Bo’ness Athletic v Peebles Rovers (League)

Bo’ness continued their league campaign in impressive fashion, securing a 5-1 triumph over Peebles Rovers. The result extended their lead at the top of the table to a commanding five points, with the added bonus of a game in hand. Two goals each from Robertson and Shearer, along with a late strike from substitute McAteer, ensured that Bo’ness maintained their flawless record, having secured maximum points from all seven league fixtures.

In the early stages of the match, Peebles Rovers proved to be a tough nut to crack, with Bo’ness struggling to find a breakthrough. However, their persistence paid off after 15 minutes when the prolific Robertson opened the scoring. Main initiated a move with a run into the box and a shot that forced a save from the goalkeeper’s feet. The rebound fell to Shearer, who demonstrated exceptional composure in the box, setting up Main once more. Despite Main’s effort being deflected, it landed perfectly for Robertson just outside the six-yard box. He struck a shot into the ground, causing it to bounce over the helpless goalkeeper and into the net.

Not to be outdone, Peebles launched an immediate counter-attack. Their No. 6 unleashed a shot from the edge of the D, requiring Currid to be alert and make a diving save to palm the ball over the bar.

The match then entered a fairly evenly balanced spell with both sides battling for control. MacDonald exhibited his trademark close ball control, driving into the box, but the Peebles defence held firm, blocking his shot before clearing the danger.

In a remarkable moment of skill, MacDonald, on the goal linem, with the ball seemingly glued to his feet, dinked it up past two opponents from a standing position. He then circumvented them, collected the ball, and delivered a short pass to Shearer. With precision, Shearer left-footed the ball past the stranded goalkeeper.

Just five minutes later, a long ball from the right found Shearer in a wide position. Despite the acute angle, he met the ball on the half-volley and dispatched it into the net. Bo’ness were firmly in control, with 35 minutes on the clock.

Peebles mounted a late first-half threat, with Shanks required to clear a dangerous cross for a corner in the 38th minute. From the ensuing corner, the ball eventually arrived back in the danger zone, appearing to strike Sharples and threaten Currid’s goal. However, Currid scrambled to his goal line, managing to scoop the ball away, preventing a Peebles goal.

Shearer, eager to replicate his previous hat-trick heroics, had another attempt shortly after. He collected the ball at the edge of the 18-yard box, executed a diagonal run, and fired a shot towards the goal. However, it posed no real trouble for the goalkeeper.

Just before the half-time whistle, a free-kick into the box found Shearer at the back post. He laid the ball off to Snedden, who had advanced into the box amd struck a first-time shot into the side netting.

The second half saw M. Weir and R. Weir take the field, replacing Turnbull and MacDonald.

Peebles had a couple of opportunities to claw their way back into the match following the break, but neither effort seriously tested Currid.

In the 57th minute, Bo’ness played a corner directly to Paterson in the box, who connected well with the ball. However, it somehow ran out of play past the post.

Peebles came close to pulling one back four minutes later when a ball played across goal found an unmarked player about ten yards out. His ferocious shot struck the post before being cleared to safety.

Chances continued to flow for both teams, with Main delivering a deep cross from the left to Robertson, whose header narrowly missed the target. A minute later, Robertson fired a shot wide of the left-hand post following a well-orchestrated combination between him and Shearer.

In the 65th minute, Mitchell was forced to leave the field due to a head injury sustained while attempting a clearance. Simpson stepped in as his replacement.

Peebles finally reaped the rewards of their perseverance with a superb strike from the corner of the 18-yard box. The player made the execution appear effortless, lofting the ball over Currid and into the top corner of the net.

On the 75th minute, Shearer and Main made way for substitutes Meechan and McAteer.

Five minutes later, Robertson once again demonstrated his prowess. He latched onto a through ball, outpaced the defence, and confidently dispatched it beyond the goalkeeper, taking his season’s goal tally to an impressive 16 goals in competitive matches.

