Match Preview 2024 2025
East Kilbride
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Newtown Park
Saturday 23 November 2024

Saturday coming Bo’ness United entertain Lowland League Champions and current leaders East Kilbride in a game that will test the players both individually and as a team. East Kilbride just regained the top spot from Caledonian Braves but now a point ahead with a game in hand are favourites to retain the Title. It has not all been plain sailing for the South Lanarkshire side with defeats against both Cumbernauld Colts and the Braves and draws at Linlithgow Rose and home to Tranent. However, balancing that against wins at Championship sides Airdrie and versus Ayr United in the SPFL Trust Trophy plus a win against Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish Cup, the BUs are facing a very difficult game of football.

Bo’ness have yet to beat East Kilbride at Newtown Park but they managed a win at the K Park Stadium last season. That win came courtesy of an early Scott Dalziel goal followed by a Ryan Porteous penalty kick just before half time. The second half was largely a test of Bo’ness defending, one they passed to achieve the win (Report). East Kilbride raced into an early lead in the Newtown game through a Scott Ferguson double and although Ryan Porteous pulled one back for the BUs, Dylan MacDonald regained the visitors two goal cushion, Just after the break Tom Grant once more reduced the leeway only for Joao Balde to counter for Kilby. Keir Foster scored in what was his debut goal for Bo’ness but East Kilbride held out for the win (Report).

Last weekend East Kilbride cruised to a South Challenge Cup tie at Blackburn United while Bo’ness lost at home to Musselburgh in the same competition after extra time. In midweek, after much discussion with both the club and the SJFA, Bo’ness finally visited Ardrossan Winton Rovers in a switched Scottish Junior Cup tie, winning by a single first half goal from Lucas Stenhouse (Report).

East Kilbride come to Bo’ness keen to consolidate their position at the top of the pile while Bo’ness want points to keep them in touch with the teams above them. The visitors start as favourites as they do in most of their games and it’s up to Bo’ness to see what they can do to upset the odds. There’s little room for error in this contest and the BU Faithful can do their bit, encouraging the team from the off. A difficult afternoon awaits.

John Spowart
Friday 22 November 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 16 March 2024
Competition –Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

East Kilbride 0
Bo'ness United 2
(Dalziel 16, Porteous 45 pen)

A magnificent performance gave Bo’ness United a first victory over East Kilbride in a match where the BUs fully merited their win. From start to finish, each player gave their all to achieve a result that keeps the BUs in with a chance of achieving a second-place finish in the Lowland League table.

There was an early setback when Kieran Mitchell limped off after only a few minutes and BU keeper Musa Dibaga was called into action making an early save from a Robert Thomson header. However, Bo’ness took this all in their stride beginning to assert themselves and just after fifteen minutes took the lead. East Kilbride tried to play the ball out from the back but Bo’ness pressed with Ryan Stevenson dispossessing Ryan Lockie at the edge of the box, Tom Grant taking advantage to cross for Scott Dalziel to head home from six yards.

Bo’ness were looking good at this point and continued to push forward and although being kept occupied at the back were successful in blunting the East Kilbride attack. Musa Dibaga was doing his bit, making a number of saves to keep a clean sheet and a few minutes before the break it was Bo’ness who extended their lead. A goal bound Dalziel header was blocked and in the ensuing scramble, Kyle Johnston was felled with a Joal Balde tackle allowing Ryan Porteous to dispatch the resulting penalty past Kilby keeper Matthew Connelly. Just on the whistle Dibaga made a great save to defy East Kilbride while Ryan Lockie smashed a shot off the Bo’ness post.

Into the second half and East Kilbride set about hitting back but as in the first they struggle to get past a resolute Bo’ness defence. Twenty minutes in and Dan Irving cleared an effort off the Bo’ness line with a follow up shot hitting the post. Kilby substitute Keir Samson missed a good chance, heading wide of the goal but it wasn’t all one way, Bo’ness looking to counter on the break. With fifteen minutes remaining East Kilbride sensed it was not going to be their day as Musa Dibaga made a fantastic save from a close-range Joal Balde shot.

At the final whistle BU players and fans alike were naturally delighted with the outcome and now look forward to another tough encounter with the visit to Linlithgow Rose next week.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson Irving (McArthur 72), Travis, Hawkins, Henderson, Mitchell (Malcolm 5), Johnston (Gemmell 49), Dalziel (Kennedy 72), Grant, Porteous. Subs (Not Used): Macaulay, Hamilton, SG Ruddy:

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Wednesday 08 November 2023
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 3
(Porteous 16, Grant 47, Foster 75)
East Kilbride 4
(Ferguson 11 12, MacDonald 32, Balde 71)

Bo’ness United lost out narrowly to league leaders East Kilbride in an exciting game where the BUs were unfortunate not to get a share of the spoils. Bo’ness 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 past 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-five-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 fought back, never giving up as they tried to rescue the situation. It was not the result the BUs wanted but the fighting spirit showed through and this quality will be necessary in the weeks and months to come.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Rutherford (Macaulay 65), Travis, McArthur (Hawkins 46), Henderson (Johnston 60), Stenhouse, Gemmell, Dalziel (Malcolm 69), Porteous, Grant (Foster 69). Subs (Not Used): Mooney, Kennedy

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 19 November 2024
Competition – Scottish Junior Cup Round 3

Ardrossan Winton Rovers 0
Bo’ness United 1
(Stenhouse 20)

Bo’ness United progressed in the Scottish Junior Cup after a narrow win at Ardrossan Winton Rovers where the BUs were best in the first half but Winton came into their own after the break.

From the off the game was played on the front foot, the BU keeper making a great save from a Ryan Wilson header quickly followed by Ryan Porteous crashing a shot off the Ardrossan bar. The Winton keeper, Kenzie Smyth was also called into action, saving a Tom Grant free kick shot.

A goal looked inevitable and it came from the BUs in twenty minutes. Lewis Hawkins found Lucas Stenhouse with a long pass from defence and he cut in from the right before hitting a great shot into the far corner of the net. The goal gave Bo’ness confidence and they might have extended their lead but Keir Macaulay and Ryan Stevenson both missed good opportunities to score.

It was a rejuvenated Ardrossan team that kicked off the second half as the North Ayrshire side went looking for a goal. Cade Melrose made a great save from Michael Howie and Ryan Wilson whacked the bar with a free kick shot, Melrose alert to smother the rebound. In one incident Ardrossan battered in shots on goal but BU defenders got in the way of the ball to maintain the clean sheet. Bo’ness were not finished up front, looking to make the tie safe Michael Gemmell coming closest with a shot hitting the post.

Bo’ness safely saw out the game and now look forward to meeting Dundee Downfield on a date yet to be confirmed.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Masson, Macaulay, Hawkins (Duffy 46), Travis, Gemmell, Stevenson, Henderson, Stenhouse, Porteous (Hamilton 65) Grant, Subs (Not Used): Johnston Simpson, Osadolor. SG: Ritchie

BU Man of the Match: Cade Melrose