Ground: Newtown Park

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

A brace from Robertson, Main’s first goal for Bo’ness and a stunning strike from MacDonald saw Bo’ness 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