After the narrow victory at home to Heart of Midlothian B, Bo’ness United now make the journey to the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie to face the Celtic youngsters. Celtic B are currently third in the Lowland League, breathing down the necks of Caledonian Braves who are just ahead of them. Celtic B won their last two matches at Linlithgow Rose and University of Stirling but inexplicably went down at Cumbernauld Colts, a team near the bottom of the table. Significantly the young Celts lost at both table toppers East Kilbride and the Braves but along with the Colts result these are the only losses this season.

Bo’ness have already met Celtic B this season, a memorable match at Newtown where with only five minutes remaining the BUs were three goals down but clawed back to get the draw. Lenny Agbaire, Josh Dede and Francis Turley were the Celtic scorers, Michael Travis, Smart Osadolor and Lewis Duffy on target for the BUs (Report). Last season’s match in Airdrie saw Corey Thomson give the home side the lead before Lewis Hawkins equalised just before the break. However, second half goals from Daniel Cummings and Jude Bonnar made it an unhappy Saturday for Bo’ness (Report).

Saturday’s game against Hearts B had plenty of goals, Kieran Mitchell getting off the mark early before Aiden Haddow brought Hearts level. Two Louis Kennedy strikes saw Bo’ness go in with a two goal advantage but Taylor Hogarth reduced the leeway before Ryan Schiavone made it four for Bo’ness. Hearts once again pulled a goal back through Dom Plank while Ryan Schiavone was sent off before the end (Report).

Nine points from their last four league matches, the wins against East Stirlingshire, Gretna 2008 and Hearts B with the loss at home to East Kilbride represents an improvement in form compared to the tail end of last year. All the wins have been by the odd goal proving just how competitive the Lowland League is. The same again on Saturday would do nicely but Celtic B are a very tough nut to crack and Bo’ness need to be at the top of their game to achieve a positive result. There will be a large number in the Excelsior Stadium cheering on Celtic B but the BU faithful can do their bit by making sure their players know they are in the stand.

John Spowart
14 February 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 05 October 2024

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 3
(Travis 85, Osadolor 89, Duffy 90+3)

Celtic B 3
(Agbaire 13, Dede 18, Turley 59)

Five minutes left on the clock, three goals down against the young Celts and no one could have predicted what was to happen.

Early in the game Lewis Dobby fired a shot just wide of the Bo’ness goal and it proved a warning as Celtic B were two up in twenty minutes. Lenny Agbaire headed home from a Jude Bonnar corner and Josh Dede slipped one past BU keeper Cade Melrose. It was not looking great for Bo’ness but they steadied the ship and started getting at their opponents. Louis Kennedy got in a shot saved by Joe Morrison and both Lucas Stenhouse and Dan Irving saw shots come off the goal frame.

After the break Stenhouse had an effort that went over as Bo’ness looked to pull one back. However, with thirty minutes remaining Celtic looked to have sealed the points, Francis Turley pouncing onto a Rhys Dargie cutback to fire home. Bo’ness plugged away looking for something and with eighty minutes on the clocked a Keir Macaulay corner found Michael Travis who headed in at the far post. Encouraged, four minutes later a miss hit shot landed nicely for Smart Osadolor to stroke home from close in. Tails definitely up, three minutes into time added on and a Lucas Stenhouse corner from the other side flashed across the goal and this time substitute Lewis Duffy headed in the equaliser. Cue great celebration both on and off the park as Bo’ness achieved a fantastic comeback to gain a share of the points.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Masson, Macaulay, Irving (Duffy 76), Travis, Gemmell, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous (Henderson 40), Kennedy (Mitchell 64). Subs (Not Used): Malcolm, McLinden, Grant SG: Campbell

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 03 February 2024

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Celtic B 3
(Thomson 24, Cummings 55, Bonnar 63)

Bo'ness United 1
(Hawkins 43)

Bo’ness United’s good run of results came to an end when a disappointing display at the Excelsior Stadium saw them go down to Celtic B. The young Celts dominated the game, Bo’ness struggling to compete with the quick, slick football played by the talented Bhoys.

There was an early indication of what was to come as man of the match Bruno Davidson finished off a good move with a shot that went narrowly wide. Bo’ness focused to maintain their shape and kept their opponents at bay with some resolute defending, Unfortunately, they were unable to keep Celtic out when after twenty-five minutes a through pass was pounced on by Davidson and his low cross was swept home point blank by Corey Thomson. Just before the break one of the BUs rare attacks resulted in a corner and Lewis Hawkins connected with Tom Grant’s cross to head past Celtic keeper Josh Clarke from close in.

It was hoped this goal might spur Bo’ness on in the second half but ten minutes in a Jack Ruddy goal kick was headed back towards the Bo’ness goal and Daniel Cummings burst through to shoot past the exposed keeper. Tom Grant got a shot in on the Celtic goal but the ball went over and with just under thirty minutes remaining Bo’ness lost a third goal. Justin Osagie strode forward from defence his low cross from the right found Jude Bonnar who controlled before angling low into the Bo’ness net.

Bo’ness worked to get back into the game but despite more activity up front they were unable to make the breakthrough and had to accept defeat. It was not a great day at the office for the BUs but with many important games ahead will dust themselves down and be ready to go again.
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Bo'ness: Ruddy, Stevenson, Hawkins, Travis, McArthur, Irving, Mitchell, K Johnson (Henderson 74), Malcolm (Kennedy 58), Grant (Foster 78), Porteous (Dalziel 74). Subs (Not Used): C Johnston Murdoch. SG: Dibaga

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 08 February 2025

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 4
(Mitchell 24, Kennedy 38 45 Schiavone 58)

Heart of Midlothian B 3
(Haddow 26, Hogarth 51, Plank 89)

Bo’ness United continued their run of good results with an odd goal in seven win over Heart of Midlothian B. Scoring just short of the thirty minutes, Bo’ness kept their noses ahead against the talented young Jambos who worked to peg the BUs back though just came up short to complete their comeback. It proved an eventful game for Ryan Schiavone who came on as a substitute to score what proved the decisive goal only to receive a late red card.

After early chances at either end Bo’ness went ahead, Kieran Mitchell pouncing on a great through pass from Dan Irving to slot pass the advancing Hearts keeper Jack Lyon. Only two minutes later Hearts pulled back, Aiden Haddow controlling in the box before angling past BU keeper Liam Campbell. Play continued to move end to end but it was Bo’ness who gained the advantage thanks to two great goals from Louis Kennedy. The first was a curling free kick from the left, the ball finding the far corner of the net. After that a fabulous shot from twenty yards flashed past the helpless Jack Lyon.

A few minutes into the second half Hearts B reduced the leeway through Taylor Hogarth, shortly after Bo’ness regaining the cushion as Ryan Schiavone forced home on the line. Hearts weren’t for giving up and a minute before the ninety they did score again as Dominic Plank headed over the stranded Liam Campbell. Meanwhile Ryan Schiavone was dismissed after two seemingly innocuous challenges were seen as more serious by the referee. In the final minutes Bo’ness defended well to hold on to their lead, including a full six of added on time, an eventual whistle seeing the BUs now with nine points from nine in their last three games.

Bo’ness: Campbell, Kennedy, Macaulay, Hawkins, Duffy, Hutchison, Irving, Connolly (Stevenson 88), Mitchell, Osadolor (Schiavone 56), Grant (Dowling 56),. Subs (Not Used): Rutherford McCormick. SG: Ritchie

Match details

Match date

Sat 15 Feb 2025

Kickoff

15:00

Team overview

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