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Bo'ness led this Scottish fourth round tie at Newtown Park for no less than 78 minutes against fourth placed West side Glenafton but there was little doubt that, having been comprehensively outplayed, they hardly deserved the win which Jim Ellis' early strike nearly brought them. A scorching 83rd minute shot, with which Glenafton were finally able to beat an inspirational Neil Binnie, ensured that this tie will be decided in an Ayrshire replay.
Things looked bright enough after four minutes for the home team, going ahead when a corner fell to Jamie Winning at the far post. The young forward was unable to turn to get a shot off, but touched the ball off for Ellis to smash home from six yards.
But before long the game had settled into the pattern which would last throughout, with Glenafton winning the midfield battle and applying the majority of pressure, but finding themselves frustrated in attack and vulnerable to counter attacks. Having failed to seriously test Binnie with their early efforts, they drew a good save from the Bo'ness 'keeper on sixteen minutes when a powerful low strike from the No.9 from outside the area had Binnie diving to his right to push away the ball.
The BUs were finding themselves pushed back, but despite a worrying lack of midfield presence, looked capable of causing trouble for the visiting defence. They came close to doubling their lead on 24 minutes when a Gary Smith pass found Dale Ryan on the edge of the box. He turned superbly, only to see his shot whistle just over the bar.
Four minutes later Glenafton had one of their best chances to equalise in the first half when a forward had the chance to shoot from eight yards out on the right, but the ball did not sit kindly for a shot and Ellis was able to get back to deflect the effort wide.
The second period started where the first had left off, with any hopes the home fans had for a stronger midfield showing proving forlorn. Still, though, the BU defence was impressing, as they continued to resist pressure without allowing any clear opportunities to the visitors. But on 59 minutes the right side of the defence was breached, as Glenafton's No.9 cut in from the right wing, dodging past John Jeffrey into the box, but with space for a shot from the angle he sliced his shot disappointingly high and wide. The BUs' defensive task was made tougher, however, when veteran and captain Dougie Todd was stretchered off shortly after, his name added to the already extensive injury list.
On 69 minutes Binnie was forced into a superb reaction save when an off-target shot from Glenafton No.7 at the edge of the box was flicked and turned on target by the fortunately placed No.9 six yards out. But the 'keeper was alert, not only making the block but holding onto the ball.
And Bo'ness would continue to look to Binnie as things heated up in the final fifteen minutes with Glenafton laying siege to the home goal. With 76 minutes played a ball whipped in from the right was headed powerfully goalward by Glenafton's No.10, but pushed superbly over the bar by Binnie, who hardly looked like a man whose temporary return from retirement had begun only the week previous at Armadale.
A minute later, a corner swung over to the far post was played back across the face of goal to the No.9 in space, but with an excellent chance to level the scores he swept his shot over from ten yards. Then, on 79 minutes, a drilled shot from the corner of the six yard box was blocked by the Bo'ness defence as they threw their bodies in front of it.
But, with the defence under increasing pressure, the goal was looking inevitable and finally arrived with just eight minutes to play when Jamie Loney conceded a free kick - and earned his marching orders for a second caution - with a hand ball just outside the box. Although the free kick itself was thundered against the wall, the ball broke kindly to a Glenafton forward 25 yards out, who fired a magnificent shot into Binnie's top right hand corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
It appeared Bo'ness might even be lucky to force a replay at this point, but the ten men did steady the ship somewhat in the closing stages, and had further opportunities to slice open the away defence on the break. But Glenafton, unsurprisingly, came closest to winning the tie late on when, on 88 minutes, a forward cut into the box from the right flank and beat Binnie with his shot from wide, only to be denied when Gary Smith, United's outstanding outfield player, got back onto the line to hook clear.
Glenafton will feel confident about their chances in the replay. Bo'ness, on the other hand, know only a much improved showing will keep alive their hopes of matching, or bettering, last season's exploits.
Bo'ness United: Binnie; Smith, Loney, Todd [capt] (McCluskey), Burrows, Ryan (Struthers), Mooney, Thomas, Winning, Jeffrey (Muirhead).