Match Preview 2024 2025
University of Stirling
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Forthbank Stadium
Saturday 14 December 2024

Bo’ness United move into the second half of their Lowland League campaign with the visit to University of Stirling. This is the return fixture and although the BUs are into phase two, they have yet to play East Kilbride and Broomhill, these fixtures postponed, plus Linlithgow Rose, scheduled for the holiday period. Compared to this point last season, Bo’ness are three places lower in the table and seven points short. Bo’ness have the task therefore to push on and try to catch up with themselves.

The home clash against the University was the first game of the season, Bo’ness losing to a late Nathan Lathan goal. Bo’ness were two goals down at half time, Ben Woloszyn and Finn Moffatt scoring for the students. After the break the BUs fought back, Kieran Mitchell and Lewis Duffy drawing them level before the last minute reverse (Report). In the away fixture last season, Bo’ness lost the game despite being one up at halftime from a Ryan Porteous penalty conversion. Ten minutes into the second half Bo’ness were behind, a Ciaran McAninch penalty and a Ben McIvor Redwood strike doing the damage. Stirling keeper Yan Gromov Godik saved a Fin Malcolm penalty to prevent a Bo’ness equaliser and the University sealed the points in time added on through Cameron McKinley (Report).

University of Stirling are only one point behind Bo’ness but having played two games more. Their Tuesday match at Cowdenbeath was off due to the frozen conditions while on Saturday they drew at Broxburn Athletic. The previous week they defeated Broomhill and are looking to keep up their good record against the BUs.

Bo’ness have registered only one victory since the Scottish Cup win at Hill of Beath Hawthorn at the end of October. That was the Scottish Junior Cup tie at Ardrossan Winton Rovers and since then have accumulated a mere two points from a possible twelve. Bo’ness lost out at home to Tranent in midweek although put in a much improved performance and the BUs want to take that form forward into the games to come. They did go in front with a second half Smart Osadolor goal but before the end Euan Bauld equalised and Daniel Handling netted a spot kick winner (Report).

Like Bo’ness, University of Stirling are out of the cups and apart from any university tournaments can focus on winning Lowland League points. Bo’ness will take heart from Tuesday night’s performance but with a number of sides coming up behind them Bo’ness need to start winning to keep them at bay while catching up with those ahead of them. The BU Faithful appreciated the player’s efforts on Tuesday and will be at Forthbank Stadium looking for more of the same.

John Spowart
Friday 13 December 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 27 July 2024
Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 2
(Mitchell 74, Duffy 81)
University of Stirling 3
(Woloszyn 20, Moffatt 31, Tallen 90)

Bo’ness United didn’t get the start they were looking for, when despite a great second half comeback they lost a late goal that saw them lose to University of Stirling in their Lowland League opener.

The BUs started well enough but the visitors began to impose themselves on the game and went ahead in twenty minutes when Euan Walker put the ball into the path of Ben Woloszyn to convert from twelve yards. Ten minutes later the students doubled their lead, this time Finn Moffatt showing great skill to cut inside before shooting past the BU trialist keeper at his near post.

It had been a poor first half from Bo’ness with only a Kieran Mitchell effort coming close but after the turnaround they set about getting back into the game. The University goal was put under some pressure although the BUs had to be mindful at the back with Stirling looking dangerous on the break. With fifteen minutes remaining the BU enterprise was finally rewarded with a fabulous Kieran Michell volley from the edge of the box, the ball finding the top corner of the net. With less than ten remaining the BUs were level from a Tom Grant corner, Lewis Duffy touching the ball across the goalmouth before finishing from close in for a debut goal. Bo’ness went looking for the winner but just before the end it was the visitors who claimed all the points, Nathan Tallan getting onto the end of a Sam Martin cutback to shoot under the BU keeper from six yards out.

It proved a disappointing first match for the BUs who can take heart from the spirited second half comeback but knowing there is work to be done to get the season on track.

Bo'ness: Trialist, Stevenson (Malcolm 61), Macaulay, Hawkins (Duffy 77), Travis, Irving (Gemmell 58), Kennedy, Johnston (Henderson 58), Mitchell, Grant, Porteous. Subs (Not Used) Trialist SG Campbell

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Sunday 22 October 2023
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

University of Stirling 3
(McAninch 51 pen, Redwood 55, McKinley 90+4)

Bo'ness United 1
(Porteous 29 pen)

It proved a bad day at the office for Bo’ness United, losing out to University of Stirling although it was the BUs who edged the first half creating the better chances going ahead just short of thirty minutes. That was via the penalty spot, Tom Grant felled inside the box with Ryan Porteous converting.

The second half started badly for Bo’ness as a few minutes in BU keeper Musa charged out to the edge of his box in an attempt to clear a long ball but only succeeded in taking out a Stirling player, allowing Ciaran McAninch to score from the resulting penalty. Only four minutes later Bo’ness went behind, a good Ben McIvor Redwood shot from the edge of the box finding the back of the net. At this point Bo’ness were struggling to cope with a rejuvenated university team and their cause was not helped as captain Lewis McArthur got injured and had to be replaced.

Towards the end Bo’ness rallied somewhat as they pushed forward and with a minute of the ninety left, were awarded a penalty for a handball in the box. Unfortunately for the BUs Stirling keeper Yan Gromov Godik got down to make a great save, turning Fin Malcolm’s shot round the post. Undaunted Bo’ness kept at it but in time added on with the emphasis on attack were caught short at the back as Stirling broke forward, Cameron McKinley slotting past Dibaga even though he looked well offside when he received the final pass.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Hawkins, Macaulay (Stevenson 60), Travis, McArthur (Ward 64) Henderson Stenhouse (Kennedy 72), Johnston, Malcolm Porteous (Mooney 60), Grant (Dalziel 60) Subs (Not Used): Gemmell SG Thomson

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 10 December 2024
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 1
(Osadolor 60)

Tranent 2
(Bauld 77, Handling 84pen)

Bo’ness United can consider themselves unfortunate not to get anything from this match against Tranent where the display was much improved from the last few outings. Both teams missed chances throughout the match and in the end, it was the visitors who came from behind to claim the points.

On a bitterly cold night both sides served up a good game of football to entertain the hardy souls who turned up on the night. The game was fast, end to end with plenty of goalmouth action, the goalies doing their bit with some decent saves. The first half was goalless and it was with thirty minutes remaining Bo’ness went ahead when Kieran Mitchell touched on a JJ Henderson pass to Smart Osadolor who slotted past Tranent keeper Kelby Mason from just inside the box.

One goal was never enough and sure enough Tranent equalised, Euan Bauld heading home from a Euan Greig corner. That was just inside the final fifteen and with only four left Tranent scored the winner, Daniel Handling converted from the spot after the referee adjudged Dan Irving had fouled Guy McGarry in the box.

Bo’ness will be disappointed with the result but if they can take this performance into future games, they can get back to winning points in the weeks to come.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Stevenson, Macaulay, Irving, Travis, Henderson (Kennedy 86) Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Grant 82) Mitchell (McLinden 79), Subs (Not Used): Hawkins, Hamilton, Duffy Masson SG: Ritchie