Match Preview 2024 2025
East Kilbride
Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Newtown Park
Saturday 18 January 2025

After a welcome win at home to East Stirlingshire, Bo’ness United host East Kilbride this weekend, a rearranged match after the original fixture last November was postponed due to snow and ice. A tough nut to crack, Bo’ness have yet to beat East Kilbride at Newtown Park but they managed a victory at the K Park Stadium last season. That came courtesy of an early Scott Dalziel goal and just before half time, a Ryan Porteous penalty kick. The second half was largely a test of Bo’ness defending, one they passed to achieve the win (Report). The corresponding game at home saw East Kilbride race into an early lead through a Scott Ferguson double and although Ryan Porteous pulled one back for the BUs, Dylan MacDonald regained the visitors’ two goal cushion. Just after the break Tom Grant once more reduced the leeway only for Joao Balde to counter for Kilby. Keir Foster scored in what was his debut goal for Bo’ness but East Kilbride held out for the points (Report).

Last weekend’s game against East Stirlingshire provided an entertaining first half, Bo’ness going ahead through Lewis Duffy, Shaun Brown equalising soon after. The second period proved scrappy though both sides created opportunities. As it turned out it was Bo’ness who scored a late winner courtesy of recent signing Ryan Schiavone (Report).

East Kilbride experienced some early season wobbles but they are back on track heading the Lowland League table, clear favourites to retain their Title. Their last loss in the league was against Caledonian Braves in late September and they were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Falkirk. However, they are still in the SPFL Trophy having defeated Championship sides Ayr United and Airdrieonians and now go on to visit another Championship team Queen’s Park at the end of this month. East Kilbride also maintain an interest in the South Challenge Cup where Cumnock will visit the K Park Stadium in the next round.

Bo’ness have lost the services of a number of players, Lucas Stenhouse and Cade Melrose returning to their parent clubs, Livingston and Airdrie respectively. Ryan Porteous has moved to Bonnyrigg Rose with Max Dowling coming the other way on loan until the end of the season. Other new faces may appear but meanwhile some of the existing players have the chance to assert themselves although the whole squad must prove themselves worthy of a place in the team.

Starting as underdogs, few expect Bo’ness to get anything from this game but it is an opportunity for the players to show what they can do against a team full of talented individuals. Bo’ness enjoyed last weekend’s win and would love to make it two in a row. Whatever happens, the minimum expected is one hundred percent effort and the BU Faithful can help, making full use of their vocal chords to encourage the players to a positive result.

John Spowart
Friday 17 January 2025

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Saturday 16 March 2024
Competition –Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
East Kilbride 0
Bo'ness United 2
(Dalziel 16, Porteous 45 pen)
A magnificent performance gave Bo’ness United a first victory over East Kilbride in a match where the BUs fully merited their win. From start to finish, each player gave their all to achieve a result that keeps the BUs in with a chance of achieving a second-place finish in the Lowland League table.
There was an early setback when Kieran Mitchell limped off after only a few minutes and BU keeper Musa Dibaga was called into action making an early save from a Robert Thomson header. However, Bo’ness took this all in their stride beginning to assert themselves and just after fifteen minutes took the lead. East Kilbride tried to play the ball out from the back but Bo’ness pressed with Ryan Stevenson dispossessing Ryan Lockie at the edge of the box, Tom Grant taking advantage to cross for Scott Dalziel to head home from six yards.
Bo’ness were looking good at this point and continued to push forward and although being kept occupied at the back were successful in blunting the East Kilbride attack. Musa Dibaga was doing his bit, making a number of saves to keep a clean sheet and a few minutes before the break it was Bo’ness who extended their lead. A goal bound Dalziel header was blocked and in the ensuing scramble, Kyle Johnston was felled with a Joal Balde tackle allowing Ryan Porteous to dispatch the resulting penalty past Kilby keeper Matthew Connelly. Just on the whistle Dibaga made a great save to defy East Kilbride while Ryan Lockie smashed a shot off the Bo’ness post.
Into the second half and East Kilbride set about hitting back but as in the first they struggle to get past a resolute Bo’ness defence. Twenty minutes in and Dan Irving cleared an effort off the Bo’ness line with a follow up shot hitting the post. Kilby substitute Keir Samson missed a good chance, heading wide of the goal but it wasn’t all one way, Bo’ness looking to counter on the break. With fifteen minutes remaining East Kilbride sensed it was not going to be their day as Musa Dibaga made a fantastic save from a close-range Joal Balde shot.
At the final whistle BU players and fans alike were naturally delighted with the outcome and now look forward to another tough encounter with the visit to Linlithgow Rose next week.
Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson Irving (McArthur 72), Travis, Hawkins, Henderson, Mitchell (Malcolm 5), Johnston (Gemmell 49), Dalziel (Kennedy 72), Grant, Porteous. Subs (Not Used): Macaulay, Hamilton, SG Ruddy:

