Saturday sees Bo’ness United in cup action once more, this time a CaMat Kings South Challenge Cup Round 3 tie at recently formed Eglinton FC. Eglinton were formed in 2022 and are based in Kilwinning, Ayrshire. They are currently in Division four of the West of Scotland League, sitting in seventh position with four wins from eight.

Eglinton have experienced mixed fortunes in the last few weeks, losing at Thorniewood United on Saturday in the West of Scotland Cup. They have progressed in the Strathclyde Demolition Cup beating St Peters to move into the semifinal of this tournament. To reach this far in the South Challenge Cup they scored five without reply at home to Bonnyton Thistle.

Bo’ness have reached this stage in the tournament after a win at Livingston United in the last round. Dan Irving headed Bo’ness into the lead just before the break and second half goals from Lewis Hawkins and Fin Malcom sealed the tie. (Report). After that Bo’ness lost at Gala Fairydean Rovers in the league but since then the BUs played four games in just over a week, winning three and drawing one. The Scottish Cup win at Deveronvale was followed by a league victory at Berwick Rangers. At the weekend Bo’ness played on both Saturday and Sunday, coming from three goals behind to draw with Celtic and defeating Kilsyth Rangers in the Scottish Junior Cup. Goals from Lenny Agbaire, Josh Dede and Francis Turley saw Celtic going into the final five minutes looking odds on for the win. However, moving into time added on Michael Travis and Smart Osadolor had pulled Bo’ness closer and Lewis Duffy’s late, late header won Bo’ness a share of the points (Report). Against Kilsyth Bo’ness enjoyed a three goal half time lead thanks to Lewis Duffy, Harry McLinden and Fin Malcolm. Roan Mina got one for Kilsyth early in the second half but late on Gary Stewart missed a good chance that might have made things difficult for Bo’ness who successfully saw the game out (Report).

The game at Eglinton should be a straightforward win for Bo’ness but the North Ayrshire side will do everything to compete, looking to pull off a shock result. Bo’ness manager Stuart Hunter will warn his players to guard against any complacency and the BU Faithful present will also be looking for a determined performance from their favourites to ensure they progress in this tournament.

John Spowart
Friday 11 October 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 14 September 2024
Competition – CaMat Kings South Challenge Cup Round 2

Livingston United 0
Bo’ness United 3
(Irving 46, Hawkins 66, Malcolm 75)

Bo’ness United negotiated this potentially tricky game at Livingston United to progress in the South Challenge Cup. The BUs never looked in any danger of losing and persevered to get the goals that made the tie secure in their favour.

Livingston defended in depth to thwart the BU efforts and actually had the first shot on target, a Zac Avinou effort saved by keeper Liam Campbell, However Avinou ploughed a lone furrow up front as Bo’ness pushed forward looking for an opening. Livi keeper Dominic Duffy made two particularly good saves to block from Kieran Mitchell but just on half time Bo’ness made the breakthrough, Dan Irving heading home from a Tom Grant cross.

Bo’ness made four changes for the start of the second half while Livingston changed their formation as they now needed to score to stay in the tie. As it worked out, twenty minutes in Bo’ness scored a second as Lewis Duffy headed a corner back across goal for Lewis Hawkins to volley in. With fifteen minutes remaining the Livingston keeper could only parry a Kieran Philibin shot the ball falling for Fin Malcolm to angle low into the net. Livingston brought out a couple of saves from substitute BU keeper Cade Melrose but it was Bo’ness who now wait to see who they’ll meet in the next round.

Bo'ness: Campbell (Melrose 46), Stevenson, Rutherford, Masson, Duffy, Irving (Hawkins 46), Mitchell, Henderson, Nicol (Malcolm 46) Grant (Philibin 65), Kennedy (Osadolor 45). Subs (Not Used): Johnston, Macaulay.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 05 October 2024
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 3
(Travis 85, Osadolor 89, Duffy 90+3)
Celtic B 3
(Agbaire 13, Dede 18, Turley 59)

Five minutes left on the clock, three goals down against the young Celts and no one could have predicted what was to happen.

Early in the game Lewis Dobby fired a shot just wide of the Bo’ness goal and it proved a warning as Celtic B were two up in twenty minutes. Lenny Agbaire headed home from a Jude Bonnar corner and Josh Dede slipped one past BU keeper Cade Melrose. It was not looking great for Bo’ness but they steadied the ship and started getting at their opponents. Louis Kennedy got in a shot saved by Joe Morrison and both Lucas Stenhouse and Dan Irving saw shots come off the goal frame.

After the break Stenhouse had an effort that went over as Bo’ness looked to pull one back. However, with thirty minutes remaining Celtic looked to have sealed the points, Francis Turley pouncing onto a Rhys Dargie cutback to fire home. Bo’ness plugged away looking for something and with eighty minutes on the clocked a Keir Macaulay corner found Michael Travis who headed in at the far post. Encouraged, four minutes later a miss hit shot landed nicely for Smart Osadolor to stroke home from close in. Tails definitely up, three minutes into time added on and a Lucas Stenhouse corner from the other side flashed across the goal and this time substitute Lewis Duffy headed in the equaliser. Cue great celebration both on and off the park as Bo’ness achieved a fantastic comeback to gain a share of the points.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Masson, Macaulay, Irving (Duffy 76), Travis, Gemmell, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Henderson 40), Kennedy (Mitchell 64). Subs (Not Used): Malcolm, McLinden, Grant SG: Campbell

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Sunday 06 October 2024
Competition – Scottish Junior Cup Round 2

Bo’ness United 3
(Duffy 25, McLinden 30 Malcolm 43)
Kilsyth Rangers 1
(Mina 57)

Bo’ness United completed their weekend double header with a Scottish Junior Cup tie win against Kilsyth Rangers. Three first half goals had Bo’ness well on their way although Kilsyth pulled one back shortly after the break. Near the end Rangers missed a great chance to further reduce the leeway and make things difficult for the BUs in the closing minutes.

Kilsyth had the ball in the net in the first few minutes but Roan Mina was flagged for offside. Adam Smith then went close for the visitors with a shot but in twenty five minutes Bo’ness made the breakthrough. Keir Macaulay fired over a great corner to the back post where Lewis Duffy rose to head past his namesake in the Kilsyth goal. Five minutes later Bo’ness made it two, a Kilsyth clearance blocked by Keir Macaulay, the ball landing in the path of new loan signing Harry McLinden to lob over the head of the advancing keeper. Two minutes before half time Tom Grant put the ball into the path of Fin Malcolm who held off the Kilsyth defender at the edge of the box before making room for himself to curl a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Into the second half Roan Mina met a low cross from Kevin Lleshi, side footing past BU keeper Liam Campbell. The goal didn’t spark the expected onslaught and Bo’ness stuck to the task of getting through the game. They made good use of the substitute’s bench including U20s players Robbie Murdoch and Kieran Philibin being introduced to the fray. Into the final minutes a good move by the visitors finished with Gary Stewart shooting from the edge of the box but unfortunately for the visitors the ball flew well over the bar. This allowed Bo’ness to play the game out and they now look forward to a third round tie at home to Ardrossan Winton Rovers.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Masson (Murdoch 63), Macaulay, Hawkins, Duffy, Henderson, Malcolm, Irving (Philibin 63), McLinden, Mitchell (Grant 23), Kennedy (Osadolor 63). Subs (Not Used): Johnston Gemmell, SG: Melrose

Match details

Match date

Sat 12 Oct 2024

Kickoff

14:00

Team overview

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