Match Preview 2024 2025
Broomhill
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Dumbarton Football Stadium
Saturday 21 December 2024

Bo’ness United head west for the rescheduled match against Broomhill, now plying their trade at the Dumbarton Football Stadium. The original fixture at the end of August suffered a late postponement due to a waterlogged pitch, the BU players and officials already at the venue. The weather forecast for Saturday once again raises the question as to whether fixture will go ahead.

Broomhill are currently second from last in the table although with only five points separating the bottom six, a good run of results from any of the teams would see them climb out of trouble. Broomhill made a poor start to the campaign with a meagre haul of points seeing them bottom of the pile. However, they have won four games since, notably three of them at home and are now a point above Cumbernauld Colts. In saying that, they have lost their last three games all away at University of Stirling, East Kilbride, and on Saturday Linlithgow Rose.

Looking at the table, Bo’ness have a few teams just behind them, while recent results see a growing gap with those ahead. Bo’ness United want to start gathering points to keep them in touch. Only three from a possible fifteen tells its own story with work to be done to get the show back on the road. The BUs drew at University of Stirling on Saturday following a narrow defeat at the hands of Tranent in the previous midweek. Not the results BU Manager Stuart Hunter hoped for although the performances were much improved from recent weeks, raising hopes of better things to come. The draw against the Stirling students had Bo’ness coming back twice to win a point. A double from Ryan Porteous cancelled out a first half Finlay Moffett free kick strike and after the beak a Thomas Vonk goal (Report). Bo’ness visited Broomhill at the tail end of last season, a midweek draw played in windy conditions. Just before the half hour Broomhill went ahead through Corey O’Donnell and with just under fifteen minutes remaining Tom Grant equalised (Report).

The visit to the Dumbarton Football Stadium represents a sizeable journey the weekend before Christmas and is likely to affect the number of the BU Faithful heading through, though many might prefer the Dumbarton Football Stadium rather than a busy High Street full of last minute Christmas shoppers. What is clear is the players will welcome any number who can get there knowing they can depend on their vocal support as they strive to get that much desired win.

John Spowart
Friday 20 December 2024

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Tuesday 16 April 2024
Competition –Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Broomhill 1
(O’Donnell 26))

Bo'ness United 1
(Grant 73)

Bo’ness United had to settle for a draw at Broomhill, a result that sees the BUs needing a win in their final game at home to University of Stirling to guarantee a third place in this season’s Lowland League. On a windswept Dumbarton pitch Bo’ness blew hot and cold although in the end a share of the points was probably the fairest outcome.

Struggling to adapt to the conditions, Bo’ness were unable to put much football together. They did create a number of chances as did their opponents and it was Broomhill who got themselves ahead just short of the half hour mark. Paul Kennedy shrugged off any challenge wide on the right before sending over a cross for Corey O’Donnell to head home at the far post. Josh Jack came close to getting a second with a shot that was just wide of the target. Just before the break a Ryan Porteous header scraped the Broomhill post while a Keir Macaulay free kick just cleared the bar.

Into the second half Bo’ness started well enough but Keir Macaulay had to make two goal line clearances in quick succession to prevent a second Broomhill goal. Ten minutes in Bo’ness had a great chance to equalise after Ryan Porteous was fouled in the box but he was unable to convert the resulting spot kick as Broomhill keeper Luke Scullion made the save. This miss seemed to affect Bo’ness who struggled once more but gradually they were back into things, most of the play in the Broomhill half. A couple of good opportunities were spurned but with just over fifteen minutes remaining Bo’ness got the equaliser as Scullion blocked a Tom Grant shot but the same player followed up to bang the ball into the net.

Bo’ness went to look for the winner as Broomhill seemed happy to settle for the draw, surprising given they looked dangerous any time they broke forward. As it was there was no more scoring and Bo’ness look forward to an exciting finale to the season, hoping to finish the campaign on a high.

Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Macaulay, Hawkins, McArthur, Henderson (Johnston 46), Kennedy (Grant 46) Gemmell, Malcolm (Dalrymple 74), Hamilton (Rutherford 74), Porteous.
Subs (Not Used): Mitchell, Travis, SG Ruddy:

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 14 December 2024
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

University of Stirling 2
(Moffett 17, Vonk 57)

Bo’ness United 2
(Porteous 36 75)

Bo’ness United twice came back from behind to earn a hard won point at University of Stirling. In an open came with chances created, scorned and converted at both ends of the pitch, the final outcome was fair result.

In the early part of the game Kyle Johnston shot just wide of the Stirling goal while Finlay Moffett came close at the other end. In just over fifteen minutes it was the students who were in front after a Moffett free kick shot zipped past BU keeper Cade Melrose low just inside his left hand post. The goal seemed to fluster Bo’ness who were fortunate not to go further behind, a Thomas Vonk shot just missing the target, while Moffett saw his effort smack the Bo’ness post. Bo’ness eventually settled and nine minutes before the break were back in the game. Lucas Stenhouse’s cut back found Ryan Porteous, whose shot was deflected up and over Stirling keeper Bobby Barton.

Eleven minutes into the second half Bo’ness were behind again when Cade Melrose made a great save to defy Finlay Moffett but the ball rebounded to Thomas Vonk who smashed his shot high into the net. This time round Bo’ness immediately set about getting even and with fifteen minutes remaining did so as Adam Masson fired a low ball across the goal face, Porteous emphatically finishing at the back post.

Both sides went looking for a winner, but in the end had to be happy with a share of the spoils. Bo’ness now look forward to the journey to Dumbarton to meet Broomhill where they hope to register a first league win in two months.

Bo'ness: Melrose, Stevenson (Kennedy 46), Macaulay, Duffy, Masson, Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor(Grant 46), Porteous, Mitchell (Schiavone 80), Subs (Not Used): McLinden, Hamilton, Travis SG: Ritchie.