Once more Bo’ness United take to the road as they embark on this season’s Scottish Cup adventure. It’s a long journey to kick off with, a three hundred mile plus round trip to Banff to meet Highland League Club Deveronvale. Like Bo’ness the Aberdeenshire side have experienced mixed fortunes this season and currently sit in the lower half of the table. In saying that, they won their last two league games, including an impressive victory at home to Brora Rangers on Saturday. In contrast Bo’ness went down to Gala Fairydean Rovers, the Borders side’s first win in the league this season. The BUs lost a goal just before the break and twenty five minutes into the second half Kieran Dolan scored his and Gala’s second. Bo’ness pulled one back, Lucas Stenhouse scoring from the spot but just before the end Joe Wylie sealed the home win. (Report)

Last season Bo’ness made it to round three of the National Tournament where, after defeating Darvel at Newtown and Luncarty away they visited Cappielow to meet SPFL Championship club Greenock Morton. Bo’ness were giving a good account of themselves only to concede a George Oakley strike just on the stroke of half time. However, a few minutes after the break Ryan Stevenson received a controversial red card and Morton went on to score three more goals. The sending off may have not affected the final outcome but being reduced to ten men severely reduced the likelihood of a BU comeback (Report). Deveronvale got as far as round two where, after beating Culter on penalties lost by a single goal at home to Broxburn Athletic.

Given their recent good results as well as having home advantage, Deveronvale will start as favourites to go through although Bo’ness have a point to prove. BU manager, Stuart Hunter has been quick to praise the players but they know he was disappointed with the result at Gala Fairydean Rovers. They won’t want to let the manager down this week nor the sizable number of BU fans making the long trek north. As well as the usual Faithful there are always additional numbers for these big games to add to the special atmosphere of the Cup.

Bo’ness United and Deveronvale are unknown to each other and although they play at tier five level it is difficult to make a direct comparison. The winner will come from the team whose players are best able to deal with the occasion while ensuring they are at their best from the off all the way to the final whistle. The BU players will be determined to ensure they rise to the challenge while the fans will give them every encouragement to do so.

John Spowart
Friday 27 September 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 21 September 2024
Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Gala Fairydean Rovers 3
(Dolan 45+1 70 Wylie 90+5)
Bo'ness United 1
(Stenhouse 74 pen)

Bo’ness United left Galashiels with nothing to show for their efforts as Gala Fairydean Rovers chalked up their first Lowland League win of the season. The defeat also spoiled the BUs recent run of results stalling any progress their league campaign.

The first twenty minutes produced a lot of effort from either side but without too many chances. Towards half time things opened up, Cade Melrose making a great save from a Gala free kick
effort, the BUs responding with a Ryan Stevenson shot. Bo’ness did get the ball in the net but was flagged for offside and just after a good move finished with a Kieran Mitchell shot straight at Gala keeper Sam Scott. Unfortunately for Bo’ness just on the whistle they wend a goal down Kieran Dolan scoring for the home side.

Bo’ness made a better start to the second half as they looked for an equaliser Mitchell seeing a shot going just wide. Mitchell also had an effort blocked but with twenty minutes remaining they conceded a second again Kieran Dolan on target. Bo’ness pulled a goal back from the spot, Lucas Stenhouse converting after he was tripped in the box. Not long after the same player lobbed over while in time added on Bo’ness missed another great chance only for play to immediately switch to the other Joe Wylie scoring to put the game beyond Bo’ness

Bo'ness: Melrose, Masson, Macaulay, Rutherford (Stevenson 16) Duffy Irving, Stenhouse Gemmell (Henderson 46), Mitchell (Kennedy 60), Johnston, Malcolm. Subs (Not Used): SG: Campbell

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 25 November 2023
Competition – Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Round 3

Greenock Morton 4
(Oakley 45, Bearne 63, Muirhead 78p, O’Boy 89)
Bo'ness United 0

Bo’ness United’s Scottish Cup adventure is over for another year after their defeat at Greenock Morton. After a competitive first half, seven minutes after the break the game was turned on its head with a controversial decision when Ryan Stevenson was sent off. The red card changed the complexion of the game as Morton wore down Bo’ness with a goal scored with just under thirty minutes to go, another in the final fifteen and finally in the last minute of the game.
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In the first half both goalkeepers were called into action as Bo’ness matched their fulltime opponents. However just before the break the BUs were disappointed to lose the goal as George Oakley headed home from close in from a Lewis McGrattan cross. Two minutes into the second half Bo’ness came close to hitting back as a miss hit shot from Keir Foster landed nicely for Ryan Porteous but his effort from close in was tipped over the bar by Morton keeper Ryan Mullen. It was only a few minutes after that when Ryan Stevenson pulled Jack Bearne back and referee Craig Napier decided the Bo’ness player had prevented a goal scoring opportunity and showed the Bo’ness player the red card.

Bo’ness came close with a Keir Macaulay free kick shot that Mullen saved at his post but Morton gradually took advantage of their superior numbers, pressing forward on the Bo’ness goal. Another cross this time from Steven Boyd was headed in by Jack Bearne to double Morton’s lead as BU keeper Musa Dibaga made a string of fine saves to keep his side in with a chance. However, with just under fifteen minutes BU sub, Dan Irving pulled Logan O’Boy down in the box and Robbie Muirhead converted the penalty effectively ending the game as a contest. In the final minutes Morton rubbed salt in the BU wound, Logan O’Boy firing in to complete the scoring, After the whistle the large visiting support applauded the team, recognising their efforts and the players in turn acknowledged the backing they had received over the competition.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Rutherford (Macaulay 46), Hawkins, McArthur, Gemmell (Johnston 64) Stenhouse, Henderson (Malcolm 69), Dalziel, Foster, Porteous (Irving 57).
Subs (Not Used): Kennedy, Mooney Grant SG Ritchie

Match details

Match date

Sat 28 Sep 2024

Kickoff

15:00

Team overview

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