With five minutes remaining, Robertson narrowly missed with a header from a free-kick. Then, McAteer had a header expertly palmed over the bar by the Peebles goalkeeper. Finally, with a sweet left-footed strike at the near post, McAteer concluded the match with a 5-1 result.

Credit must be given to Peebles for putting up a determined fight throughout the fixture. Nevertheless, Bo’ness displayed their superior strength and quality across the park, with their goal tally continuing to rise.

Final Score: Bo’ness Athletic 5 – 1 Peebles Rovers
The East of Scotland Second Division League Match No. 7

Finlay Shearer

Matty Meechan

Armadale Thistle v Bo’ness Athletic (League)

Bo’ness faced a formidable challenge at Volunteer Park, where a goal in each half earned them a vital three points in a gruelling league clash.

Bo’ness kicked off the match brightly, donning their striking all-red strip. Early on, Robertson cut inside at the edge of the 18-yard box, but his shot narrowly missed the right-hand post. Moments later, MacDonald laid off a pass to MacKay, who attempted an audacious shot from 30 yards out, only to send it soaring high above the bar.

The first goal of the game arrived on the 8th minute mark when M. Weir outpaced a defender and latched onto a lofted pass through the middle. Despite the keeper’s valiant attempt to block the shot with his left foot, the ball deflected straight to MacDonald, who executed a sublime left-footed strike into the right corner of the net.

Armadale had their initial chance of the game when a cross into the box was parried down by Currid, but Mitchell was quick to clear the danger.

Robertson then unleashed a wild shot across the goal, but no Bo’ness player was there to capitalize.
The pressure from Bo’ness remained relentless and on the 13th minute, Robertson made a sharp run down the left flank, cutting back to find M. Weir, whose shot was expertly saved by the Armadale keeper, deflecting it out for a corner.
Bo’ness had a strong appeal for a penalty a few minutes later when R. Weir delivered a cross into the box. The Armadale No.5 seemed to raise his arms and push MacDonald inside the box, but the referee wasn’t interested.

Outstanding defending from Sharples in the 35th minute denied Armadale an equalizer as he blocked a pass from Armadale’s No. 10 to the onrushing striker in the Bo’ness box.

Shortly thereafter, M. Weir’s header sailed just wide of the keeper’s far post following a cross into the box from Snedden.

As half-time approached, Armadale gained momentum and had two opportunities. The first came from a corner, with Paterson rising highest to clear, and moments later, he made a crucial tackle inside the box to thwart Armadale’s No. 9.

The teams headed into half-time with Bo’ness leading 1-0, and MacDonald made way for Main as the second half commenced.
Armadale had the first chance of the second half when their No. 9 played a ball across the front of goal, narrowly missing the connection with their No. 8.

In the 53rd minute, McInnes substituted on for M. Weir, and Armadale found themselves a man down due to a player raising his hands.
Simpson won a header just outside the box, and Main picked up the ball, rolling a pass towards the penalty spot for R. Weir, who unleashed a side-footed shot towards goal, only to be denied by a fantastic save from the keeper.

A deep cross into the Bo’ness box caused problems, but their No. 2 failed to make a proper connection, squandering a chance.

Despite several attempts, it wasn’t Robertson’s day, as he missed two opportunities within three minutes inside the box.
McInnes won a tussle with Armadale’s No. 2 at the corner flag, running into the box with the ball. His low-driven effort forced the keeper to dive towards his near post, guiding it out for a corner.
Robertson then cut back on the 18-yard box, curling a shot that hit the bar and went over.
Paterson, aiming to increase his tally of headed goals, had his effort saved by the keeper, and the ball smashed off the bar, denying him another goal.
Bo’ness won a free-kick 23 yards out, and McInnes struck a low shot past the wall, but the keeper reacted quickly, steering it just wide of the post.

In the 85th minute, Snedden made way for Turnbull.

During the final five minutes, Bo’ness endured a scare when Currid played a pass back that struck the onrushing Armadale No. 10. However, the effort from a tight angle went slightly high and wide.

