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Bo'ness United, under the guidance of Alan Banner for the first time following
the resignation of Brian Fairley, limped out of the Fife and Lothians Cup
against Glenrothes with their first defeat since mid-October. After a
difficult first half playing against a stiff wind, Bo'ness were an improved
side in the second period but nevertheless succumbed to a suspiciously
offside-looking goal with just under twenty minutes to play.
A disappointing start to Banner's spell as coach, but the defeat had been
coming for a month. A late equaliser after a torrid ninety minutes at Bonnybridge,
a very late penalty equaliser against Camelon, a heroic
defensive display at Arthurlie and an insipid performance against a poor
Fauldhouse team all gave the impression that the end of the five month
unbeaten run was nigh - Fairley escaped just in time.
Glenrothes, for their part, have been a pleasant surprise in this season's
inaugural Superleague, and in this contest showed themselves as a very
competent outfit, albeit one who could do with concentrating more of their
training on their finishing skills. They must have been disappointed to
go in at the half level, having failed to take advantage of having the
wind at their backs; despite having the majority of the attacking pressure
and half-chances (for there was precious little in the way of real chances),
Neil Binnie's goal had hardly been troubled.
Bo'ness were, in fact, the first to threaten - after 8 minutes, the Glenrothes 'keeper failed to hold onto a corner kick under the pressure of BU captain Derek Yates, but the big defender was unable to turn the loose ball on target.
It was something of a false dawn for United, however, proving to be their only attack of real note in the first 45 minutes. With ten minutes gone Binnie was called into action for the first time, straightforwardly saving a volley from the left side of the box.
At least that one was on target - despite their superiority, the majority of the away side's first half efforts were long range efforts which failed to make Binnie work. On 32 minutes they created their best opportunity so far, their No.8 receiving the ball in a dangerous position following a blunder from Dave Muirhead, but under pressure from Yates his effort from ten yards went wide of Binnie's left post.
Ten minutes from the interval they produced their best yet. There were heavy suspicions of offside about the final ball, but in any case the forward was unlucky to see his finish from an acute angle on the left cleared off the line by David King. From the defender's clearance the ball was knocked back into the danger area, but headed over when better might have been expected.
Glenrothes came close again after 41 minutes when the ball broke to their No.10 at the edge of the box, but Binnie made a smart diving stop to his left from the volleyed attempt. It was their last opportunity of a largely disappointing 45 minutes, in which Bo'ness had been content to keep the score level playing against a reasonably stiff wind and Glenrothes had failed to turn their dominance into clear chances.
Playing for survival in the first 45 minutes, Bo'ness were a much more
purposeful side in the second half, doubtless helped by the elements now
being in their favour. Their new attacking intent was apparent early on. Eight minutes into the half, Greig Hodge received a throw-in on the edge of the box, but his decent shot on the turn was saved without enormous trouble.
Wind or no wind, however, Glenrothes still posed a threat. On 58 minutes Binnie deflected a fierce strike from the visitors high in the air, then had to scramble the ball out from under the crossbar as it threatened to drop in for a freak goal.
At the other end, Martin Mooney almost made great use of the wind when a corner kick from the right nearly flew directly in. The BUs also had the ball in the net through Dale Ryan, but the forward was judged to have fouled the goalkeeper.
The away side's winning goal, arriving after 71 minutes, was a controversial one. The No.10 appeared offside as he was played in down the right wing, but play continued. As he cut inside to play a low ball across to a fellow attacker, the intended recipient appeared even further offside, yet the linesman's flag stayed down as the ball was stroked into an unguarded net from eight yards out at the far post. The home support watched on in disbelief as the Bo'ness players protested furiously, but the goal stood, and proved to be the winner.
Bo'ness did come close to levelling the score, however. On 79 minutes, John Jeffrey met a fine Greig Hodge cross from the right at the far post with a diving header, and was unlucky to see his effort go just wide. Then, with a little under five minutes left, they came even closer when a corner kick was headed against the bar, and substitute Brian Kemp, following up, had his attempt scrambled off the line as the visitors just maintained their slender lead.
It was by no means a classic game - marred to a considerable extent by the wind, not to mention the highly dubious winning goal - but Glenrothes just about deserved their win.
Bo'ness United: Binnie; Smith, King, Todd, Yates [capt], Muirhead, Hodge, Mooney (Kemp), Ryan, Jeffrey, Wood (Ferguson).