Match Preview 2024 2025
Musselburgh Athletic
CaMat Kings South Challenge Cup Round 4
Newtown Park
Saturday 16 November 2024

Bo’ness United welcome Musselburgh Athletic to Newtown Park for a CaMat Kings South Challenge Cup tie. The sides have met many times in the past and it’s just over five years since Musselburgh visited in the East of Scotland League Premier Division. The first match under the new lights provided an exciting encounter, Bo’ness winning by the odd goal in seven. Devon Jacobs put Bo’ness ahead but two goals from Musselburgh had them in front until Stuart Hunter brought Bo’ness level before the break. Early in the second half Darren Downie regained the lead for the East Lothian side before the BUs were reduced to ten men, Brian Morgan receiving his marching orders. Undaunted, Bo’ness pushed on and in a thrilling climax Fraser Keast scored and Stuart Hunter headed the winner two minutes before time. (Report)

This is the first of two clashes in the space of two weeks as the sides will meet again at Olivebank in the Scottish Cup. Musselburgh are heading the Premier Division of the East of Scotland League, five points ahead of Hill of Beath Hawthorn, although the Fife side have two games in hand. Jeanfield Swifts are in third position. Bo’ness narrowly defeated the Haws in the last round of the Scottish Cup while going down at Jeanfield earlier in the season in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. The top teams in this East of Scotland League would more than hold their own in the Lowland so Bo’ness know they need to be at their best to get the win.

To get this far Bo’ness won at Livingston United and Eglinton. Despite their position as a tier nine team, Eglinton made Bo’ness work for their victory and it took a late, late Keir Macaulay goal to see Bo’ness through. (Report) Musselburgh are here after wins at Saltcoats Victoria and versus Kirkcaldy & Dysart.

Bo’ness go into the game after a disappointing run in the Lowland League, gaining only two points in their last three outings. They lost at home to Caledonian Braves followed by a draw against Berwick Rangers. On Saturday Bo’ness drew at Cumbernauld Colts, Louis Kennedy putting them ahead though the BUs squandered a great opportunity to go two up before half time, Colts keeper Yan Gromov Godik saving a Ryan Porteous penalty. Cumbernauld equalised early in the second half through Sean Boreland and despite both sides creating further chances there was no further scoring. (Report) Musselburgh won their last two at home Sauchie and at Dundonald Bluebell but did lose at Hill of Beath.

A tough game awaits Bo’ness and all the players must be up for it to progress in the South Cup. They will be sure to have the backing of the BU Faithful who are keen to see their favourites get back to winning ways.

John Spowart
Friday 15 November 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH REPORT SEASON 20219/2020

Date – Wednesday 02 October 2019
Opponents – Musselburgh Athletic
Competition – Central Taxis East of Scotland League Premier Division
Venue – Newtown Park

Score (Half Time): 2 - 2 Score (Full Time): 4 – 3
Scorer (Bo’ness): Jacobs 14, Hunter 43 88, Keast 79
Scorer (Musselburgh): Nathan Evans 17 26, Darren Downie 46

Red Card (Bo’ness): Morgan 76

The scoring was opened in outstanding fashion in the 14th minute when Devon Jacobs took the ball from Myles and from 30+ yards found the top corner with a stunning drive. Musselburgh were quickly on level terms when Nathan Evans took advantage of a hesitant Bo’ness backline to convert a Myles through ball. The speedy Evans was having an impressive match and he doubled his tally when he raced onto a Williams long ball and easily dispatched the ball past Andy Murphy. Evans should have grabbed hat-trick after 38 minutes when he had a sight of goal after super play from Myles, luckily for Bo’ness his effort was wide of the post. Bo’ness managed to go in level at the break with a goal shortly before the interval. A Jacobs long throw found Stuart Hunter free in the area and the big defender made no mistake.
Bo’ness were caught sleeping at the start of the second half when they conceded another soft goal after only 38 seconds had elapsed. An O’Kane free kick found Darren Downie free at the backpost and the former BU player made no mistake. The task facing United got even tougher when Brian Morgan was dismissed for his second yellow card of the evening with fifteen minutes left on the clock. Bo’ness shrugged off the loss of Morgan when they levelled the match two minutes later. Chris Donnelly sent Craig Henderson scampering free up the right, his cross took out the defence and goalkeeper and Fraser Keast was on hand to tap in. With two minutes remaining Bo’ness forced a corner which Ryan Stevenson swung onto the head of the unmarked Stuart Hunter who had the simple task of nodding the ball into the net. Great scenes at Newtown Park and the BU’s held on to their place at the top of the table with the hard-fought victory.

Bo’ness: Murphy, Jacobs, Syme (Grant), Hunter, Campbell, Comrie, Nimmo (Keast), Morgan, Donnelly ©, Henderson ((Snowdon) and Stevenson. Unused: Adamson, Mooney.
Player of the match: Stuart Hunter.

