Match Preview 2024 2025
Civil Service Strollers
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Christie Gillies Park
Saturday 07 December 2024

After their Scottish Cup exit at Musselburgh Athletic it’s back to Lowland League business for Bo’ness United with a visit to Civil Service Strollers. The BUs have yet to win at Christie Gillies Park and apart from the need to gather points it’s an incentive for the players to achieve the first victory there.

Bo’ness lost at the Strollers last season, Harry Girdwood scoring in the first half with Matthew Cunningham sealing the points just before the end. Bo’ness had enjoyed a lot of possession but were unable to make it count (Report). Civil Service visited Newtown Park earlier this season, Bo’ness scoring three to the Strollers’ two. A Lucas Stenhouse brace had Bo’ness two up in half an hour, Euan Valentine pulling one back before the break. With ten minutes remaining Ryan Porteous restored the two goal lead for Bo’ness, although Luca Vata scored a late consolation (Report).

Unusually, Civil Service Strollers are in the bottom half of the table though only four points behind Bo’ness but having played one game more. They lost their last two league games at University of Stirling and at home to Albion Rovers. They are faring better in the cups where although they lost at Irvine Meadow in the Scottish Cup, they exacted some revenge beating the Ayrshire side in the South Challenge Cup. On Saturday past they easily defeated Harthill Royal to progress in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.

Bo’ness have now exited the main cups, losing early in the season at Jeanfield Swifts in the East Cup and at home to Musselburgh in the South Cup. Musselburgh also triumphed in the Scottish Cup game at Olivebank giving them the double over the BUs. Nathan Evans scored early for Musselburgh but Lucas Stenhouse got one back after thirty minutes. Despite Bo’ness making a good start to the second half Callum Donaldson scored for Musselburgh, the momentum then swinging in their way. They sealed the win just before the end with a converted Craig Stevenson penalty (Report).

Obviously, Bo’ness are very disappointed with Saturday’s result and manager Stuart Hunter has a job to do to get his players back on track. The BUs still have an interest in the Scottish Junior Cup and there are still important league points to play for. They want to equal or even better last season’s third place position with a possible invitation of a place in the SPFL Trust Trophy, a worthwhile aim for this season. Civil Service have their own desire to move up the table and want to get back to the form of recent seasons.

The BU Faithful have suffered with the recent results and they too want to see their team get back into the groove. As usual they have a role to play in the BU recovery starting with the short trip to the Capital to get behind the team as they strive for the win.

John Spowart
Friday 06 December 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 02 September 2023
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Civil Service Strollers 2
(Girdwood 28, Cunningham 89)
Bo'ness United 0

Bo’ness United’s recent slump continued with a defeat at Civil Service Strollers in a season that has taken on a similar pattern as this time last year. That started with six games undefeated followed by a series of defeats, once again the BUs looking to find a way to get back to the winning habit.

At Christie Gillies Park Bo’ness went close early on, a Scott Dalziel shot crashing off the underside of the bar before being cleared. As it turned out it was the Strollers who took the lead in half an hour as the BUs failed to clear their lines allowing Harry Girdwood to fire home on the turn from close in. Girdwood had another chance saved by BU keeper Musa Dibaga. In between Kyle Johnson saw a cross ball saved by Strollers trialist keeper at the second attempt and Johnston was in action at the other end blocking a goal bound Callum Yeats effort.

In the second half Bo’ness set about getting back into the game and dominated the play in their attempt to get that vital strike. Unfortunately, all too often the final ball let them down while unable to find the target with their goal attempts. The closest Bo’ness came was a Ryan Porteous shot tipped over by the Strollers’ keeper. As the game drew to a close the BUs continued to press but were caught out as Kris Amponsah won the ball wide on the right and Matthew Cunningham converted the incoming low cross.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay, Gemmell, McArthur, Henderson, Kennedy (Stenhouse 46), Johnston, Dalziel, Porteous, Grant (Mooney 56).
Subs (Not Used). Ward SG Fullerton

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 20 August 2024
Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 3
(Stenhouse 23 27, Porteous 80)
Civil Service Strollers 2
(Valentine 39, M Vata 88)

Bo’ness United managed a victory against Civil Service Strollers where the contest was not only against their opponents but once again the horrible overhead conditions that made it a difficult game to both play in and watch. Shooting into the wind it was the BUs who went ahead as Lucas Stenhouse was strong in brushing off a challenge wide on the left before cutting across to angle low into the near corner of the goal. That was just over twenty minutes in and only four minutes later it was two for Bo’ness and Stenhouse. The youngster took a short corner to Keir Macaulay who crossed into the box and by the time Stenhouse moved into the goalmouth the ball found its way to him to shoot in in just inches from the line. Just before the break the Strollers pulled one back as a cross from Euan Valentine was caught in the breeze, the ball sailing over BU keeper Liam Campbell and into the net.

Into the second half and as is common, Bo’ness struggled with the elements at their back with overhit passes and crosses. However, they were getting shots and with ten minutes remaining a tidy Ryan Porteous half volley just inside the box regained the two goal cushion. Just before the end however Civil Service again pulled one back Campbell punching clear but only as far as Luca Vata who from twelve yards fired low into the Bo’ness net. There was no further scoring and the Bo’ness win was welcomed by the hardy souls who had braved the elements to watch their team and congratulate Ryan Stevenson’s two hundredth appearance for Bo’ness United.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Stevenson Trialist 72), Macaulay, Hawkins, Rutherford (Duffy 82), Grant (Irving 67), Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous, Nicol (Kennedy 82). Subs (Not Used): Gemmell, Malcolm, SG: Melrose.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 30 November 2024
Competition – Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Round 3

Musselburgh 3
(Evans 11, Donaldson 61, Stevenson 86 pen)
Bo’ness United 1
(Stenhouse 26)

Bo’ness United bowed out of the Scottish Cup at Olivebank, Musselburgh Athletic going through to the potentially lucrative fourth round. Bo’ness had their good periods during the game but overall, it was a disappointing afternoon for everybody associated with the club and the home side fully deserved their victory.

It was a nervous first fifteen minutes for the BUs as Musselburgh were all over them, scoring during this period. Nathan Evans running onto Craig Stevenson’s chipped pass before firing the ball past BU keeper Cade Melrose. Thankfully Bo’ness settled down and a Ryan Stevenson shot on the turn just missed the target. Shortly before the half hour mark Bo’ness were level as Lucas Stenhouse met a Ryan Stevenson cross to fire an unstoppable volley into the back of the Musselburgh net. Bo’ness were right back in the game and enjoyed their best spell of the tie without being able to take advantage. They also started the second half in a positive way and it was ironic that it was Musselburgh who got the all important second goal as Callum Donaldson latched onto a Zacharry Khan cutback to shoot low into the net from the edge of the box.

That second Musselburgh goal changed the whole complexion of the game, the home side looking the more likely, Bo’ness now struggling to compete. With four of the ninety left Musselburgh sealed their win as Craig Stevenson converted from the spot after Adam Masson had downed Nathan Evans in the box.

This was not a good day for Bo’ness United who must now reflect but be ready to go again for the rest of the season starting next week at Civil Service Strollers.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Masson, Macaulay, Hawkins (Duffy 62), Travis, Gemmell (Johnston 62), Stevenson (Osadolor 62), Henderson, Grant, Porteous. Subs (Not Used): McLinden Hamilton, SG: Ritchie.