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The League Cup curse strikes again. Bo'ness must be wondering when they will get their hands on this elusive trophy - it was starting to look winnable this year, with all the East's Super League contingent except Bathgate eliminated by the quarter finals, and should-have-been Super League club Whitburn bundled out on Tuesday night by this season's surprise package, Sauchie.
But of course it wasn't to be. Bo'ness were without three starters from Saturday's 4-1 defeat of Whitburn - goalkeeper Wilson, Loney, and the injured King - chose their most important game of the season so far to put in their worst performance by some distance, and eventually succumbed on penalties.
It might have been different. For all that Bo'ness were undoubtedly the second best side for large periods (including the first twenty-five minutes of both halves), they created as many good opportunities as the visitors, and indeed led at the half. This appeared unlikely in the opening exchanges, during which the BUs looked slack in midfield and defence - Fauldhouse's No.9 missed the best chance after 24 minutes when, through on goal after a defensive error, he allowed himself to be caught and goalkeeper Alan Banner was able to steal the ball from him.
Five minutes later, Bo'ness were somewhat surprisingly in front. Three minutes after Alan Ward had fired over from a good position, having been played through by Martin Mooney, he was in the box again, and went down under a challenge from behind for a penalty kick. Davie Muirhead stepped up to strike home confidently.
Bo'ness clearly received a lift, and were an improved team for the remainder of the half. However, in the second half Fauldhouse were back on top. They might easily have scored after 56 minutes, but with Banner out of position having pursued a cross, Fauldhouse's No.2 saw his shot deflected wide for a corner.
But just after the hour, the inevitable equaliser came. A free-kick was crossed into the box from deep, and Fauldhouse's tall No.9 rose to head in.
Bo'ness gradually came back into the contest, but were never clearly on top, and were struggling to create any sort of chance for Gordon Herd up front. They were an improved team when Stephen Wotherspoon replaced Dale Ryan, allowing Brian Kemp - who had been taking on King's defensive role - to step up into midfield. Then Martin Mooney missed a superb chance with nine minutes left, his scissors kick volley from Herd's cross flying over the bar from close range. Would a simpler effort not have done the job?
Despite that, late victory could just as easily have been Fauldhouse's. Five minutes left, and their goalscorer could have settled it, but as the Bo'ness defence scrambled desperately inside the box, his effort bounced to safety off the outside of the post.
And so penalties. Kemp converted the first kick comfortably, but as Fauldhouse scored their first three with ease, Bo'ness failed with their next three, all saved - the killer blow coming as Muirhead, scorer from twelve yards inside the ninety minutes, saw his effort well stopped.
Perhaps next year, then?
Bo'ness United: Banner; Donald, Dillon, Kemp, Smith, Ryan (Wotherspoon), Todd, Muirhead, Mooney, Ward, Herd.