Stuart Hunter was United’s matchwinner with his late header proving decisive in a frantic encounter with Musselburgh, however the Bo’ness defender warned his teammates they have to up their overall level of performance if they wish to pick up silverware this season. “We started like the old Bo’ness by zipping the ball about well. Then we conceded two then three goals. Its been evident in the last three or four games that we’ve been giving the opposition the lion’s share of possession and then trying to recover. Having spoken to Max, I agree with the gaffer that we need to start games the way we are finishing them, and take our chances. We can’t keep going on like that, riding our luck all the time and having boys popping up with last minute goals. That being said, to win against Tranent when they had the lion’s share of possession and then again tonight against Musselburgh who are a good side and who have had some impressive recent results is great. It is another great win but if we want to stay at the top of the league we have to be better than that. Dunbar away on Saturday is another must win. I’ve said it for years Bo’ness should be winning these leagues. We have good enough players; good enough management and we now have fantastic facilities and we want teams to fear coming here as they know they’ll be in for a hard game”.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 12 October 2024
Competition – CaMat Kings South Challenge Cup Round 3

Eglinton 0

Bo’ness United 1
(Macaulay 90)

Bo’ness United progressed to the next round of the South Challenge Cup, though it took a goal in the ninetieth minute to finally get past a resolute Eglinton defence. On a cold, blustery, wet afternoon that proved challenging for players and spectators alike, the conditions made playing football difficult but Bo’ness set about getting ahead. The BUs scorned some good chances but Eglinton keeper Ross Lundy also pulled off some cracking saves to keep the scoresheet blank.

BU manager Stuart Hunter made full use of his bench for the start of the second half and it was different personnel but a similar story as the BUs surged forward looking for the breakthrough. Again, the Eglinton keeper performed heroics and the goal frame also took a battering, Bo’ness striking it on no less than five occasions. As the game moved towards the final stages, Eglinton were looking to pinch something on the break but the Bo’ness defence was vigilant, making sure they kept the back door shut. Bo’ness had made full use of the wide positions, crosses coming over from both sides and it was ironic that the goal when it finally arrived came through the middle. Tom Grant passed the ball forward for Fin Malcolm to flick into the path of Keir Macaulay who cooly slotted into the bottom corner of the net. Ross Lundy did get a hand to the ball but this time he was unable to keep it out. The BU players and fans were delighted with the outcome as much with the relief of avoiding a further thirty minutes in the horrible conditions as with the final result.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Hawkins, Irving (Macaulay 46), Duffy, Travis, Gemmell (Stevenson 46), McLinden (Stenhouse 46) Henderson (Johnston 46) Osadolor (Malcolm 46), Grant, Kennedy. Subs (Not Used): Masson, SG: Melrose

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 09 November 2024
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Cumbernauld Colts 1
(Boreland 51)

Bo’ness United 1
(Kennedy 16)

Bo’ness United yet again were unable to achieve a win at Cumbernauld Colts, this time having to be satisfied with a share of the points. Once again, a failure to convert chances cost the BUs even to the extent of missing a penalty shortly before the break.

After a frantic start Cumbernauld had the first effort, a Robbie McGale shot dealt with by BU keeper Cade Melrose. However, Bo’ness struck soon after as Adam Masson blocked a Cumbernauld shot before the ball quickly moved to the other end, Kieran Mitchell sending Louis Kennedy through to coolly shoot past Colts keeper Yan Gromov Godik.

Cumbernauld almost hit back straight away, Adam Carnwath connecting with a Zac McKay low cross but his shot was well saved by Cade Melrose. It was then Yan Gromov Godik who had to make a significant saves, a curling free kick shot from Ryan Stevenson almost sneaking in at the far post plus another from Stevenson the keeper again making a great save

Just on half time Bo’ness had a great opportunity to double their lead as they were awarded a penalty. John Binnie had fouled Keir Macaulay in the box but Colts’ keeper Godik was equal to the task, saving Ryan Porteous’s shot from twelve yards.

Six minutes into the second half Bo’ness regretted the lost opportunity when Cumbernauld drew level. A free kick cross was cleared to the edge of the box where Sean Boreland fired a low shot, the ball going in just inside the post. This gave Cumbernauld confidence and it was their turn to dominate as Bo’ness struggled to find the form shown in the first half. They did recover as both sides looked to score the winner. As the game moved to its conclusion the Colts looked the more likely and just before the whistle Cade Melrose had to look lively, tipping a Zac McKay shot over his bar.

Two points from nine in the last three games is well short of expectations of the BUs and they now face a different challenge next week with the visit of East of Scotland Premier League side Musselburgh Athletic. This is the first of two cup clashes, a South Cup tie before Bo’ness visits Musselburgh two weeks later in the Scottish Cup.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Masson, Macaulay, Irving (Duffy 77), Travis, Johnston, Stevenson (Gemmell 59), Porteous (Grant 59), Osadolor, Mitchell (McLinden 46), Kennedy. Subs (Not Used): Hawkins, SG: Ritchie.