Match Preview 2024 2025
Cowdenbeath
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Central Park
Saturday 19 October 2024

Bo’ness United cross the Forth on Saturday to meet Cowdenbeath hoping to make the return trip with all the points. They will have to be wary though as the Blue Brazil are hurting after a comprehensive defeat at East Kilbride in midweek and will be keen to make amends, particularly in front of their own fans.

In their last visit to Central Park at the beginning of the year, Bo’ness scored a victory thanks to first half goals from Keir Foster and Fin Malcolm (Report). Earlier in the season at Newtown, Ryan Porteous gave Bo’ness an early lead but Greg Macpherson equalised just before half time. Shortly after the break Tom Grant restored the Bo’ness lead and Porteous scored a second to give the BUs a two goal cushion. With just under the half hour remaining Jamie Docherty pulled one back for the Fifers but with ten minutes remaining Keir Foster sealed the win for Bo’ness (Report).

Cowdenbeath are not enjoying their Lowland League campaign so far with only two wins from twelve starts. They did have a recent win at home to Broomhill followed by a draw at Gretna 2008. On Saturday they were knocked out of the South Cup at St Cadoc’s but still have an interest in the Scottish Cup, looking forward to a second round tie at The Spartans after seeing off Rutherglen Glencairn in the last round. Since the BUs defeat at Gala Fairydean Rovers Bo’ness have won at Berwick Rangers and drawn their last two versus Celtic and Broxburn. They are anticipating a trip to Hill of Beath Hawthorn in the Scottish and a home tie against Musselburgh Athletic in the South Cup. The draw at home to Broxburn on Wednesday finished goalless with the main talking point the sending off of BU Adam Masson early in the second half. The Bo’ness defence stood firm to gain the draw and the BUs might even have nicked it, the ten men carving out a couple of good opportunities. (Report)

Saturday is all about league points, both teams looking to get a win. Bo’ness may be ahead of Cowdenbeath in the table but that goes for nothing in a competition where teams are all capable of beating each other. The BU Faithful will make the trip over the Queensferry crossing looking to see another determined performance from their favourites and the Bo’ness players are likely to respond hoping for a noisy backing from the fans.

John Spowart
Friday 18 October 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 13 January 2024

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Cowdenbeath 0

Bo'ness United 2
(Foster 13, Malcolm 35)

Bo’ness United achieved a deserved win at Cowdenbeath where they secured the points in a game that saw both teams finish with ten men.

An early goal proved useful for Bo’ness when with just short of fifteen minutes on the clock, Keir Foster’s misplaced pass was returned allowing him to stride forward to the edge of the box where his low shot beat Cowden keeper Craig Hepburn just inside the post. Bo’ness restricted their hosts to few opportunities, even scrambling clear a dangerous Greg Macpherson cross into the box. At the other end Bo’ness scored a second goal, Dan Irving getting to the line, his ball across the goal knocked home from close in by Finlay Malcolm. Cowdenbeath might have struck back before the break with a Zac Butterworth cut back but Greg Macpherson blasted wide.

Cowdenbeath made changes at halftime and they were soon pushing forward hoping to get back into the game. Bo’ness had defended well until this point and now they were defending in depth to deny Cowdenbeath to the point where new BU keeper Jack Ruddy only had a couple of shots to deal with. Cowdenbeath did miss one great chance as Ewan Macpherson headed wide from close in. With under twenty minutes remaining Cowdenbeath were reduced when Aiden McLaughlin received a second yellow card and soon after the referee decided to even things up, Michael Gemmell suffering the same fate.

It had not all been one way, Bo’ness creating a couple of chances on the break but there was no scoring in the second half and it finished a good day for the BUs.

Bo'ness: Ruddy, Stevenson, Irving, Travis, McArthur, Gemmell, Kennedy, Johnston (Henderson 64), Malcolm (Dalrymple 81), Foster Porteous (Grant 70). Subs (Not Used): Hawkins, Hill. SG: Dibaga

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 – Wednesday 16 October 2024

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 0

Broxburn Athletic 0

Ten man Bo’ness United dug in on a foggy Newtown Park to gain a valuable point against Broxburn Athletic. Playing most of the second half a man down the BUs showed their defensive qualities but also created chances that might have seen them win all the points.

The first half was even, both teams enjoying periods of possession if without many chances being created. However, six minutes into the second half the game changed as Adam Masson was shown the red card. The BU player was on the end of a hefty challenge from Bryan Mwangi that went unpunished much to the surprise of many around both the terraces and on the park. On recovering Masson expressed his concern, the referee deciding the Bo’ness player took it far enough to be shown his second yellow card of the game.

Broxburn looked to exploit their numerical advantage with the BU defence having to work hard to keep the goal intact. It was not all one way though with Bo’ness getting up the park to test the opposition. As it turned out both sides had opportunities to win the game but no one was able to make that all important conversion and it was honours even on the night.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Masson, Hawkins, Duffy Travis Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous, Kennedy (Stevenson 53). Subs (Not Used): Malcolm, Henderson, Grant, McLinden, Gemmell SG: Campbell