Bo'ness United 4-3 Musselburgh

A view from the terraces kindly supplied by BRYAN COPELAND!

After the first game was played on Saturday at Newtown Park since the new pitch was laid it turned out to be a memorable occasion as the BU came out 2-1 winners in what was a very tough encounter. The means that the unbeaten league start continues for the home side as we welcome high flying Borough to Newtown Park. With other results going the BU’s way on Saturday including to tonight’s visitors winning 6-2 at home to near neighbours and rivals Linlithgow Rose we ended the night sitting top of the EOS Premier League. That place was taken away with results last night but a win tonight would put the BU at the summit once more which I’m sure Max and the team will be looking for tonight.
Make no mistake however given the afore mentioned result for the visitors on Saturday and the fact they already won at Olivebank earlier this season 3-1 in a cup tie against the BU this will be no easy game even though we have home advantage. Given the weather has held out it looks to be a good night for football and I’m sure the usual large home support will be there for the team in our first game under the newly installed floodlights.

Into the game then and the home side started the usual way attacking towards the Kinneil school end. The opening 10 minutes was nothing really to light up the occasion other then the floodlights illuminating the park. That changed on 13 minutes when the ball fell to Devon Jacobs and he produces an absolute cracker of a finish into the top corner. BU 1 - 0 Musselburgh. The lead lasted just 3 minutes before the visitors equalised with a simple move forward easily finished low into the net. BU 1 - 1 Musselburgh. The next chance fell to the home side and it could have been a goal as the initial ball was cleared and the follow up shot from inside the box that should have been on target was well wide. 25 minutes in and it was the visitors who took the lead a very simple pass forward completely split the home defence and the was no one near as they advanced 1 on 1 with Murphy, a very calm finish found the bottom corner of the net. BU 1 - 2 Musselburgh. The visitors got forwards again only for the home defend to this time do well and clear the ball for a corner. A half chance fell the way of the home side with a good ball played forward but the score remained the same with 5 minutes of the 1st half remaining. With just 2 minutes of the half to go the scores again were level. Jacobs took a brilliant long throw from the far side that landed right on the head of Donnelly who couldn’t possibly miss and put the ball into the back of the net. That was to be the last action of the half as it finishes Bo’ness 2 - 2 Musselburgh.

Into the 2nd half and within the opening minute the 5th goal of the game went in. The home defence allowed the visitors several touches inside the penalty area before the ball inevitably landed in the back of the net. BU 2 - 3 Musselburgh. BU Gaffer Max Christie made his 1st change 10 minutes into the half as Syme was replaced by Grant. It became an open game as firstly a ball through for the home side was judged to be offside. The free kick was taken quickly and set the visitors on the counter attack and as the shot went in shouts for handball went up and were waved away by the referee. Forward came the home side again but slack passing brought down the move before the ball even got near the box. The home side then did get forward and as an initial cross from the far side was defended Morgan did really well to dig out another cross from almost the corner flag on the other side. The ball was defended however and the visitors were on the front foot causing Murphy to come well out his box to boot the ball clear. A 2nd BU sub saw Nimmo replaced by Keast as the score remained BU 2 - 3 Musselburgh with 24 minutes remaining. Forward came the home side again and as the visitors cleared the ball Morgan was 1st to it before being sumo ally brought down, the referee waved play on allowing the visitors to counter while Morgan was on the ground. As the ball came into the BU box it looked like a controversial goal was going to be scored but the defence done well to block a low shot. Soon the controversy started as the lineman near the dugouts called the referee over and after a conversation between a pair a red card was shown to what looked like Max Christie but as the referee went to restart play the BU manager remained where he was. Over came the referee again and flashes a red card again this time the BU assistant headed off leaving Christie in the dugout. The referee had had cards out again just minutes later as Morgan was judged to have fouled and was shown a 2nd yellow followed by a red card. Fast forward just a minute and there was a goal to report on, Henderson done well out wide and put a great ball over the 6 yard box and as the visiting defence slept Keast was there to tap the ball into the net. BU 3 - 3 Musselburgh. The visitors got forward again this time a shot went high over the bar. The home side tried to get forward but a slack pass gifted the visitors possession back. Soon Hunter was judged to have fouled giving a free kick to Musselburgh not far outside the box. Hunter was booked and the free kick towards goal was blocked as the BU defensive wall done its job. Keast was brought down in a very synacle tackle giving a yellow to the visitors and as the free kick was played forward Donnelly went down in the box causing the home support to shout for a penalty the claims were waved away however. The final change was made by BU Gaffer Max Christie as Snowdon came on for Henderson. With 3 minutes remaining the match had yet another twist as a 7th goal was scored. The home side got a corner and Hunter rose above everyone to meet the excellent delivery and head the ball into the net. BU 4 - 3 Musselburgh. The final minute of regulation time saw the home side keep the ball but into added time and the home side had defending to do. A foul was then given outside the box to the right of Murphy’s goal, a direct shot was very well palmed away by the BU keeper and as the ball went out the box the referee blew for time.

Bo’ness United 4 - 3 Musselburgh.