Report - Bo'ness 2-3 Livingston F.C.

Newtown Park, 8th August 2000 - Pre-Season Friendly

BO'NESS 2-3 LIVINGSTON F.C. (1-3 HT)

It was another entertaining contest at Newtown Park as Bo'ness played their final friendly before the competitive stuff gets underway; but it was also another poor defensive performance to have manager Sludden pulling his hair out.
Visiting Livingston F.C., of the Scottish Football League First Division, sent a young but nevertheless impressive side for the match, who wasted little time in taking the lead, with Dewar beating Binnie within the opening ten minutes. Yet although Livvy continued to dominate proceedings, Bo'ness scored an unlikely, and ill-deserved, equaliser after 35 minnutes when Sludden rose above the defence to head home a dangerous cross from a Black free kick.
Even so, the BUs were unable to make half-time on level terms to give them a chance to reorganise. A disastrous own goal by Colin Inglis put the visitors back in front on 43 minutes, when his attempted header back to the goalkeeper rolled into his own net after a communication breakdown. If there wasn't a whole lotta love apparent between goalkeeper and defender then, there was little to cheer Binnie in first half stoppage time, when more poor defending and a failure to clear the ball from danger led to Baillie scoring after an incredible scramble in the box to increase Livingston's lead to 3-1 at the break.
Three changes were made at the break, including the introduction of midfielder Greig Hodge, leading to some improvement from the home side. It was another substitute, striker Paul McKinlay, who cut the deficit to one goal when he chased through a long kick by goalkeeper Binnie to clip the ball in. It was his first goal for Bo'ness since breaking a leg last October, and his strike was warmly greeted by the spectators.
This was not, however, to be the BUs' night, and Livvy held on without too much difficulty to claim victory.

Bo'ness Starting Line-Up: Binnie; Smith, King, Black, Yates, Inglis, Drew, Kemp, Loney, Sludden, Trialist