Bo'ness United 1-2 Whitehill Welfare

A view from the terraces provided by BRYAN COPELAND!

It was another blank Saturday for the BU last weekend with cup games scheduled to be played and the remaining teams already with a league fixture unfortunately the BU had to sit out. But a good win a fortnight ago when the BU were involved in the only fixture in our league played due to the weather wiping out all the others our lead at the top of the table was extended. As we all know the teams behind have several games in hand but provided we continue winning no one can catch us at the summit of the table.
A further boost for the BU is 6 key players have signed new contracts, Goalkeeper Andy Murphy, Captain Chris Donnelly and midfielder Craig Comrie were followed by Michael Gemmel, Ross Campbell and Devon Jacobs signing new deals to keep them at the club.
Onto todays match and it will be the 1st meeting of the season between both sides as the earlier scheduled fixture was postponed at the home of Whitehill. They currently sit at the opposite end of the league table than the home side however I’m sure we will take nothing for granted as we look to maintain the winning results. It’s still just 1 defeat in the league all season and remarkably 1 league defeat for Max Christie since he took charge over a year ago in January 2019 an absolutely outstanding achievement given the quality of competition week in week out.
Given the recent results the BU have had I’m sure Max and the team will be confident but by no means complacent heading into the game and with the usual large crowd expected to be cheering the home side on 3 points and a continued good run of results will be the order of the day.

Into the game then and the home side got us underway attacking the goal towards Kinneil school. It was the visitors however with the 1st opportunity as a through ball found their No. 9 only for progress to be halted by the linesman’s flag for offside. The home side then started coming into the game and good play earned a free kick on the edge of the box. Nimmo Sri j it towards goal but it was saved by the keeper after taking a slight deflection on the way through. A good tackle saw the ball won high up the pitch and a good cross put over the box but no one from the home side got on the end of it. Another chance fell for the home side minutes later as the victim keeper blocked a close range shot and while he was on the ground found the rebound hit straight at him as somehow the ball stayed out the net. The opening goal shortly followed but to the home sides dismay it was for the visitors quick play from back to front allowed them the opportunity to place the ball into the BU net and take the lead. BU 0 - 1 Whitehill. 23 minutes in and the home side got forward again only a very well timed tackle on the edge of the box stopped the attack. A chance to shoot opened up for Ritchie on the edge of the box after some good play from the home side but the ball went well off target. The visitors were also showing some grip passing at times and with 35 minutes gone a stranger walking in wouldn’t know they were the leagues bottom team even though the home side were still probs shading the possession stake, chances on goal for both sides were minimal. Jacobs took a long throw into the box from the far side and a great shot stung the gloves of the Whitehill keeper as he made a fantastic save, the rebound fell on the edge of the box for another shot this time from Morgan but it was over the bar as the home side still looked to find the equalising goal in the match. The home side were applying the pressure again but with 6 minutes to half time they were handed a blow as the visitors took a 2 goal lead. A dead ball situation, free kick from well outside the box was curled beautifully over the wall and into the top corner past a helpless Murphy can only be described as a beautiful goal. BU 0 - 2 Whitehill. After the restart Grant has a chance for the BU that came to nothing as the home support willed the team back into the game before half time. Another cross was put over the box for the visitors to defend and they done it well once again. Into added time at the end of the half and it should have been a goal back for the home side Stevenson done really well on the left and crossed the ball which was initially cleared but back it came again this time Anderson ran into the box and put a brillInt ball across the 6 yard for Morgan who had the keeper beat with his shot but the ball somehow came back off the post.
Half time Bo’ness 0 - 2 Whitehill Welfare.

Into the 2nd half and an early corner gave the home side a chance to get the ball into the box. Grant took it and found Hunter rising at the back post but his header was off target. Another chance and another ball over the bar for the hind side this time a Ritchie shot from the edge of the box as the home side tried and tried to get back into the game with a goal. A superb long ball forward found Ritchie who ran onto it and from just inside the box his shot was on target but saved by the visiting keeper. The home side were having a lot of possession and trying desperately to get a goal back Morgan tried to cross only for it to be blocked. The visitors broke away quickly and a block stopped Murphy from having to make a save. Stevenson came bursting forward with the ball for the home side and win a corner. Anderson took it but it was circled high over everyone and out for a goal kick. A substitution from BU manager Max Christie then saw Anderson replaced by Fraser Keast and as the ball bounced over the visitors box it was cleared eventually by the defence. 20 minutes into the half and a real chance to get back into the game came the way of the home side. Keast done well in the box and then went down, the referee paused before blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot. Ritchie places the ball and sent the keeper the wrong way lashing the ball into the back of the net. BU 1 - 2 Whitehill. The home side were now mostly dominating the possession as they went in search of an equaliser Grant had a shot from just outside the box that went over the bar. More chances came and went for the BU this time McGregor found himself in a good position as the ball came to him he took a touch and found himself one on one with the keeper but from a tight angle place his shot right across goal and out of play when possibly a cut back would have been the better option. Again McGregor was in a decent position in the box but after taking a touch the ball went out of play for a goal kick. Moments later and another ball was heading over the Whitehill box Keast was on the end of it but couldn’t trouble the visiting keeper. The home side were now certainly not short of possession and chances but couldn’t seem to take them and find the equaliser. Another corner was won and then swung in by Grant before being defended for another on the opposite side. Morgan curled it in and a deflection took it for a 3rd in a row to the home side. Morgan again swung it in and Hunter done well keeping the ball alive on the edge of the box before it eventually went out for a goal kick. Keast done really well on the right beating his man and then winning a corner. Grant swung the ball in and it almost fell to the home side for a shot but the visitors managed to get it away. With minutes to go a 2nd chance for the BU saw McKenzie replace Nimmo. More possession came for the BU and right on the 90 minutes a great ball came across the box McKenzie only for his shot to go up over the bar. The referee added plenty time on and more opportunities came the home sides a way a free kick just past half way was sent into the box and defended for a throw. Jacobs took it long but again the visiting defence dealt with it. Finally after 6 added minutes the match ended Bo’ness United 1 - 2 Whitehill welfare. Even although it was top against bottom the visitors didn’t look like a bottom of the table side but in summary the home side had most of the possession and most of the chances in the match but it just wasn’t to be today.