Match Preview 2024 2025
Tranent
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Newtown Park
Tuesday 10 December 2024

Bo’ness United are in midweek action as they host Tranent on Tuesday night. This is the return fixture, the BUs having visited Foresters Park early in the season. Jake Hutchings put Tranent ahead before Smart Osadolor equalised for the BUs. A late Dean Brett penalty conversion won the points for Tranent (Report). In the corresponding fixture at Newtown almost exactly a year ago Tranent were also victors, scoring two without reply courtesy of Broque Watson and Cammy Ross. (Report)

Tranent are currently sitting fourth in the Lowland League table only one point behind Caledonian Braves. Their last two league contests have both finished in a draw at Albion Rovers and East Kilbride. Previous to that they defeated University of Stirling and Cumbernauld Colts. Perhaps surprisingly Tranent have not fared well in the cup competitions. Out of the South Cup in round two at East Kilbride and round one of the Scottish at Dundee North End. Two weeks ago, they lost at Hill of Beath Hawthorn in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. Like Bo’ness Tranent entered the Scottish Junior Cup but unlike Bo’ness, the subsequent blank Saturdays have given them the opportunity to play their ties, beating West Park United in round four and now they meet Glenafton in the next round.

Bo’ness were idle on Saturday, their league match at Civil Service Strollers postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Their last match was the Scottish Cup defeat at Musselburgh, the game before that a Scottish Junior Cup win at Ardrossan Winton Rovers. Their last league win was at Cowdenbeath in mid October and since then have only accumulated two points from a possible nine. Bo’ness need to get back to winning games or they will be stranded in the bottom half of the table. Albion Rovers are three points ahead with Broxburn a further four beyond that. Bo’ness do have games in hand and hopefully can catch up in the coming weeks and months.

As has come to be expected, the game on Tuesday night represents another difficult fixture in what is a tough league competition. Bo’ness manager Stuart Hunter is well aware of this and is looking for his players to banish any Scottish Cup hangover and set about winning games to both progress and get the smiles back onto the faces of the BU Faithful. The challenge awaits.

John Spowart
Monday 09 December 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 06 August 2024
Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Tranent 2
(Hutchings 38, Brett 90+1 pen)
Bo'ness United 1
(Osadolor 56)

After the midweek trip to Tranent, Bo’ness United are still looking for their first win of the season after a narrow defeat at Foresters Park. On the balance of play a draw would have been a fairer result but as with University of Stirling a second half comeback was thwarted with a goal conceded in time added on.

The game started at a frantic pace, the sides going at each other with both getting early shots in on goal. As the first half progressed so did the home side with the BU defence working hard to keep them at bay. Seven minutes before half time Tranent did get ahead, a McGowan corner beyond the far post, Jake Hutchings heading back across goal, the ball finding the opposite corner of the net.

During the break the visiting fans bemoaned a disappointing performance so far but were delighted to see the BUs come out in the second half and take the game to their opponents. Ten minutes into the second half, the enterprise was rewarded after good play on the right finished with a great Ryan Stevenson cross, Smart Osadolor getting off the mark to head into the Tranent net. Bo’ness pushed on looking for a second with Tranent keeper Mason pulling off a fantastic save to stop his side going behind. Tranent were dangerous on the break winning a corner that saw Handling head over from close in. The game moved into time added on and a Tranent goal kick up the park saw Girdwood dash forward with Michael Travis in pursuit with his last-ditch tackle penalised. There was some doubt whether the foul was in or out of the box but the referee took advice from his assistant to give the penalty converted by Dean Brett. To compound the BU misery, Travis who had been previously booked was shown a second yellow card followed by a red.

After three games Bo’ness have only a single point compared to the maximum haul this time last season. In saying that, both defeats have been by the odd goal illustrating the fine margins at this point going against the BUs. Both have also seen Bo’ness having to retrieve a losing situation, something the manager is keen to sort out. With only two sides, Heart of Midlothian B and Berwick Rangers, on maximum points after three games there may be concern at the slow start but with the necessary adjustments Bo’ness can soon start to enjoy the winning feeling once more.

Bo'ness: Campbell, Stevenson, Macaulay, Duffy (Rutherford 46), Travis, Gemmell, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Grant 73), Nicol (Kennedy 76). Subs (Not Used): Hawkins, Henderson, Malcolm.

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 09 December 2023
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 0
Tranent 2
(Watson 40, Ross 90+3)

A goal late in each half gave Tranent all the points and saw Bo’ness United lose their third game in a row while dropping to fifth place in the table.

Bo’ness competed well in a frantic first half and had a good early chance, Lewis McArthur heading over from a Tom Grant corner. There was action at both ends but five minutes before half time it was Tranent who made the breakthrough when a low cross from Dean Brett went beyond the far post where Broque Watson had space to side foot his shot into the net.

Tranent upped their game in the second half and Bo’ness struggled to make an impact. They did get forward at times but were unable to convert and lost a second goal in time added on. From a throw deep inside their own half Bo’ness were unable to clear and the ball was played into the box where Cammy Ross was quickest nipping in to slot into the empty net.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Irving, Macaulay, Travis, McArthur, Gemmell (Henderson 74), Stenhouse, Foster, Dalziel (Johnston 60), Grant (Mooney 60). Porteous, Subs (Not Used): Stevenson, Malcolm, Kennedy SG Ritchie