After the disappointment of losing the Lowland League Cup Final to East Kilbride, Bo’ness United return to league business as Cowdenbeath come calling. The BUs visited Central Park for the first league match in October, winning by the odd goal in three. Matty McDonald had the hosts ahead at the break but second half goals from Ryan Porteous and Louis Kennedy won Bo’ness the points (Report). Cowdenbeath’s last visit to Newtown earlier last season also resulted in a Bo’ness win, Ryan Porteous giving Bo’ness an early lead with Ewan Macpherson equalising just before half time. After the break Tom Grant and Ryan Porteous gave the BUs a two goal cushion before Jamie Docherty pulled one back. Ten minutes before the end Keir Foster sealed the win for Bo’ness (Report).

Cowdenbeath are three places and four points behind Bo’ness in the table, having played the same number of games. Like Bo’ness their recent league form has yielded little with only one win in the last five. They are obviously looking to improve their tally, knowing a win draws Bo’ness closer with the opportunity of getting ahead before the season’s end. Bo’ness’s last league outing was the narrow loss at Civil Service Strollers though their last game was that league cup final. East Kilbride were two goals up within half an hour, Cameron Elliot and Daire O’Connor on target. Keir Foster got Bo’ness off the mark before the break but Bo’ness were unable to find an equalizer and four minutes before the end conceded a penalty converted by Cameron Elliot (Report).

Bo’ness have only four league matches left to play, two at home and two on the road. BU manager Stuart Hunter wants to complete the campaign on a high although is well aware how difficult the remaining fixtures are. No doubt he will be emphasising to his players the importance of finishing the season well and although disappointed in recent weeks, hopefully the BU Faithful can make their final effort to support the team through the remining contests.

John Spowart
01 April 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 19 October 2024

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Cowdenbeath 1
(McDonald 34)

Bo’ness United 2
(Porteous 60, Kennedy 70)

Bo’ness United enjoyed a good day in Fife, coming from behind to take all the points at Cowdenbeath. In the first half both teams created chances but it was the home side who got the all important goal in thirty four minutes. Greg McPherson saw his shot blocked but it rebounded for Matty McDonald to fire home from close in.

BU manager Stuart Hunter made a couple of changes at half time, Ryan Stevenson and Louis Kennedy replacing Lewis Hawkins and Tom Grant. That was not the only change as referee Andrew Craven who had been knocked to the ground in the first half was required to swap with one of his assistants for the second period.

Determined to get back into the match Bo’ness surged forward and equalised in sixty minutes, a Lucas Stenhouse corner to the near post finding Ryan Porteous whose glancing header landed in the opposite corner of the net. Ten minutes later Bo’ness completed the comeback as Louis Kennedy disposed a Cowdenbeath defender outside the box before hitting an early shot that flashed past Cowdenbeath keeper Ruaridh Lynch. In the final minutes Cowdenbeath made a determined effort to get a share of the points and a Jamie Docherty shot looked bound for the top corner of the net until Bo’ness keeper Cade Melrose magnificently touched the ball over the bar.

A good win for the BUs who look forward to another trip across the water next week, this time a Scottish Cup tie at Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Hawkins (Stevenson 46), Macaulay, Duffy, Travis Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous, Grant (Kennedy 46). Subs (Not Used): Gemmel, Malcolm, Henderson, McLinden. SG: Campbell

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 11 November 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 4
(Porteous 12 52, Grant 49, Foster 80)

Cowdenbeath 2
(Macpherson 43, Docherty 62)

Bo’ness United got back to winning Lowland League points with a good win against Cowdenbeath. After losses at home to East Kilbride and at University of Stirling the BUs were keen to keep in touch with the teams above them and it was mission accomplished.

The first half saw action at either end with goals at the beginning and the end of the period. Just over ten minutes in Cowdenbeath keeper Craig Hepburn dropped a corner and in the resulting goalmouth scramble Ryan Porteous got the vital touch to put his side ahead. Just before the break Cowdenbeath equalised with a run and low cross by Matthew MacDonald finding Ewan Macpherson who scored from close in.

Four minutes after the turnaround Bo’ness regained the lead as Scott Dalziel heads on a long ball for Tom Grant to score with a first time shot from the edge of the box. Soon after the BUs extended their advantage, Dalziel crossing from outside the box for Porteous to loop a header over the Cowdenbeath keeper and into the net. Cowdenbeath pulled a goal back thanks to Jamie Docherty whose angled run and shot beat BU keeper Musa Dibaga at his near post. With ten minutes remaining Bo’ness sealed the points, Keir Foster fighting to keep the ball ide on the left before cutting inside to fire home a low shot from just outside the box.

That goal appeared to knock the stuffing from Cowdenbeath, their misery compounded just before the end when Andy Rodden was shown a straight red card for a stamp on Louis Kennedy.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay, Travis, McArthur, Foster (Mooney 84), Stenhouse, Gemmell (Henderson 60), Dalziel (Malcolm 60), Porteous (Kennedy 84), Grant (Irving 70). Subs (Not Used): Rutherford, SG Thomson

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Sunday 30 March 2025

Competition –Lowland League Cup Final

Bo’ness United 1
(Stenhouse 37)

East Kilbride 3
(Elliot 6 87(pen), O’Connor 29)

Bo’ness United were unable to make it third time lucky as they once again lost to East Kilbride in the final of the Lowland League Cup. Over the piece East Kilbride were the better side and Bo’ness can have few complaints about the outcome.

East Kilbride got their noses in front early as a corner found its way beyond the back post where Cameron Elliott angled a shot into the opposite corner of the net. Just short of half an hour Kilby doubled their lead as Daire O’Connor’s shot towards goal took a wicked deflection off Ryan Stevenson, the ball beating BU keeper Liam Campbell. Bo’ness had showed little in the way of going forward but pulled a goal back when Keir Foster dispossessed an East Kilbride defender before running through to shoot low past Matthew Connelly in goal.

In the second half there was improvement in the Bo’ness play as they were winning the ball more and enjoyed a greater amount of possession. Unfortunately, they created few chances, a Kieran Mitchell cross cleared for a corner and a Keir Foster shot from distance gathered by Connelly. Bo’ness never stopped trying, hoping for an equaliser but with only a few minutes remaining they conceded a penalty, the award converted by Cameron Elliott, the BU hopes dashed and the cup destined for South Lanarkshire.

Bo’ness: 1 Liam Campbel, 20 Ryan Stevenson, 3 Keir Macaulay (Capt), 4 Adam Masson,
5 Shaun Rutherford, 6 Dan Irving, 7 Lucas Stenhouse, 8 Keir Foster,
9 Ryan Schiavone (Osadolor 76},10 Tom Grant (Dowling 59), 11 Louis Kennedy (Mitchell 50)

Subs: 12 Kieran Mitchell, 14 Smart Osadolor, 15 Max Dowling, 16 Lewis Hawkins (Not Used),
17 Lewis Duffy (Not Used), 18 (Billy Hutchison Not Used), 19 Lennon Connolly (Not Used)