenhouse, Johnston, Mitchell (Malcolm 39), Porteous, Nicol. Subs (Not Used): Kennedy, Duffy, Hamilton.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 08 March 2025

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Stenhouse 8p, Foster 84)

Broomhill 3
(McKenzie 10 29p 89p)

Bo’ness United once again were unable to get the better of a team sitting bottom of the league table, this time Broomhill leaving Newtown Park with all the points. The BUs put in one of their worst performances of the season even to the point of conceding a last minute goal after getting back into the game with a late equaliser.

Bo’ness started well and went ahead from the spot, Lucas Stenhouse converting following Kieran Mitchell being brought down in the box. Unfortunately, the BUs were unable to hold on to the lead two minutes later with Callum McKenzie taking advantage of a defensive lapse to fire past Liam Campbell. Fifteen minutes before the break Bo’ness were behind as the referee consulted with his assistant to turn a free kick at the edge of the box into a penalty kick dispatched by Callum McKenzie.

Twenty minutes into a scrappy second half the Bo’ness task was to become even harder as Tom Grant was sent off for a tackle in the middle of the park and as time moved on the BUs struggled to make an impact. However, with six minutes left on the clock Keir Foster finished off a good move to get the BUs back into the game. Bo’ness then set about getting a winner but disaster struck as a clumsy challenge in the box gave Broomhill another penalty and Callum McKenzie scored his third of the day to give his side a significant win.

Bo’ness now face Tranent in Tuesday’s League Cup semi final and only a greatly improved performance will see the BUs with a chance to progress to the final of the tournament.

Bo’ness: Campbell, Stevenson, Rutherford, Masson, Duffy (Hawkins 46), Dowling (Foster 46),
Stenhouse, Johnston, Mitchell (Osadolor 43), Grant, Kennedy (Schiavone 46) Subs (
Not Used): Connolly, Gemmell. SG (Not Used): Ritchie

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 11 March 2025

Competition –Lowland League Cup Semi Final

Bo’ness United 0

Tranent 0
Bo’ness win 3-1 on penalties (Bo’ness): Rutherford, Irving, Connolly (Tranent): Brett

Bo’ness United progressed to the final of the Lowland League Cup, beating Tranent on penalties after a no score draw in the ninety minutes. Goalkeeper Liam Campbell proved the BU hero pulling off two saves, Shaun Rutherford, Dan Irving and Lennon Connolly on target for Bo’ness.

The game itself was played at pace, Tranent enjoying most of the possession though Bo’ness probably having the best chances over the piece. Early on, Tranent keeper Kelby Mason rushed out of his goal to block Lucas Stenhouse while Dan Irving saw a volley go wide and Keir Foster’s shot on the turn was saved at the near post. Tranent’s best opportunity was a Guy McGarry angled shot that just crept past the far post.

The second half was of the same pattern and as the game neared the end it was looking as if one goal would settle the tie. With a few minutes remaining the tension spilled over after Kyle Johnston fouled a Tranent player, Johnston was immediately surrounded by several Tranent players. Punches were thrown, Kyle Johnston was red carded but somehow the match officials were unable to identify any Tranent culprits when possibly other red cards could have been issued. Tranent were unable to take any advantage of the extra man in the few minutes remaining and the final whistle signalled the penalty competition, Bo’ness winning through to meet East Kilbride in the final.

Clearly a much improved performance since the home defeat by Broomhill, Bo’ness competing from start to finish to give the BU Faithful something to look forward to before the end of the season.

Bo’ness United

1 Liam Campbel, 2 Lewis Hawkins, 3 Keir Macaulay, 4 Adam Masson, 5 Shaun Rutherford,
6 Michael Gemmell, 7 Lucas Stenhouse, 8 Kyle Johnston (Capt), 9 Ryan Schiavone (Connolly 88)
10 Dan Irving, 11 Keir Foster

Subs: 12 Lennon Connolly, 14 Kieran Mitchell (Not Used), 15 Tom Grant (Not Used),
16 Max Dowling (Not Used)
17 Louis Kennedy (Not Used),18 Ryan Stevenson (Not Used,)19 Theo McCormick (Not Used)

Match details

Match date

Sat 15 Mar 2025

Kickoff

19:45

Team overview

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