Bo’ness United host Cowdenbeath this weekend and with no easy games in this league, face another tough encounter where only the best will achieve a positive result. This is Cowdenbeath’s second campaign in the Lowland League with the BUs facing them on three occasions last season including a Scottish Cup tie at Central Park. Bo’ness were narrow winners that day and later in the year gained a draw again in Fife. The BUs won the league match at Newtown Park and the summaries for all of these games are at the end of this preview.

Cowdenbeath have only won one league match in their last five outings, at Gretna 2008 with three draws against Caledonian Braves, Albion Rovers and Linlithgow Rose plus a narrow defeat at Tranent. They have fared better in the cup competitions, winning at Whitehill Welfare in the South Cup while beating Linlithgow Rose in the Scottish. Their respective draws see them face Lanark United at home with a mouthwatering visit to Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The Blue Brazil may be looking forward to these ties but for now they are fully focused on gaining league points to get them higher up the table from their current eleventh position.

Bo’ness come into the game following a seven-goal thriller against top of the table East Kilbride. The BUs lost two early goals both scored by Scott Ferguson, a direct free kick and a shot from close in but got one back soon after. East Kilbride keeper Christopher Truesdale charged outside his box only to collide with his own defender, allowing the ball to break Ryan Porteous who fired into the net. In half an hour Kilby regained their two-goal advantage as Dylan Macdonald dashed up the right wing and his chipped ball into the middle beat Bo’ness keeper Musa Dibaga, landing in the far corner of the net.

A minute into the second half, Tom Grant narrowed the visitors’ advantage with a low shot on the turn finding the opposite side of the goal. The game really opened up, the teams exchanging blows and with just under twenty minutes remaining East Kilbride scored after a good run and low cross from Andrew Stirling saw the ball break to Joao Balde who swept home from twelve yards. Bo’ness were not finished and new loan signing Keir Foster came on and within six minutes scored a debut goal, a twenty-yard shot beating the East Kilbride keeper just inside his post. Bo’ness pressed forward looking for an equaliser although had to be mindful of the quick breakouts from the visitors. As Bo’ness chased the game there were claims a Ryan Porteous effort crossed the goal line before being cleared for a corner but the appeals were turned down by the referee.

After the disastrous start to the match Bo’ness showed great spirit to get back at their opponents and that quality will be needed again on Saturday. Bo’ness want to stay in touch with the teams above them and with a likely large noisy visiting support are looking to the BU Faithful to win their own competition from the Newtown Park terraces.

John Spowart
Friday 10 November 2023

Date –Saturday 17 September 2022
Competition – Scottish Cup Round 1

Cowdenbeath 0
Bo’ness United 1
(Jones 53)

A single Alassan Jones goal at Cowdenbeath was enough to see Bo’ness United progress to the next round of the Scottish Cup. In a tight game the BUs enjoyed good possession in the early part of the game but as time moved on the Blue Brazil came into things creating a number of good chances. Lucas Berry ran through on the Bo’ness goal only to be thwarted by a good block from Musa Dibaga and the BU keeper did even better after Cowdenbeath were awarded a penalty but a great dive stopped Scott Sinclair’s spot kick way down at the post. The third opportunity fell to David Struthers and although his chip beat the stranded Dibaga the ball came back from the post and the danger was cleared.

Before half time Bo’ness responded with a couple of shots of their own, the best coming from Alassan Jones who from only a few yards inside the touchline curled a great shot that was brilliantly tipped over by Beath keeper Jack Ruddy.

Eight minutes into the second half Bo’ness went ahead after Daniel Martins’ crunching tackle felled Lennon Walker a few yards from the edge of the box. Not only was Martins booked but the Cowdenbeath player was helpless as Jones fired a low free kick shot into the opposite corner of the net.

Cowdenbeath made every effort to respond but were faced with a resolute defence. Near the end Jones tried for a second for both him and the BUs with an audacious chip from the halfway line that only just cleared the Cowdenbeath bar. The home side did create some chances and just before the end a cross into the box was met by Scott Sinclair but his volley went wide of the target.

