Match Preview 2024 2025
Linlithgow Rose
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Newtown Park
Saturday 28 December 2024

Saturday sees part one of the festive derby double, Linlithgow Rose visiting Newtown Park this weekend with the return scheduled for next week. Last year saw a no score draw in Bo’ness but the return, postponed due to snow and frost was played in March. The BUs won that encounter thanks to a late Louis Kennedy goal after the BUs went ahead early through Ryan Porteous, with Conor McKenzie equalising before the break. (Reports)

Linlithgow Rose are enjoying a good second season in the Lowland League, currently fifth in the table only six points from the top position and one behind Caledonian Braves with a game in hand. Their last two games were home victories against Cumbernauld Colts and Broomhill, though before that they lost at Cowdenbeath. The Rose are out of both the Scottish and South Challenge Cups, losing to Raith Rovers and Cumbernauld Colts respectively. However, they maintain an interest in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, drawn to play Civil Service Strollers in the next round.

Bo’ness United didn’t play at the weekend, once again a late postponement at Broomhill due to a waterlogged pitch with the BU players and officials already at the venue. This is a repeat of what happened with the original fixture in late August and the BUs will have to make a third trip to the Dumbarton Football Stadium later in the season.

Given their league position and recent form Linlithgow start as favourites for this game, particularly as Bo’ness have only enjoyed one league victory in their last six, that was in mid October at Cowdenbeath. That provides the incentive for Bo’ness to put things right with a positive derby day result. Linlithgow Rose will bring a large support with them and combined with the BU fans there is sure to be a large crowd inside Newtown Park. A great atmosphere is guaranteed and hopefully the BU players can rise to the occasion to give their fans a happy new year.

John Spowart
Friday 27 December 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Tuesday 26 December 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 0

Linlithgow Rose 0

The first Lowland League meeting between these derby rivals finished goalless in what was generally a scrappy affair. One red card plus a number of bookings hinted at the tetchiness that crept into a game that just about avoided boiling over.

It took time for the teams to settle with the first real chance twenty-five minutes in when Lewis Hawkins headed just wide of the Linlithgow goal frame. A few minutes later a quick Bo’ness break finished with a Louis Kennedy shot that Linlithgow keeper Cameron Binnie tipped over the bar. The Rose responded with a Conor McKenzie cross cum shot landing on top of the Bo’ness net then a shot saved by BU keeper Musa Dibaga.

Early in the second half Linlithgow were reduced to ten men as Alexander Webb was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. As can happen Bo’ness were unable to take advantage of the extra man and as it was Linlithgow who enjoyed a lot of good possession although the final ball let them down. Callum Hambrook did get in a shot that was easily saved by Dibaga while at the other end the BU Trialist saw his shot deflected for a corner. Just before the end Ryan Stevenson had a shot from twenty yards go narrowly past the Linlithgow post and there was to be no winner on the day. Saturday sees the return fixture at Prestonfield with where again a tight encounter is likely.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Irving, Travis, Hawkins, Gemmell (Henderson 82), Stenhouse (Porteous 62), Johnston, Trialist, Foster (Grant 62). Kennedy (Dalziel 62). Subs (Not Used): Macaulay McArthur. SG: Thomson

Linlithgow: Binnie, Webb, Thomson, Lennon, Paterson (Allan 64), McMullen, McKenzie, Hambrook (Heaver 82), Sneddon (Simpson 64), Rae (Cunningham 86), Maguire. Subs (Not Used): McMartin, McDowell, SG McMinn

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 23 March 2024

Competition –Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Linlithgow Rose 1
(McKenzie 29)

Bo'ness United 2
(Porteous 5, Kennedy 90)

Two Bo’ness United goals bookended what was a typically tough derby match where good football proved scarce in a scrappy affair littered with yellow cards plus one red shown in the dying minutes of this closely fought contest.

It was five minutes in when the BUs took the lead with a good passing move, JJ Henderson prompting Fin Malcolm wide on the right and his cross was contested by Adam Masson and Ryan Porteous the latter getting the decisive touch to loop the ball over Rose keeper Cameron Binnie and into the net. Linlithgow struck back on the half hour, a long throw knocked on to the back post where Conor McKenzie headed past Musa Dibaga.

Both sides worked hard in the second half to get a winner, the closest for the Rose being a Dylan Paterson free kick shot that curled just wide. However, it was the BUs who secured the winner in ninety minutes, a Tom Grant corner bouncing around the box before Louis Kennedy pounced to side foot a deflected shot past the stranded Binnie. The Linlithgow misery was compounded in time added on when Owen Foster was shown his second yellow card of the match followed by the inevitable red.

Needless to say, the final whistle was met with great celebrations both on and off the park as the BUs once more demonstrated their ability to work until the very end. This work ethic once more reaped the reward of another three points, welcome both in terms of maintaining their third place but extra special as won against their old derby rivals.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Irving, Travis, Hawkins, Henderson, Malcolm (Kennedy 61), Johnston, Dalziel (McArthur 73), Grant, Porteous (Macaulay 90). Subs (Not Used): Hamilton, Gemmell, Rutherford, SG Ruddy:

Linlithgow: Binnie, Thomson, Thom, McMullen (Ogilvie 77), Devine, McKenzie (Maguire 77), Sneddon (Paterson68), Rae (Simpson 85), Masson (Penman 85), Allan, Foster. Subs (Not Used):
McDowell SG McMinn