Bo'ness United 2-1 Camelon

A view from the terraces supplied by BRYAN COPELAND

A top of the table fixture today as the BU welcome the Mariners to Newtown Park with 4 points between the 2 sides. Had it not been for 1 defeat in the league this season for the BU at home to Blackburn United it could have been a 7 point gap as Camelon also lost to Musselburgh that same day. With the league very competitive this season whatever way this match goes I wouldn’t say it will determine where the title will end up come the end of the season but the BU will be looking for a win to extend their advantage at the top while Camelon look to close to within a single point.
The 2 sides know each other well having spent many years in the juniors together and making the switch to senior football and the EOS at the same time.
With almost every game wiped out by the heavy frost last week both teams have had a free week before this game to prepare and I’m sure will be glad to get back playing football and with the BU always having a fantastic support I’m sure there will be plenty out in force today to cheer the team on.

Into the match and it began with the BU attacking the goal towards the Kinneil School end of the ground. The large support packed the enclosure as the lights lit the park and the rain continued to pour down. The home side loaded the box as a free kick was swung in and it looked Hesse’s straight for Hunter he managed to head it down and before a shot could be made on goal the ball was booted clear by the mariners defence. Hunter showed great composure to easily take the ball off the advancing Camelon and played a good pass forward as the home side started the better of the 2. Good play down the right saw a great ball played low across the box, it was cleared but won back and returned by Hunter pressing a high line outside the Camelon box. The ball was cleared again and won back by Campbell this time. He found a pass out wide and again the visitors had the ball to clear out the box. Donnelly was looking lovely as he almost got on the end of a through ball but play was stopped for offside. 12 minutes in and it looked like the opening goal was coming as McKenzie got to the ball 1st and poked it towards goal only for it to be booted off the line. Ritchie was then clean through on the mariners keeper but his shot was scuffed along the ground making for an easy save. The home side had a littler defending to do as the visitors tried to use the advantage of the wind and Murphy easily caught a cross in from the left before Campbell had to be alert to clear the ball from just inside the box. 26 minutes and the opening goal deservedly came for the home side, Ryan Stevenson connected beautifully with the ball and curled it into the top corner from outside the box. A stunning strike to make it BU 1 - 0 Camelon. Minutes later it could and should have been 2-0 a foul saw the referee play advantage for the home side an as Morgan collected the ball forward the visitors bench and fans were screaming for offside, Morgan unphased continued his run and laid the ball to Donnelly who from 6 yards out somehow managed to pass the ball straight to the Camelon keeper. A big chance for the home side went begging and forward came the visitors Murphy was alert and done well to save. Another chance fell for the home side as yet another bad tackle flew in from Camelon. The free kick into the box found Donnelly who headed on target but again the keeper saved. As half time approached Murphy had a save to make that was reasonably comfortable and the home side retained possession until the referee blew for half time. With the chances missed the home side will be hoping they don’t come back to haunt them in the 2nd half as it could and should have been more comfortable at this stage.

Into the 2nd half then and immediately the score was level as a pass was pounced on by the visitors and the ball was slotted into the net. BU 1 - 1 Camelon. The home side looked to get back in control of the game but it was the visitors enjoying the best of the start to the half in the opening 10 minutes as again the home side had defending to do which they done well. 11 minutes in and a quick move forward gave some rest bite to the back line. Gemmel done well to win the ball on the edge of his own box and played it out to Morgan who put a through ball towards McKenzie down the right only for the flag to go up for offside. BU Gaffer Max Christie made a change as Gemme was replaced by Comrie. Forward then came the home side but the ball was cleared before a shot could be made on goal. 14 minutes in and the home side had the lead again good play down the left saw the ball played across and this time Captain Dougie (Chris Donnelly) made no mistake and restored the BU lead. BU 2 - 1 Camelon. Minutes later and another chance fell the way of the home side as they got back in control of the game Donnelly narrowly missing a chance to further the lead. The visitors then made a double change with now 22 minutes remaining. A ball forward found Donnelly but the flag went up for offside. Then the visitors got forward and Murphy done really well in the BU goal to make a save and clear the ball. The game swung the way of the visitors again slightly as they had some good sharp moves forward and caused problems for the BU defence but with 15 minutes to go the score remained BU 2 - 1 Camelon. A 2nd change for the BU saw Morgan replaced by Nimmo. A decent cross from the far side just missed the head of Grant at the back post and was cleared away by the Camelon defence. The visitors made a quick break that was stopped with a foul on the half way line before the home side played a quick ball forward only to see it returned up the field as the game entered the final few minutes. The visitors had a shot from distance wide of the post then as the ball was played forward a bad tackle on McKenzie just past half way saw him go off injured replaced by Will Snowdon. Added time came and went and the match finished BU 2 - 1 Camelon leaving the BU 7 points clear at the top of the league table.