August 2023 – Bo'ness Athletic Football Club

Bo’ness Athletic v Newburgh

Posted on 25/08/202326/08/2023 by digital

Seven goals in the first half and three in the second with seven players all on target, marked a fine home performance in League Match No. 4 of the East Of Scotland Second Division against Newburgh Juniors FC.

New boy Calum Simpson was thrown straight into the starting line up at left back for a memorable debut with Shanks and Woodburn still out injured

The game got off to a flyer on 5 minutes when Newburgh gave the ball away in their own box on the right hand side to set up a simple pass to MacDonald who struck a sweet shot from just outside the D of the 18 yard box into the top right hand corner of the goal.

McDonald was on hand again on 18 minutes to run onto a back heeled lay-off from R. Weir to guide a left footed shot beyond the keeper into the bottom left hand corner.

A goal through the middle of the pitch , this time, came on 27 minutes when Robertson threaded a great through ball to split the defence, M. Weir lost his runner and tucked the ball under the keeper.
With 35 minutes gone and M. Weir grabbed his second of the game when another loose pass from the Newburgh defence found R. Weir who was tackled but the ball ran onto M. Weir to angle a left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner leaving the keeper helpless.

Goal of the game, for now, came on 39 minutes which started with a free kick. Ryan Robertson guided a bouncing ball into the box which the keeper could only palm away straight to R. Weir. His shot was saved by the keeper but straight to Sharples this time, who acrobatically turned a volleyed it home into the opposite corner.

Goal number 6 from debutant Simpson was scored on 41 minutes when a through ball by M. Weir landed at the feet of MacDonald who cut the ball back to Simpson to fire in from 2 yards.

The final goal of the half was scored by Bo’ness top scorer, so far this season, Ryan Robertson on 43 minutes. He played a one-two down the right hand side with M. Weir and slotted home a ferocious low shot under the goalkeeper.

Willie Irvine turned to his bench for a half time substitution which saw Main make way for Turnbull then a double substitution half way through the second half allowed McInnes and Ogilvie to replace Robertson and and MacDonald. Something special followed on 69 minute with the goal of the game when MacKay from inside the centre circle in his own half from a free kick, spotted the keeper on the edge of his own 18 yard box, walking back to the goal line. He thundered a shot goalwards straight over the keeper and into the net for his second halfway line goal of the season.

A low shot across goal beat the keeper and smashed off the right hand post and into the path of M. Weir who only only had to tap it home for the easiest goal of his hat-trick.
McAteer replaced R. Weir on 77mins

McInnes scored the tenth and final goal of the game with a run into the box to collect a pass, glide past a defender and roll the ball in the bottom left hand corner to complete a 10 goal rout.

Newburgh really struggled to offer anything in tonight’s games as rampant Bo’ness emulated a score line of last season.

Final Score: Bo’ness Athletic 10 – 0 Newburgh
The East of Scotland Second Division League Match No. 4

Match Highlights

Bo’ness Athletic v Heriot-Watt Uni

Posted on 19/08/202320/08/2023 by digital

Bo’ness stormed into the next round of The East of Scotland Qualifying Cup with 3 second half goals to overturn Heriot-Watt University’s first half opener.
The game saw the return of Paterson who had been out with a long term injury. His return was welcome due to injuries to 1st team regulars Woodburn and Shanks.
Woodburn was injured midweek in training and Shanks picked up a knock last week against Edinburgh College. New signing Calum Ferguson was thrust into the first team defensive line up.

For Bo’ness, few chances were carved out in the first half and a deep cross from outside the box on the left, over to the keeper’s far post saw a lunging Main guide ball into the goal with the diving keeper unable to keep the ball out. Straight away the referee blew for an offside who adjudged Main to be marginally offside. The replay showed the decision to be correct.
Heriot-Watt took the lead on 40 mins with a fine finish from their no.9 who, up until that point, proved a real handful for Bo’ness.

A half-time substitution saw McInnes replace Ferguson in a bid to add more fire power up front.
It only took 3 minutes into the 2nd half for Bo’ness to level the score. A free kick on the right from the corner of the 18 year box fizzed low across goal, appeared to bypass everyone except Sharples at the back post to tap in.
At the 66th minute mark, Turnbull replaced MacDonald for the final Bo’ness substitution.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes a draw looked ominous but on 82 minutes a long ball down the left found Robertson, and with the keeper out to chase it down deflected the ball back out to M. Weir who deftly struck a sweet left foot shot over the keeper and two defenders and into the goal.

The game was put to bed after the 90 minutes were up, when hard working Robertson down the left hand side again ran into the box and was scythed down by the oncoming Heriot-Watt defender. The referee had no option but to point to the spot. McInnes held his nerve and sent the keeper the wrong way rolling the ball into the net to give Bo’ness a 3-1 win and into the draw for the next round.

Final Score: Bo’ness Athletic 3 – 1 Heriot-Watt University
The East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, Second Round

Match Highlights

Bo’ness Athletic v Edinburgh College

Posted on 12/08/202304/09/2023 by digital

A brace from Robertson, Main’s first goal for Bo’ness and a stunning
strike from MacDonald saw Bo’ness comfortably win 4-1 to comfortably
progress into the second round of the Alex Jack Cup.

It took until the 28th minute for Robertson, on the left hand side,
to slot the ball across goal and into the net, close to the keepers far
post. The Edinburgh defender tried in vain to keep the ball out but only
succeeded in sending the ball further into the goal.

