BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2025/2026

Date – Saturday 16 August 2025

Competition – Finest CarMats South Challenge Cup Round 1

Bo’ness United 2
(Irving 12, Watson 47)

Johnstone Burgh 4
(Gilmartin 45+2, Rossiter 53p 82, Kerr 56)

Bo’ness United exited the South Challenge Cup at the first hurdle where despite going ahead twice, finally succumbed to a team who were simply better on the day.

After the initial skirmishes, Bo’ness took the lead as Johnstone Burgh keeper Luke Scullion dropped a Tom Grant corner, Dan Irving pouncing to head in the loose ball from close in. Johnstone Burgh surged forward looking for an equaliser and Ben Fry in the Bo’ness goal got down to make a fine save from Ian McShane’s effort. Bo’ness were having to defend in depth though had the occasional foray forward, Luke Scullion saving a Roan Fitzpatrick shot on goal. As the game moved into time added on Bo’ness thought they had done enough to go in ahead but right on the whistle a free kick cross into the Bo’ness box was cut back for Aiden Gilmartin to smash the ball in via the underside of the BU bar.

Not a good time to concede but two minutes into the second half Bo’ness regained the lead, a Kieran Mitchell run down the right, his cutback perfect for Jamie Watson to fire past the Johnstone Burgh keeper. The lead was short lived when only five minutes later Lewis Duffy was adjudged to have pulled a Burgh player back in the box, the referee awarding a penalty and showing Duffy his second yellow card of the day. The inevitable red followed, Blair Rossiter converted and Bo’ness had to do it all again though with a man short. In the blink of an eye the task was to become even harder, Max Kerr running all the way from inside his own box to slot past Ben Fry giving Johnstone Burgh the lead for the first time. It was a confident Johnstone Burgh who now knocked the ball about knowing all the pressure was on their hosts. Bo’ness never stopped trying but they struggled to find their way to goal. Even so only one goal behind there was always the chance of pulling it back to earn a chance from a penalty kick shootout but with eight minutes remaining even that hope disappeared. Blair Rossiter gathered just inside the Bo’ness half and noticing Ben Fry was well off his line launched the ball forward seeing it sail over Fry’s head before landing in the net to seal a Johnstone Burgh win.

A difficult day for Bo’ness and things don’t get any easier as they no look forward to Tuesday’s Lowland League match at home to Tranent.

Bo’ness United: 1 Ben Fry, 2 Adam Masson (McCafferty 51), 3 Ryan Stevenson (Capt) (Brown 66), 4 Dan Irving, 5 Lewis Duffy, 6 Jordan Armstrong, 7 Jack Hodge, 9 Jamie Watson,
11 Roan Fitzpatrick, 16 Kieran Mitchell, 20 Tom Grant (El-Zubaidi 54).

Subs: 10 Conor Scullion (Not Used), 12 Mark McLuckie (Not Used), 14 Aldin El-Zubaidi.
15 Flynn McCafferty, 17 Keir Macaulay (Not Used), 18 Shaun Brown, 19 Kodi McKinstray (Not Used)