Bo'ness United 1-1 Broxburn

A view from the terraces, submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Match Report
EOS Premier League
Bo’ness United v Broxburn Athletic
Saturday 21/12/2019
Newtown Park. Kick Off 14:30

BU Team :
Murphy (Gk) McGregor Hunter Campbell Jacobs Gemmel Comrie Grant Ritchie Donnelly (c) McKenzie.
Subs : Adamson (Gk) Snowdon Morgan Nimmo Keast.

After a good win against 2nd place Camelon 2 weeks ago to extend the lead at the top a call off at Whitehill last weekend meant no game for the BU.
This week we welcome Broxburn to Newtown Park in what will be the last game of 2019 with neighbours Linlithgow being the 1st foots to Newtown Park on January 4th for the 1st competitive derby for a while. The performance against Camelon was good a fortnight ago and I’m sure everyone will be looking to end the year on a high with another good performance and win today.
Broxburn will being with them a fair few familiar faces in the way of players and management team / coaching staff that used to be with the BU. A warm welcomes awaits them all as we look forward to what should be a cracking game.
The fixture was ironically scheduled for next Saturday with this week meant to be the Xmas break but rather then have the break this week both teams have decided to play this week and be off next.
I’m sure the usual large home support will once again be out in numbers.
Finally before we get into the game may I say a very Merry Xmas to all associates with the BU, Management, coaching staff, committee, players and fans.

Into the game then and the opening 15 minutes saw the visitors on top with Hunter having to be alert and clear balls into the box on the more than 1 occasion and BU keeper Andy Murphy called into action 3 times with very good saves. 16 minutes in and the home side finally got forward and attacked the Broxburn box with the ball being well defended and sent for a corner. In it came and it was a brilliant ball that was met and sent towards goal, it looked like the breakthrough but the ball was adjudged not to have crossed the line. On the break the visitors quickly got forward and again called Murphy into action. Broxburn continued to look the better side with all their attacks coming down their left hand side as Murphy was again called into action saving a shot well then hunter sent the ball high and long up the pitch. Minutes later and it was the same side again this time Broxburn cut in and sent a shot tiaras Murphy which he got down well to stop. 26 minutes in and another shot headed towards Murphy this time a low drive from outside the box, the ball went wide of the post but it looked like Murphy had it covered anyways had it been on target. A foul on the half way line saw new signing McGregor go into the referees book, shortly followed by more danger to the home side as Jacobs went in for a 50/50 ball but the referee judged it to be a foul and awarded a free kick on the edge of the area booking Jacobs in the process. The free kick was a direct hit toasts goal but it was low and well wide of Murphy’s right hand post. The home side came forward and a good ball up the right hand side was cleared for a corner. Ok it came and a string headed sent the ball for a corner at the other end. Again the ball was cleared but Jacobs returned it to the box from the half way line as a push saw the BU have a chance to take the lead mostly against the run of play as the referee pointed to the spot. Brian Ritchie took the ball and placed it on the spot and as the referee blew his whistle for the penalty to be taken he lashed it high into the net, a brilliantly taken penalty putting the home side in front. BU 1 - 0 Broxburn. Another chance for the home side came just after as a foul saw a free kick awarded just outside the box in the centre of the goal. Great got it up and down really well but it went narrowly over the bar. The home side now looked to come back into the game a bit but the visitors did have a chance as the ball was played over the box and a shot went just off target. Forward came the home side but the chance came to nothing and right on half time the visitors sent a shot towards goal a curling effort from outside the box that went high over Murphy’s cross bar. Added time in the 1st half and the goal that has been coming for the visitors finally came. Good defending initially saw the home side clear the ball outside the box but again the visitors had the freedom down their left hand side that they have had all half and in came the ball again it was then well controlled and fired low last Murphy. BU 1 - 1 Broxburn. As soon as the home side’s restated the game the referee blew for half time.

Into the 2nd half and a change from BU gaffer Max Christie saw Brian Morgan replace Brian Ritchie. An early chance came for the home side Donnelly hit a brilliant shot that was on target heading to the top corner only for the visiting keeper to produce a great save as he tipped it over the bar for a corner. The visitors got a quick break but Jacobs was alert for the home side as he brilliantly intercepted the ball and played a brilliant pass forward. Mckenzie got to it and held it up while Jacobs burst forward to get the return ball and sent a great cross over the 6 yard box that just missed anyone in front of goal. Grant picked it up and played it to Morgan and as he played it towards the box Donnelly went into a challenge and was hugest I have fouled. This caused problems for the home side as the referee went to his pocket and produced a 2nd yellow card reducing the home side to 10 men as the captain walked off. Morgan down well controlling the ball on the left and he sent a great ball over offering the ball on a plate to Comrie, unfortunately when he should have hit the target he went the ball high and wide. A 2nd change for the BU then saw McKenzie replaced by Keast with 26 minutes remaining. A cross ball from the visitors went out of play on the far side and the 3rd and final change was made for the BU as Ian Nimmo replaced Michael Gemmel. The 10 men of Bo’ness tried to get forward but it was the visitors with the next 2 chances as again they got down the same side and get a ball across, Jacobs interceded it well and went on a quick run forward but his ball into it he box was high over anyone and cleared. Again the visitors got an opportunity to cross the ball and as it curled in Murphy looked to have it covered but panic came as the ball bounced off his gloves, it fell to the visitors but was then blasted over the bar. The home side put a bit of pressure on as they got forward and the ball went for a throw parallel with the Broxburn box. Jacobs ran forward to take it and he threw it long into the box, as Hunter went up to get on it a block came but only as far as Morgan on the edge of the box who played it back in again the chance coming to nothing. A dangerous ball from the visitors fizzed over the home box but with no one to get on the end of it no danger was caused. Into the final 5 minutes and another shot from the visitors this time from outside the box took a wicked deflection and thankfully went over the bar for a corner which was well cleared by the BU. A few kick from the visitors was crossed into the box but came to nothing as no one got on the end of it. A quick break gave the 10 men a chance as they got forward quickly but good defending saw any chance blocked. As the game went deeper and deeper into added time the visitors got forward once more but again the home side stood firm and held out for a draw.
Full time BU 1 - 1 Broxburn.