A switch to the opposite side of the pitch paid dividends as
Robertson collected the ball from a pass down the right hand side on 31
minutes. He calmly struck a low shot in under the keeper, diving towards
his left hand post.

3 minutes later McInnes found space in the box and in a one on one,
saw his effort smothered by the Edinburgh keeper in 34 minutes.
Then Main charged down the right hand side and with a wicked shot, saw his effort palmed over the crossbar.

Into the second half and the 63rd minute saw Turnbull replace McInnes for the first Bo’ness substitution of the match.

It didn’t look good for Shanks in the 72nd minute when his studs
seemed to catch in the turf and he appeared to twist his knee. However,
after leaving the pitch for a few minutes, he was able to shrug it off
and see out the match.

Goal of the game went to Calum McDonald in 76 minutes as he strode
down the left to fire a floating shot straight into the top left corner
of the goal leaving the keeper no chance.

An 84th minute deft pass across goal found Main in space on the left
of goal and he had plenty time to accurately drill the ball into the
net.

A further substitution on 85 minutes saw MacDonald off and Kyle Stark enter play.

Robertson was denied his hattrick on 89 mins as his shot was deflected just past the post.

Edinburgh grabbed a late consolation goal in the final minute of the
game when a defensive mix-up between the Bo’ness keeper and his defender
saw the ball glide past him and into the Bo’ness goal.

Final Score: Bo’ness Athletic 4 – 1 Edinburgh South
The Alex Jack Cup, First Round

Linlithgow Rose v Bo’ness Athletic

Posted on 08/08/202304/09/2023 by digital

It was the very definition of a game of two halves which saw Bo’ness storm into a 3 goal lead at half time but lose the game 5 -3 at Prestonfield. Bo’ness started the game strongly and Linlithgow looked out of ideas when Sharples won the ball back in the Bo’ness half , he played a short pass to Shanks who lofted a long pass up the left hand side for Robertson to run on to. It only took one touch and a shot across goal to beat the Linlithgow goalkeeper.

16 minutes later Linlithgow conceded a penalty and Robertson blasted home from the spot. The Linlithgow keeper got a touch to it but the ball spun under his body and in.

The home crowd were stunned on 42 minutes when MacDonald, from 20 yards out, slotted the ball past the Linlithgow keeper’s left hand post with a clinical shot.

Linlithgow came out the second half with a change of tactics and pulled a quick goal back on 51 minutes., followed by two more goals in the space of 9 minutes.

Two more Linlithgow goals on 63 and 72 minutes put the game to bed to send Linlithgow into the final of the Centenary Cup.

It was a splendid second half performance from former Bo’ness player, Dylan Paterson who netted 4 of the 5 Linlithgow goals and was nominated Linlithgow’s Man of the Match.

Final Score: Linlithgow Rose 5 – 3 Bo’ness Athletic
The East of Scotland League Centenary Cup, Semi-Final

Match highlights courtesy of Linlithgow Rose

Edinburgh South v Bo’ness Athletic

Posted on 05/08/202304/09/2023 by digital

It was a terrific start to the game for Bo’ness as MacDonald opened the scoring on 7 minutes with a superbly dispatched goal, cannoning in off the post.

Only a few minutes later McAteer clinically completed a well worked goal at the keeper’s near post on 15 mins.

A David Taylor powerful header on 21 minutes put Bo’ness three up and MacDonald completed his brace on 33 mins to give Bo’ness a huge lead going in at half time.

Into the second half and a confident Bo’ness team made a substitution on 50 minutes with Ally McInnes making his debut replacing McAteer.
Two further substitutions on 63 minutes saw Main , also making his debut for the club, replace MacDonald and Turnbull replaced Sharples.

Defender Shanks blasted home from the left hand side on 78 minutes to score the final goal for Bo’ness.

On 89 minutes , debutant Main, curled a wicked shot from the right, about 22 yards out, only to see his shot come crashing off the keeper’s far post. It wasn’t to be for young Main but both McInnes and Main already look to be valuable additions to the Bo’ness squad.

Final Score: Edinburgh South 0 – 5 Bo’ness Athletic
The East of Scotland Second Division League Match No. 3

Kennoway Star Hearts v Bo’ness Athletic

Posted on 02/08/202327/08/2023 by digital

It was another dominant performance from a Bo’ness side sporting their new away strip. However, they struggled to take their chances in the opening 45 minutes and the half ended goalless.

It took until the 63rd minute for Bo’ness to opening the scoring with Michael Weir, inside the 18-yard box cutting back , turning and after spotting the goalkeeper off his line, sent a perfect lofted shot off the underside of the crossbar and down into the goal. The game was then put to bed in the 86th minute when the Kennoway no. 3 passed back to his goalkeeper, 12 yards outside his box, with a little too much pace and Weir confidently stole the ball from his feet, continued his run up the park and with no one left beat, slotted the ball into an empty net.

The match ended on a sour note with goal scorer Weir handed a straight red card on 90 minutes, by the match referee, for raising his hands to a Kennoway player.

Three points on the road gives Bo’ness maximum points in the first two fixtures of E.O.S. Second Division.

Final Score: Kennoway Star Hearts 0 – 2 Bo’ness Athletic
The East of Scotland Second Division League Match No. 2

Match Highlights courtesy of Kennoway Star Hearts