Hill of Beath 1-2 Bo'ness United

A fans view from the terraces, kindly supplied by BRYAN COPELAND!

A tough game for the BU today as we travel to Keirs Park Hill of Beath for this league game, a place that on many occasions through the junior years that hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for us. Just 4 weeks ago the home side visited us for a league match where the BU ran out winners by the 1 goal in what was a tough game so today is expected to be the same. The afore mentioned game was just 1 of many victories in the league since Max Christie took over. Admittedly from the Gaffer and players the BU have got results this season even when we haven’t played all that well but we have ground it out and that helped towards Max Christie not loosing a league game since he too charge in January. That was all to change last week when a poor performance and 1-0 home defeat to Blackburn United spoiled the unbelievable run. Today gives a chance to bounce back and the fact that had the BU won last week with 2nd place Camelon loosing the gap at the top could have been 7 points. The other side of it is even though we lost no ground was made up on us as we head into today’s game still 4 points clear at the top. Another slip could make things totally different however so it is important that the team puts in a good performance today and hopefully that will result in a victory and 3 points. The usual large travelling support will be there to help the lads as always which is always appreciated by the management coaching staff and players.

Into the game then and it got underway as the rain continued and the pitch looked to be heavy going. Both sides enjoyed possession in the opening 10 minutes but none of the 2 keepers had anything to do. A couple of corners from the home side we’re routinely defended by the BU before Donnelly done really well winning the ball and keeping it down the right. As he tried to cross it was blocked for a throw in which Jacobs threw into the box. A header went towards goal but it was a routine catch for the home keeper. The ball was quickly played out and the BU were undone as Murphy done well to save an initial shot from the quick attack the ball broke to the home side who calmly slotted it low into the net. Haws 1 - 0 BU. The goal seemed to spur the visitors on as they tried to get forward quickly and a free kick from Grant was swung into the box and cleared. As the home side broke forward the referee blew his whistle for offside as a shot was sent into the net past Murphy after the referee whistle had went. Forward came the visitors and another free kick was sent into the box Grant struck it and it was blocked as far as hunter who sent it back towards goal trying to place it in the corner of the net but again it was blocked. Snowdon hit a great shot towards goal that somehow the home keeper got too and as he saved it the ball bounced down off the crossbar and as the visitors appealed a goal and the way support cheered it was absolutely impossible to tell if it was over the line or not. The linesman and referee continued the game however and the score remained at 1-0 Haws. Donnelly done really well as the visitors now definitely looked the better side at this stage and as the ball went for a throw in. Jacobs took it long again into the box and it was cleared. The home side saw 2 yellow cards in quick succession the 1st possibly could have been a red as it was a ta old with studs showing and as the got desperate to win the ball back another card was shown for a rash challenge. Grant swung a free kick into the box that saw the home keeper alert to make a save.

Half time Hill of Beath 1 - 0 BU.

Into the 2nd half and the visitors started the better side, a good ball across the box found Donelly and he stuck the balm towards goal it looked like it was heading to the bottom corner but the home keeper got down and made a brilliant save to keep his side in the lead. Another chance soon followed for the home side with a shot into the side netting. Nimmo saw a yellow not for his initial foul but for his reaction (or so it looked) before the visitors had to deal with a quick break forward that they cleared out on the right. A sub from BU Gaffer Max Christie saw Nimmo replaced by McKenzie. Stevenson swing a free kick towards the box that hunter got on the end of but the ball was cleared as the pitch continued to cut up and looks really heavy as the rain continued to fall. A 2nd sub for the BU saw Henderson replace Jacobs and the formation changed to 3 at the back. A great cross into box found hunter who rose and headed the ball against the underside of the bar again the visiting support cheered but the game was waved play on (as in the 1st half impossible to tell if the ball was over the line or not) but a lot of people were getting the feeling it wasn’t the BU day. Grant saw a yellow for a foul that didn’t need to be made but whether the yellow was for the foul or the reaction is debatable. 12 minutes to go and thx reward for looking the better
Side came for the BU as a ball across the box was met and fired towards goal it was cleared close to the line but fell to Donnelly who sent the ball into the net. Haws 1 - 1 BU. Ironically the BU have played worse that this today and won but Snowdon done well to block at the restart before the visitors were again on the front foot only for good defending to block another chance. At the other end Gemmel done well to win the ball and clear. A free kick from Haws was put in the box and cleared as the costing suppler urged the BU forward now knowing that 2nd place Camelon had won their game today cutting the gap at the top of table if the BU don’t win. The reward came for being the better side with 6 minutes to go as Stevenson delivered a great ball across the box for McKenzie to put into the waiting net. Haws 1 - 2 BU. Snowdon done well keeping possession and playing the ball forward as the visitors saw the game out for a fantastic win on a miserable day making for a heavy pitch that was cutting up.

A deserved 3 points Full time Hill of Beath 1 - 2 Bo’ness United.