Crossgates Primrose 1-6 Bo'ness United

Match report kindly submitted by BRYAN COPELAND. The match report is the property of bonessunitedfc.co.uk and should not be reproduced without permission of the club or the author.

With a tough start to the season for Max Christie and the BU with 2 tricky away league matches ending in draws its another tough game to a team the BU ended up playing 3 times in as many weeks last year between league matches and cup ties. From last season we learned that today’s opponents can make themselves hard to beat and can be very stuffy and hard to break down so hopefully today the BU can find a way to goal and get a winning result to put the 1st win of the season on the table. Hopefully it’s not a case of Bah Humbug at Humbug park for the BU.

Into today’s game then and as always the large travelling support was there to cheer the team on. The visitors started bright and within 7 minutes had the opening goal of the match. Good play on the far side saw a ball played over and a shot from McKenzie went straight towards the home keeper, the ball hit off him and back off McKenzie then into the back of the net. Crossgates 0 - 1 BU. The visitors continued to look dangerous and a ball over the box only needed a touch for a 2nd goal but unfortunately it never came. 16 minutes in and BU keeper Murphy had work to do as he got his fingertips to a shot to send the ball for a corner. The corner was worked well by the home side in what looked like a training ground move but the BU cleared without any issues. 21 minutes in and a ball played into the box caused the home side problems as they committed a foul which saw the referee point to spot. Morgan was quick to have the ball in his hands and placed the ball on the spot. Calmly the ball was slammed in low to the keepers right, even though the keeper went the right way he couldn’t stop the ball from bulging the net. Crossgates 0 - 2 BU. The home side tried to immediately get back in the game but their move ended in a goal kick. Back at the other end and Morgan was in on the action again as he was shown a yellow card after the referee judged a foul on the outside of the home box. A free kick wide on the near side gave the home side a chance to get back into the game. As the ball was played in Gemmil jumped leading with his arm and as the ball came off his hand the referee has no option but to point to the spot for a penalty. Gemmell saw a yellow card before the ball was smashed low and hard into the net. Crossgates 1 - 2 BU 31 minutes played. Just minutes later and the visitors had a 2 goal cushion restored as for the 2nd time today McKenzie got on the end of a ball and calmly slotted it into the net. Crossgates 1 - 3 BU 33 minutes played. 10 minutes to half time and the home side came forward quickly catching the BU out and soon Murphy in goal found himself in a 1 on 1 situation. The ball was shot towards goal early and went wide of the post. Soon the BU were on the attack again and as McKenzie broke into the box he was brought down. Again the referee had no option but to point to the spot. Morgan again stepped up and this time smashed the ball into the net leaving the home keeper no chance. Crossgates 1 - 4 BU - 37 minutes. A free kick for the visitors gave another chance for the ball to come into the box and Hunter saw a header blocked as the ball went for a corner. It was swung in by Grant and cleared but as the ball returned it dropped to Grant just inside the box and his volley towards goal had to be blocked by the home defence. With the BU now well in the ascendancy a scramble in the box from a ball played in on the left side could have been another goal as it bobbled about between both teams.
With no more action the afore mentioned before the game stuffy home side didn’t look to be as stuffy today as the 1st half ended Crossgates 1 - 4 BU.

Into the 2nd half and it was all one way traffic as McKenzie broke through and rather than shoot tried to beat his man 1st but never got his shot away denying him his hat trick. Morgan then had a great hair saved by the keeper as he was also looking for a hat trick today. Hand ball in the box then saw the referee point to the spot and yet again Morgan stepped up for the BU. Calm as you like he steeped up and the bet bulged as he completed a hat trick of penalties. Morgan & Hunter then went off replaced by Stevenson & Syme.
It was soon 6-1 as a good move earner a corner. The ball came over the box and Ross Campbell got his name on the scoresheet with a fantastic header. The 3rd sun by BU Gaffer Max Christie then saw McKenzie replaced by Mooney. Things got worse for the home side as a foul on the near side saw the referee Produce a 2nd yellow and they were reduced to 10 men. There was no let up from the visitors as Keast got through on goal but his shot was wide of the home keepers post. Another good move down the left saw a good ball into the box and appeals went up as it appeared to strike a Crossgates defender on the arm, any appeals were waved away.
15 minutes to go and the home side found themselves reduced to 9 men as a tackle on Jacobs just over the half way line was deemed a straight red by the match referee. There was still no let up from the visitors as they played the ball forward again and this time a great ball played Mooney in he tried to slot the ball into the net but the home keeper was alert and got down low to make a save. Jacobs then played a ball in but it was blocked for a corner. Grant swung it in and Campbell was 1st to react getting a header towards goal only for it to be blocked by the home defence. 3 minutes remains and Murphy mad a routine catch from a ball that looked into the box before the visitors were on the attack again and a shot was deflected for a corner. Grant again swung it in and the home defence got the ball at the back post to send it for another corner. The ball was cleared and with no more action the match ended
Crossgates 1 - 6 BU.