Match Preview

Preview kindly provided by JOHN SPOWART!

Match Preview 2019 2020

Blackburn United, Central Taxis East of Scotland League, Premier Division, Newtown Park, Saturday 16 November 2019

After last weekend’s lay off, Bo’ness United are back in action on Saturday hosting Blackburn United in an East of Scotland league match. Blackburn were also idle last week, their game at Jeanfield Swifts called off because of frost.

Blackburn last visited Newtown Park just over four years ago in a late season Fife and Lothians Cup tie. However, their luck was out that evening as Bo’ness ran out winners scoring five goals without reply. All the strikes were in the second half as Darren Gribben scored three with a brace from Nicky Walker. Darren McIntosh and Martin Lawrie were both in the that Blackburn side and have since returned to the club after stints elsewhere. There is also a very familiar face in the current Blackburn squad in the form of Stewart Devine who was part of the BU 2014 Super League winning side. Devine left Newtown Park in February 2017 after 137 appearances, scoring nine goals for Bo’ness.

With their form up and down over the last weeks, Blackburn hope to be able to put things together on Saturday. They lost at Whitehill Welfare but the previous week comprehensively beat Dunbar United at home. Prior to that they beat Musselburgh Athletic but lost heavily against Tranent Juniors, both matches played at their own ground. In amongst these results they lost narrowly against East Stirlingshire in the South of Scotland Cup and Blackburn clearly have a problem with consistency but are capable of performing on their day.

Blackburn showed ambition as early applicants to the East of Scotland League and last season qualified for the Premier Division, squeezing out Preston Athletic on goal difference. They currently sit in the bottom half of the table but a minimum aspiration is to consolidate their position in the division.

Bo’ness continued their unbeaten run two weeks ago at home to Newtongrange Star. Brian Ritchie headed the BUs into the lead but the goal was cancelled out with a Kayne Paterson strike. A Thomas Grant free kick shot had Bo’ness ahead at half time and shortly after the break Fraser Keast made it three for the home side. Clearly Bo’ness want to continue the winning form and the last couple of games has seen an improvement in the performance on top of the obvious determination that runs through the team.

A victory will maintain the four-point gap at the top of the division and keep the Bo’ness United league campaign on track. As usual the BU Faithful have their role to play with a noisy support that can spur on the players’ efforts to get the win.

Last Five Games

Bo’ness – WWWWW
Blackburn - LWLWL

John Spowart.