Bo’ness ultimately sealed the game two minutes later when McInnes outmuscled Armadale’s No. 2 in the box. He took his time and played a precise ball across to Turnbull, who had arrived in the box. With one touch, Turnbull curled a right-footed shot inside the right-hand post.

Today was not Robertson’s day, but Bo’ness managed to secure a hard-fought victory in what proved to be their toughest league fixture of the season thus far. This well-deserved win on the road, combined with another clean sheet, propelled them to the top of the table, with a game in hand.

Final Score: Armadale Thistle 0 – 2 Bo’ness Athletic
The East of Scotland Second Division League Match No. 6

Bo’ness Athletic v Ormiston Primrose (League)

Four first half goals and two in the second half gave Bo’ness a thoroughly well deserved victory, on a cold night at Newtown Park to send them into 2nd place in the East Of Scotland Second Division table maintaining their 100% record in the league.

It was a selection shuffle for the team tonight, from the manager, with MacKay, Mitchell and MacDonald starting on the bench. McInnes and Snedden started the match along with Shanks who has recovered from injury.
The first chance came after 2 minutes when Main raced onto a long ball over the top. He was first to the ball and attempted to lob the keeper, off his line, from the 18 yard box but the ball struck the top of the net.
A mix up at the back from Ormiston, saw Main again strike a shot from just inside the 18 yard box this time, but the keeper got down quickly for an easy save.
Robertson took a sore one down the left hand side and from the resulting free kick , once again , Simpson rose up using his superior height to head across goal and into the net.

Good work from Robertson and Ogilvie resulted in a cross across the goal line to Main , at the back post marked. His close range header crashed off the bar, landed back at his feet only to see his shot then saved well by the keeper.
The second Bo’ness goal came from the man who just has to score in every game, Ryan Robertson. Main played an inviting cross into the box but the Ormiston defender could only deflect to Simpson who played a short pass to Robertson who thundered home from inside the D with the aid of a deflection.

Goal number three came once again from Robertson who played a neat one two with Snedden, took a touch then and blasted an unstoppable shot into the top left hand corner.

Shortly after McInnes had his first effort with a turn and low shot from a narrow angle but the ball ran just past the post.
With only 22 minutes only the clock, the score was 4-0 as McInnes made no mistake, with a short pass from Shanks in the box , he scored his trademark goal from 12 yards.

Main then saw a long range effort whistle narrowly past the far post. Ogilvie picked up a knock and had to be substituted on 34 minutes and MacDonald came on for a straight swap.

Paterson was next up to have a similar shot from long range but his shot was straight at the keep who caught it comfortably.

Robertson going for his hat-trick , was landed a golden opportunity in 26 minutes when he cannoned a header in the box off an Ormiston defender. The ball landed back at his feet but his shot was blocked by the feet of the keeper.

A half time substitution saw Mitchell replace new defensive goal hero Simpson.

It took only 10 minutes of the second half for Bo’ness to score from a corner. Paterson lost his marker and rose well to header downwards and into the net.
Bo’ness made 3 final substitutions with Mackay, McAteer and M. Weir coming on for McInnes, Main and Shanks.
The final goal of the game came from Robertson on 56 minutes, once again, firing a rocket through the keepers hands. A well deserved hat trick from the man of the match as his goal tally just keeps climbing.

A few more chances followed but no more goals came. Currid was effectively a bystander for the majority of the game and did not have a single save to make.

It was the kind of result Bo’ness were looking for that will give the manager a team selection headache with so many good individual performances, as they head to a top of the table clash away to Armadale on Saturday.

Final Score: Bo’ness Athletic 6 – 0 Ormiston Primrose
The East of Scotland Second Division League Match No. 5

Calum Simpson

2

Bo’ness Athletic v Newburgh (League)

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 stuck 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.
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

Frazer Wright

Calum Ferguson

Blair Lenathen