Match Preview

Match Preview submitted by JOHN SPOWART!

Dundonald Bluebell, Central Taxis East of Scotland League Premier Division, Newtown Park, Saturday 08 February 2020

After the postponement at Camelon Juniors Bo’ness United will be back in action this weekend as they host Dundonald Bluebell for the return Premier Division match. The match earlier this season finished in all square, Bo’ness scoring late into time added on through Fraser Keast after Josh Jeffries thought he had scored the winner for his team. Stuart Hunter had put Bo’ness ahead just on half time but Colin Wilson equalised for the hosts five minutes after the break.

Although Bo’ness did not have a game last Saturday results elsewhere went well for them, none of their nearest challengers winning maximum points. Significantly though Dundonald won at Dunbar United by the odd goal in seven, the game being switched from Moorside Park on the Friday as the Dundonald pitch was waterlogged. Dundonald have enjoyed a positive January also beating Dunbar in the Football Nation Cup as well as winning at Penicuik Athletic in the league. They drew at Sauchie Juniors in the first game of the New Year. With plenty of games left Dundonald are still very much in the race for the Title and will provide very dangerous opponents for the BUs

Dundonald emerged from the same conference as Bo’ness last season the sides meeting three times over the campaign. Bo’ness drew the away League fixture while beating Dundonald at Newtown Park. The teams shared six goals in Fife Bo’ness coming back three times thanks to a Marty Wright hat trick. Barry Sibanda, Ross Drummond and Scott Durie were on target for the home side that day in a match where Ross Campbell was red carded early in the game with Will Snowdon also sent off late on.

In the return match an Allan MacKenzie strike and a brace from Marty Wright ensured Bo’ness won the points, Calum Smith scoring a late consolation for the visitors. On this occasion it was Dundonald who played most of the game with ten men, Craig Wedderburn receiving two yellow cards in the first half hour.

In between these games Bo’ness were again at Dundonald for a Football Nation Cup tie with the only difference between the sides a Nicky Prentice goal scored after only two minutes.

Back to this season, the Bo’ness defeat at the hands of then bottom placed Whitehill Welfare was largely due to missed chances in front of goal but proved once again that nothing can be taken for granted. Points will be won and lost all over this division and Bo’ness simply need, to quote the old cliché, take one game at a time. The focus for Saturday therefore is getting a result against Dundonald and as usual the BU Faithful can do their bit getting behind the team from the off.

John Spowart
05 February 2020