Match Preview 2024 2025
Gala Fairydean Rovers
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Newtown Park
Saturday 22 February 2025

Bo’ness United’s quest to maximise Lowland League points continues on Saturday as they host Gala Fairydean Rovers. Gala find themselves at the bottom of the table although with only five points separating the bottom four clubs, the struggle to avoid relegation could go to the wire. Points are therefore at a premium but with only four gained from a possible eighteen in the last few weeks, Rovers know they must start winning games to keep their place as a tier five club.

Bo’ness visited Netherdale earlier in the season but were to return empty handed. The BUs lost a goal just before the break and twenty five minutes into the second half Kieran Dolan scored his and Gala’s second. Bo’ness pulled one back, Lucas Stenhouse scoring from the spot but just before the end Joe Wylie sealed the home win. (Report). It was the first game of last season when Gala Fairydean visited Newtown Park, the BUs getting their campaign off to a winning start. Bo’ness scored three without reply, two from Ryan Porteous and a Scott Dalziel single all in the first half (Report).

Since the turn of the year Bo’ness have seen an upturn in their fortunes, progressing to the last four of the League Cup and winning the league points against East Stirlingshire, Gretna 2008 and Hearts B. They did lose to both East Kilbride and at Celtic B but in both games were competitive, pushing all the way to the final whistle. The League Cup victories were at Albion Rovers and at home to Civil Service Strollers on Tuesday night. Bo’ness were two up within half an hour thanks to Ryan Schiavone and Keir Foster. Alieu Faith got Strollers back into the game just before the break but Max Dowling finished the tie just before the end (Report). The BUs now look forward to a semi final tie at home to Tranent.

Given the current forms of the two teams, Bo’ness United are favourites to win the match. Bo’ness were also favourites to win the match at Netherdale but that didn’t happen and the BUs know they must dig in if they want to collect all three points. The players have shown the necessary determination in the last few weeks and aided by a noisy home support can hopefully get the job done.

John Spowart
21 February 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 21 September 2024

Competition –Park’s Motors Group Lowland League

Gala Fairydean Rovers 3
(Dolan 45+1 70 Wylie 90+5)

Bo'ness United 1
(Stenhouse 74 pen)

Bo’ness United left Galashiels with nothing to show for their efforts as Gala Fairydean Rovers chalked up their first Lowland League win of the season. The defeat also spoiled the BUs recent run of results stalling any progress their league campaign.

The first twenty minutes produced a lot of effort from either side but without too many chances. Towards half time things opened up, Cade Melrose making a great save from a Gala free kick
effort, the BUs responding with a Ryan Stevenson shot. Bo’ness did get the ball in the net but was flagged for offside and just after a good move finished with a Kieran Mitchell shot straight at Gala keeper Sam Scott. Unfortunately for Bo’ness just on the whistle they wend a goal down Kieran Dolan scoring for the home side.

Bo’ness made a better start to the second half as they looked for an equaliser Mitchell seeing a shot going just wide. Mitchell also had an effort blocked but with twenty minutes remaining they conceded a second again Kieran Dolan on target. Bo’ness pulled a goal back from the spot, Lucas Stenhouse converting after he was tripped in the box. Not long after the same player lobbed over while in time added on Bo’ness missed another great chance only for play to immediately switch to the other Joe Wylie scoring to put the game beyond Bo’ness

Bo'ness: Melrose, Masson, Macaulay, Rutherford (Stevenson 16) Duffy Irving, Stenhouse Gemmell (Henderson 46), Mitchell (Kennedy 60), Johnston, Malcolm. Subs (Not Used): SG: Campbell

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH REPORT SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 22 July 2023

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo'ness United 3
(Porteous 2 11, Dalziel 40)

Gala Fairydean Rovers 0

Bo’ness United made a bright start to the season with a comprehensive home victory against Gala Fairydean Rovers. The BUs got off the mark after two minutes as Louis Kennedy put over a cross from the right and although Ryan Porteous headed onto the bar, he followed up to smash the ball into the net. It was only nine minutes later when Bo’ness were two up, a long clearance from keeper Musa Dibaga headed on by Scott Dalziel and Porteous ran onto the ball, lifting his shot past Jay Cantley in the Gala goal.

The home side continued to push forward with a number of chances created and eight minutes before the break Cantley stuck a foot out to divert Scott Dalziel’s shot past his post but soon after the Gala keeper could do little as a good move saw the BU forward react to head home from close in.

In the second half Gala were more into it but the BU defence dealt with anything that came their way and still looked the most likely to score. Cantley made a couple of great saves to keep his side in with a chance and the closest the visitors came was a Danny Galbraith corner to the near post caused a minor flutter before being cleared away.

This was the result Bo’ness were looking for but the next games at Berwick Rangers on Tuesday and Tranent the following Saturday will provide a much stiffer test, giving a better indication of the strength of the squad.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Rutherford (Ward 80), Hawkins, McArthur, Henderson, Kennedy (Irving 80), Johnston (Gemmell 63), Dalziel (Malcolm 63), Porteous, Grant (Mooney 71).
Subs (Not Used): SG Fullerton

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Tuesday 18 February 2025

Competition – Lowland League Round 2

Bo’ness United 1
(Schiavone 3, Foster 28, Dowling 89)

Civil Service 1
(Faye 42)

Bo’ness United progressed into the last four of the Lowland League Cup although not without a struggle as the tie at home to Civil Service Strollers was only settled in the final minutes. The BUs started well scoring after only three minutes, a Ryan Schiavone angled shot that flew into the opposite corner of the net. Ryan Stevenson then stung the hands of Strollers keeper Freddie Owens with a shot from distance and just before the half hour mark Bo’ness extended their lead, Keir Foster scoring on his Newtown return, looping a header over the Civil keeper’s head. The Strollers created a decent chance, Matthew Shaw heading just past from a Euan Valentine free kick cross and just before the break they did pull a goal back as Liam Campbell grabbed an Alieu Faye header but the near side assistant signalled the ball had crossed the line.

As much as Bo’ness had been the better side during the first half, after the turnaround they struggled as Civil Service took the game to their hosts. The BU defence came to the fore as the ball was increasingly being sent back into the Bo’ness box. They created a number of opportunities and as the half wore on the Strollers were looking the likelier for the next goal. That next strike was to be defining and in the final minute it was Bo’ness who confirmed their place in the semi final, Max Dowling cutting inside before firing a shot low into the Strollers net.

Bo’ness: Campbell, Stevenson (Duffy 81), Macaulay, Irving, Hawkins, Johnston, Mitchell (Osadolor 81), Dowling, Schiavone (McCormick 46), Foster (Kennedy 81), Grant (Connolly 75). Subs (Not Used): Hamilton, Hutchison