Bo’ness United welcome Heart of Midlothian B to Newtown Park on Saturday looking to achieve the double over the young Hearts. The BUs won at Ainslie Park early in the season, a goal in each half from Tom Grant and Kyle Johnston securing the points (Report). In the home fixture last season, a close encounter finished in a draw. Two early goals by Makenzie Kirk saw Hearts two up at half time but Michael Travis and Ryan Porteous brought the BUs level only for Makenzie Kirk to score his third to see the young Jambos in front again. Before the end Michael Travis completed a fine debut, scoring the BU equaliser (Report).

Hearts B finished in second place, just ahead of the BUs last season but so far they have not reached the same heights, currently sitting twelfth, four places and five points behind the BUs. Some of this may be down to their most talented players having progressed, Makenzie Kirk now at St Johnstone and James Wilson a regular in the Hearts first team. Adam Forrester is also now part of the first team squad with Macaulay Tait on loan to Livingston. In their last outing Hearts lost at home to Civil Service Strollers although it’s only a month since the result was reversed at Christie Gillies Park. In between Hearts drew against Linlithgow Rose and seven points from a possible twelve is something for them to work on.

Last weekend Bo’ness had a narrow win at Albion Rovers in the League Cup. Kieran Mitchell scored an early goal that proved to be the difference between the sides. The BUs might have added to their lead although in the end it was a great defensive display that stopped Rovers even getting the chance of a penalty shootout (Report). Bo’ness go into this game without the services of Michael Travis who has a new job in Dundee that will include Saturday working. A significant gap to be filled as ‘Trav’ made a substantial contribution in his short time at Newtown Park. Coming in, Lennon Connolly is a loan signing from Queens Park and the youngster acquitted himself well in the Albion Rovers game.

Despite Hearts B drop in form this season Bo’ness are going through a similar experience and Saturday’s match will be a difficult challenge for the BUs. A win sees the BUs keep in touch with those above, anything else allowing those below to catch up. Three wins from the last four has seen Bo’ness digging in for a result and the same again is required if they want to win the points on Saturday. Hopefully the BU faithful can turn out to provide the atmosphere that can inspire their favourites to put on a good show.

John Spowart
07 February 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Friday 06 September 2024

Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Heart of Midlothian B 0

Bo'ness United 2
(Grant 20, Johnston 62)

Bo’ness United enjoyed a successful Friday night at Ainslie Park where they achieved a well deserved win against Heart of Midlothian B. A goal in each half inflicted the damage in a contest that was played at a fast pace throughout.

In the first half play raged from end to end though without too many clear cut chances created. Just before the twenty minute mark Ryan Porteous connected with a Tom Grant free kick cross but his header hit the bar. Just after that Bo’ness thought they had earned a penalty when Smart Osadolor was fouled but the officials adjudged the offence to be just outside the box. It didn’t matter anyway as Osadolor’s shot from the edge of the box was too hot for Hearts keeper MacDonald to handle and Tom Grant followed up to put the loose ball away. Hearts were getting forward but their final ball and shooting was letting them down, their technical area having to ensure they had a good supply of balls to let the game continue.

The second half continued in the same manner, Hearts keen to get themselves back in the game. As it was, with just under thirty minutes remaining Bo’ness scored as a second when Ryan Porteous flicked on a Tom Grant corner and Kyle Johnston was in the right place to knock the ball home. Hearts worked hard to stage a revival but they were up against a set of players desperate to take all the points. Bo’ness matched the energy levels of the young Jambos until the final whistle and left the field to the applause of an appreciative BU Faithful.

Bo’ness have now won four of their last five league games and thirteen from a possible fifteen points see them only one short of where they were at this time last season. The BUs want to continue this improved form and everyone will be working hard to make this possible.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Stevenson, Macaulay, Trialist, Irving, Grant, Stenhouse (Mitchell 88), Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Henderson 80). Kennedy (Malcolm 88) Subs (Not Used): Gemmell Hawkins Duffy, SG: Melrose

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 07 October 2023

Competition – Park’s Motorgroup Lowland League

Bo'ness United 3
(Travis 56 86, Porteous 65))

Hearts B 3
(Kirk 3p 7 72p)

After a disastrous start to this match losing two early goals, Bo’ness United showed true grit to fight back to gain a draw against Hearts B. Only three minutes in Michael Gemmell tripped Makenzie Kirk in the box Kirk getting up to smash the resulting penalty past Musa Dibaga. Shortly after the same player hit a speculative shot from twenty-five yards, this time the unfortunate BU keeper allowing the ball to slip through his hands and over the line. At this point Bo’ness looked all over the place but settled into the game although had to be mindful as the young Hearts continued to look dangerous going forward.

After the turnaround a more determined Bo’ness emerged and it was the Hearts goal that came under pressure. Nine minutes in the BUs made the breakthrough as a JJ Henderson free kick to the back post was headed back across goal findin Michael Travis in the right place to nod in on his Bo’ness debut. Hearts were still getting up the park and BU keeper Dibaga made a great save from Callum Sandilands to stop the visitors regaining their two-goal cushion. The save proved invaluable as soon after Bo’ness got an equaliser, a Lucas Stenhouse cross finding Ryan Porteous who slotted in at the far post.

There followed a dramatic period when young Jambo Ethan Drysdale received a second yellow card after fouling Stenhouse and a minute later the referee decided to even things up adjudging Michael Gemmell to have gone down too easily in a tussle warranting his second yellow. Hearts B then regained their lead from the spot, a disputed handball decision giving Kirk his hat trick for the day. A blow for Bo’ness but they kept going and shortly before the end equalised, Travis heading in his second from a Tom Grant free kick cross. Right on the whistle from a corner only a great stop on the line prevented Hearts achieving a last gasp winner.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Irving, Macaulay (Grant 75), Hawkins, Gemmell, Stenhouse, Johnston, Dalziel, Porteous (Mooney 80), Henderson. Subs (Not Used). Kennedy, Malcolm, McArthur SG Fullerton

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 01 February 2025

Competition –Lowland League Cup Round 1

Albion Rovers 0

Bo’ness United 1
(Mitchell 4)

Bo’ness United edged through to the next round of the Lowland League Cup courtesy of a single Kieran Mitchell strike. The goal came early, Mitchell nodding in from a corner but this victory was achieved largely thanks to resolute Bo’ness defending, the players working hard getting in the way of anything and everything Albion Rovers threw at them,

After the Bo’ness goal Rovers dominated the possession, their best chances coming from a Dom McMahon shot that went narrowly past and a Peter Mendy effort saved by BU keeper Liam Campbell. In the second half the hosts continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball but the BUs kept them at bay with very few clear cut chances. Indeed, Bo’ness had a great opportunity to double their lead, a Ryan Stevenson low ball across the face of the goal, Smart Osadolor just short of touching in on the line. In the final minutes Albion threw everything into getting back but Bo’ness held out for a hard earned victory.

New Queens Park loan signing Lennon Connolly showed up well for Bo’ness on his debut but it was a farewell outing from. Michael Travis whose new work commitments sees him leaving the BUs. A big loss for the club but all the best to ‘Trav’.

Bo’ness: Campbell, Hawkins, Macaulay, Rutherford (Duffy 46), Travis, Gemmell, Mitchell, Connolly, Osadolor, , Grant Stevenson 71), Dowling (Irving 58),. Subs (Not Used): Kennedy, McCormick, Hutchison, Henderson