Club Match Reporter John Spowart has compiled Season Reviews for the past few seasons.

 

Bo'ness United

Season review 2010/2011

Chief correspondent John Spowart looks at the season gone.

 

The 2009/2010 season was heralded as a great one for Bo'ness United but the campaign just finished will also go down as worth remembering. The BUs retained the East Region Super League but, although they didn't win any other silverware, they went further than the previous year in all the cup competitions. There was also the added glamour of playing three games in the Scottish Cup, the highlight being the victory over Scottish Football League side Queen's Park at Newtown Park.

There was not the wholesale changes in the playing staff that was seen in the previous year, but by the start of the league campaign in late August eight players had been added to the squad with four players moving on. Not all of the players coming in were successful resulting in some short stays at Newtown Park. Over the whole of the season twenty one players came in and eighteen players went the other way.

The other main change was Allan McGonigal's appointment as Hamilton Accies U19 coach. McGonigal maintained his position with Bo'ness for the first month or so but eventually he had to relinquish control as it was not possible to do both jobs. Assistant Coach Willie Newbigging took up the reins but McGonigal maintained an interest in the development of the squad.

Bo'ness gained maximum points in their League Cup section although the quest to retain the Super League did not get off to a great start with a home defeat against Bathgate. The BUs lost on penalties at Camelon in the semi final of the League Cup, but victories against Lochee United, Camelon and Musselburgh got the league campaign back on track.

A victory at Montrose Roselea was the first of twenty two cup ties that Bo'ness were to play over the season, a total that was to prove significant later on. Bo'ness were drawn to play first round ties in both the Scottish Junior and Fife and Lothians Cups and combined with their first ever Scottish Cup venture, the BUs were quickly left behind in the Super League race.

History was made on the last Saturday in September when Bo'ness travelled to Selkirk for their Scottish Cup debut. Despite going behind, Bo'ness scored six goals to make an early impact in the competition. Home victories against Dundee Violet and Kirkcaldy YM in the Scottish Junior Cup and Fife and Lothians Cup respectively sandwiched a difficult league draw at Bonnyrigg.

Next came a historical day at Newtown Park when Queen's Park visited for round two of the Scottish Cup. As at Selkirk, Bo'ness lost the first goal but strikes by Derek Fleming and Paul Shields made it a great day for the BUs who made the headlines on the back pages of the Sunday papers. The atmosphere at Newtown Park was incredible and it was a proud day for everyone associated with Bo'ness United.

Bo'ness then took two games to defeat Kinnoull in round 2 of the Scottish Junior Cup but disposed of Blairgowrie in the East of Scotland Cup. The next round of the Scottish Cup saw Buckie Thistle visit Newtown Park and it was to be the end of the journey for Bo'ness as the Highland League Champions were victorious.

It was now late November and Bo'ness had played only five league games, but there was to be no more football for an incredible eight weeks as the severe winter weather took hold. Bo'ness's next competitive game was in mid January when consecutive Scottish Junior Cup victories at Yoker and Bellshill saw the BUs into round five of the premier Junior tournament.

Bo'ness United's next three games saw them beat Kelty, draw with Bonnyrigg and lose at Linlithgow, all in the Super League. The defeat against the Rose was hard to take as Bo'ness played very well at Prestonfield, but could not turn their superiority into goals. However a convincing victory at Tayport ensured that, although Bo'ness were well behind in games played, they could still catch the teams ahead of them in the table. 

A single Will Snowdon goal at Petershill ushered Bo'ness into the last eight of the Scottish Junior Cup and, because of the postponed league game at Forfar, the BUs next game was at home to Bonnyrigg in that quarter final. Everything pointed to a difficult match but, as things turned out, the BUs played very well and were convincing winners against a disappointing Bonnyrigg side.

A two leg semi final against Auchinleck Talbot was the reward for Bo'ness but all thoughts of these matches were put aside as the BUs looked to make up ground in the chase for the Title. Four points from nine at Camelon, Hill of Beath and Newtongrange was not Championship winning form. In saying that the draw against Hill of Beath was the first ever point won at Keirs Park.

An East of Scotland Cup win at Kelty preceded the two games against Auchinleck but it was to be the end of the Scottish Junior Cup dream for Bo'ness. The BUs lost both games   against a good side and, although disappointing, this was Bo'ness's best showing in the tournament for a number of years.

After the Auchinleck games, Bo'ness commenced the run of games that would see them play an incredible twelve matches over twenty seven days. During that schedule Bo'ness progressed to the semi final of the Fife and Lothians Cup but lost out to Armadale Thistle in the East of Scotland Cup. In that period Bo'ness played seven league games up to   when Linlithgow were the next opponents at Newtown Park. The results to that point had the BUs with the advantage over their near neighbours. However a victory over a very tired Bo'ness side resulted in the pendulum swinging in the Rose's favour. A Linlithgow victory against Bonnyrigg in their final match would mean Bo'ness having to win both their remaining games away to Forfar West End and home to Tayport.

As things turned out Linlithgow went down against Bonnyrigg, a defeat that ended their Super League aspirations. Meanwhile two late goals against Forfar West End meant that Bo'ness now only needed a point against Tayport to take the Title. Straightforward enough perhaps, but the Fife side were coming to Bo'ness knowing only a victory would keep them in the Super League.

Before that all important final Super League game Bo'ness won through to the final of the Fife and Lothian's Cup courtesy of a penalty kick shoot out at Penicuik. Linlithgow had already progressed to the final.

Decision day arrived and, apart from the competing sides, the fate of two other teams hinged on this one game. If Bo'ness slipped up, Hill of Beath would win the Championship and Camelon would be relegated as a consequence. Two first half goals from Nicky Walker put Bo'ness in the driving seat and despite Tayport pulling one back, it was not enough for the Fifers. Bo'ness United were once again Super League Champions and the first side to win the Title two years in succession.

The final game saw Bo'ness narrowly lose the Fife and Lothians final at Linlithgow and although it was a disappointing way to end the season the BUs could look back with a real sense of achievement.

It was different from last season where Bo'ness had led the table from the beginning but this time it was a late run from the back of the field. The number of cup games resulted in Bo'ness playing fifteen more matches this season and, combined with the long period of inaction due to the weather, a lot of football was played in the last weeks of the season.

In the end though the BUs came through to win the Championship and it has been a fantastic effort from the players and coaching staff. The BU Faithful also did their bit turning up week in week out win or lose and everyone is a winner. Next season will see Bo'ness United once again competing in the Scottish Cup, and they will also be the team everyone wants to beat.

As with other seasons, individual players will be awarded player of the year status but this time round every Bo'ness United player deserves recognition for a job well done.