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2023/2024

Date – Wednesday 08 November 2023
Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League
Bo'ness United 3
(Porteous 16, Grant 47, Foster 75)
East Kilbride 4
(Ferguson 11 12, MacDonald 32, Balde 71)
Bo’ness United lost out narrowly to league leaders East Kilbride in an exciting game where the BUs were unfortunate not to get a share of the spoils. Bo’ness lost two early goals both scored by Scott Ferguson, a direct free kick and a shot from close in but got one back soon after. East Kilbride keeper Christopher Truesdale charged outside his box only to collide with his own defender allowing the ball to break Ryan Porteous who fired past into the net. In half an hour Kilby regained their two-goal advantage as Dylan Macdonald dashed up the right wing and his chipped ball into the middle beat Bo’ness keeper Musa Dibaga, landing in the far corner of the net.
A minute into the second half, Tom Grant narrowed the visitors’ advantage with a low shot on the turn finding the opposite side of the goal. The game really opened up, the teams exchanging blows and with just under twenty minutes remaining East Kilbride scored after a good run and low cross from Andrew Stirling saw the ball break to Joao Balde who swept home from twelve yards. Bo’ness were not finished and new loan signing Keir Foster came on and within six minutes scored a debut goal, a twenty-five-yard shot beating the East Kilbride keeper just inside his post. Bo’ness pressed forward looking for an equaliser although had to be mindful of the quick breakouts from the visitors. As Bo’ness chased the game there were claims a Ryan Porteous effort crossed the goal line before being cleared for a corner but the appeals were turned down by the referee.
After the disastrous start to the match Bo’ness fought back, never giving up as they tried to rescue the situation. It was not the result the BUs wanted but the fighting spirit showed through and this quality will be necessary in the weeks and months to come.
Bo'ness: Dibaga, Stevenson, Rutherford (Macaulay 65), Travis, McArthur (Hawkins 46), Henderson (Johnston 60), Stenhouse, Gemmell, Dalziel (Malcolm 69), Porteous, Grant (Foster 69). Subs (Not Used): Mooney, Kennedy

BO’NESS UNITED MATCH SUMMARY SEASON 2024/2025

Date – Saturday 11 January 2025

Competition – Park’s Motor Group Lowland League

Bo’ness United 2
(Duffy 21 Schiavone 90+2)

East Stirlingshire 1
(Brown 29)

A Ryan Schiavone goal in time added on gave Bo’ness United a much welcomed victory in a game that was finely balanced until that spectacular ending. This was Schiavone’s first goal in his first start for the club hopefully signalling a better period for the BUs.

The first half was end to end with Bo’ness fashioning the better chances though the Shire were dangerous on the break. Just after twenty minutes it was Bo’ness who made the breakthrough, Keir Macaulay firing over a great corner for Lewis Duffy to head in at the back post. The BUs might have made it two soon after, a fabulous Kyle Johnston volley from the edge of the box equalled only by the magnificent Ollie Ecrepont save. BU keeper Liam Campbel’s was then called into action with a double save to stop Lucas McRoberts’ shot and header on goal. A few minutes later Campbell was left helpless as the Shire equalised Shaun Brown connecting with a Lucas McRobert cutback on the line to side foot home from close in.

An exciting first period turned into a somewhat more scrappy affair after the turnaround though opportunities were still created. As the game moved into its final phase the Shire were looking the more likely and Liam Campbell pulled off another great save to deny Lucas McRoberts a possible Shire winner. Ninety minutes came and went both teams still going at it until BU substitute Jamie Hamilton’s chipped pass put Ryan Schiavone in on goal the ball steered beyond Ollie Ecrepont going in off the post.

A welcome three points but next week Bo’ness face the most difficult of tasks as East Kilbride come calling. Only the best will do to compete with the Title favourites

Bo’ness: Campbell, Stevenson, Macaulay, Irving, Duffy, Johnston, Kennedy (Masson 68)(Simpson 82) Gemmell (Hamilton 78), Schiavone, Porteous, Mitchell (Osadolor 72). Subs (Not Used): Travis SG: Ritchie.