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Still in with an outside chance of winning the league, results such as this - more dropped points at home - will do Bo'ness United's hopes little good. And to go with the disappointing result against struggling Dundee North End (who themselves can hardly have been delighted with a single point), this was a disappointing game, lacking not only in goals but in incident.
George O'Boyle, scorer of two goals in the previous game against Fauldhouse, came closest for Bo'ness in the first half, getting on the end of a Dolan cross from the left on ten minutes, but heading narrowly wide right. But in general, the BUs' approach of testing the packed defence with high balls rarely threatened to pay dividends.
On 31 minutes there was a half chance for the visitors when BU 'keeper Mark Cairns rushed out of his box to act as sweeper and meet a long pass. His attempted clearance, out on the flank, hit a pursuing forward, but the with Cairns stranded, the Dundee player was well closed down by the defence and unable to take advantage of the opening.
The home team had been on top in the first half, but without looking like they could score. There were a few more chances in the second period, but the visitors attitude remained defensive, somewhat puzzling for a team in trouble and running out of games.
Five minutes into the second half Chris Dolan came close for Bo'ness when he received a lay-off from O'Boyle and tried a long range effort from out on the left. The shot took a big deflection, looping up over the goalkeeper but, unfortunately for Dolan, passing just wide of the far post.
O'Boyle came close again on 63 minutes, doing well to turn on the edge of the box under pressure, but his shot again went wide right. And the Northern Ireland internationalist was involved ten minutes later as Bo'ness came close - he received a long throw-in from the right on the corner of the six yard box and tried to turn his man outside, but in the ensuing scramble neither he nor Kevin Thomas (a clearly not fully fit substitute for the injured substitute Dale Ryan) could force the ball home.
This one, however, had long had the look of a scoreless draw and Bo'ness were unable to prise open the Dundee defence in the closing stages, having to settle for a point.
Bo'ness United: cairns; Smith [capt], Dolan, McLuskey, Burrows, Muirhead, Mooney, Donnelly, Hunter (Ryan (Thomas)), O'Boyle, Jeffrey.