Bo’ness: Dibaga, Hawkins, Jacobs, McCormack, Todd, Gemmell, Miller (Smith 80), Jones, Watt, Hamilton, Walker. Subs (Not Used): Johnston, Hughes, Macaulay, Grant, Coll, Ward. SG Torres

Date – Tuesday 08 November 2022
Competition – Lowland League

Cowdenbeath 1
(Sinclair 24)
Bo'ness United 1
(Grant 72)

Bo’ness United had to be satisfied with a share of the points at Cowdenbeath despite dominating this match on a wind-swept Central Park. Unfortunately, the BUs were unable to convert possession into goals although they can be happy with their overall display.

An early save by Jack Ruddy stopped a Nick Locke free kick shot and the Beath keeper also blocked Dan Watt’s run through on goal. Great chances for the BUs, but very much against the run of play the home side went ahead after twenty-five minutes, Scott Sinclair connecting with a David Struthers low cross, the ball bouncing over the diving BU keeper Musa Dibaga unable to keep the ball out of his net. The goal inspired the Blue Brazil, enjoying their best spell of the game and Sinclair almost capitalised on some slack BU play but saw his shot go wide of the far post.

Bo’ness steadied the ship and a Lennon Walker ball across the goal only lacked the touch to send it over the line and Walker was at it again as Ruddy dived at his feet to stop the young forward’s charge into the box. The ball broke loose and Ruddy had to reset to save from Walker, Watt following up only to see his shot cleared off the goal line.

Just after the break a Tom Grant cross into the Cowdenbeath box went abegging as Bo’ness again pushed forward looking for an equaliser. However, at the other end BU keeper Dibaga made a good save from a Sinclair free kick shot and with twenty minutes remaining two incidents in quick succession proved significant. Cowdenbeath still proved a threat breaking forward and a shot by Alfie Robinson was only inches from doubling the home side’s lead but the play quickly moved to the opposite goal where the ball broke to Tom Grant who fired low into the Cowdenbeath net from the edge of the box.

Bo’ness worked for a winner without success, the closest a Nick Locke header that was just wide, and just before the end Dibaga had to make a block from Sean Slaven to prevent a late winner for Cowdenbeath.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, McCormack, Macaulay, Locke, Hawkins, Gemmell, Jones, Grant, Watt (Miller 81), Hamilton, Walker

Date – Tuesday 20 December 2022
Competition – Lowland League

Bo'ness United 3
(Jones 18 63 68)
Cowdenbeath 1
(Cunningham 56)

Bo’ness United provided some Christmas cheer for their fans with a convincing home victory against Cowdenbeath. There was little hint of things to come in the early stages as both sides warmed to the task but the BUs went ahead just before the twenty-minute mark, Alassan Jones curling home a fine free kick shot from the edge of the box.

The BUs looked to extend their lead with a Jones snap shot that Daniel Farrell saved low at his post and the Cowdenbeath keeper also saved point blank from a Ciaran Heeps shot. Nick Locke fired a free kick into Farrell’s hands and it was mostly BUs with Cowdenbeath only managing their own free kick shot from Stuart Love that was easily saved by Musa Dibaga,

Cowdenbeath made a bright start to the second half and were rewarded ten minutes in when Michael Cunningham, running along the by-line managed to bundle the ball in from the acutest of angles. Wasting little time to consider the folly, eleven minutes later Bo’ness won a free kick at the edge of the box and although it looked to be more of a challenge, Jones once again found the corner of the net to regain the lead for the BUs. Not satisfied with his two goals Jones capitalised on a mistake between keeper and defender to pounce before firing an angled shot into the Cowdenbeath net. The visitors were unable to respond and Bo’ness saw the game out, satisfied with a good night’s work

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay, Locke, McCormack, Gemmell, Hamilton, Johnston, Walker (Grant 46), Jones (McArthur 81), Heeps Subs (Not Used): Jacobs, Hawkins, Murdoch, Watt SG Thomson