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This was never quite a scintillating local derby, but nevertheless provided Bo'ness with a heartening penalty shoot-out victory over Linlithgow in their first match of the season.
The farcical venue mix-up for the match that never was against Neilston, followed by a postponement against Oakley forced by the farcical Scottish weather, meant that the BUs came into this pre-season contest against the Scottish Junior Cup holders without having played since May. By contrast, Linlithgow already had two games under their belts, though they included a 5-1 mauling at the hands of Arthurlie.
And their disappointing start to the season continued. We can surely expect a better showing from a side as strong as Linlithgow once the Super League action gets underway, but for most of this match they were distinctly unimpressive, slack in their passing, and rarely able to prise open the home defence. Bo'ness, however, should be encouraged by their performance in their first outing of the season. Unquestionably deserving of their half-time advantage following a first forty-five minutes of largely intelligent, controlled football, the home team only visibly wilted in the final fifteen minutes, when their relative lack of match fitness enabled Linlithgow to apply their only concerted pressure of the game.
Linlithgow might, however, have taken the lead after 28 minutes, when Dickov nicked the ball past the BUs' debutant goalkeeper, only for the linesman to flag for offside. Five minutes later, some slick play on the edge of the Linlithgow box provided Bo'ness' new addition Herd to display his footwork skills, leaving the goalkeeper on the ground before slotting home from a tight angle to put the home team ahead. Mooney found space in the penalty area minutes later, but swithered over his shot and was quickly closed down to prevent him doubling the lead.
Ten minutes into the second half, Rennie's shirt was quite blatantly pulled in the Linlithgow box as he challenged for a cross ball - the referee was either unsighted or in a lenient mood. Any appeals were half-hearted, and it appeared that awards for similar offences in the summer's World Cup had gone unheeded in the junior game. No doubt for the referee four minutes later, though, when a Bo'ness defensive lapse allowed Mark Whyte through. A clumsy tackle from behind by Davie King invited Whyte to go down, with the resultant penalty fired superbly past the helpless Bo'ness goalkeeper.
The prospect of a Bo'ness victory in ninety minutes was diminishing, with increasing fatigue providing Linlithgow with the better of the possession for much of the final quarter. Regardless, Bo'ness came closest to winning. An excellent effort from Dougie Todd, back in the fray after a spell at East Stirlingshire, skimmed the top of the bar; then, in the final minute, Gary Smith did well to rob the Linlithgow defence, setting up a three on one on the edge of the area. Mooney was unable to take the through ball cleanly, then hesitated, tried to turn onto his right foot, and a glorious opportunity to claim victory was lost, the eventual effort (from Smith?) bobbling wide for a corner after a deflection.
A useful workout for both teams, in what might prove to be their only meeting of the season unless their paths cross - not altogether unlikely - in a cup competition.
The post-script to the ninety minutes was, of course, the penalty shoot-out to decide who claimed the brand spanking, shiny new trophy. Bo'ness started badly, with Kemp finding orbit with his first kick and Linlithgow converting their first, but the BUs scored their next three while the away side struggled, seeing two of their efforts saved. Into the fifth round and Linlithgow's 'keeper pulled off a terrific save diving low to his right, injuring himself slightly in the process. But his services were not required again in any case. With the chance of sending the shoot-out into sudden death, Linlithgow's fifth man fluffed his effort, sending it hopelessly wide to give victory to Bo'ness - probably a deserved conclusion.
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