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A very poor Bo'ness performance ensured yet another early exit from the Scottish, although this was a match they were in position to win before succumbing to defeat in a penalty shoot-out, when misses from the spot by Alan Ward and Derek Yates allowed Lochore to deservedly progress.
The match itself was hardly a classic, particularly in regulation time. Only a well-taken goal by Alan Ward after nine minutes, after he picked up a headed flick-on by Paul McKinlay, livened up the first 45 minutes. As in the first meeting, Lochore seemed capable only of threatening from set-pieces, although Bo'ness largely defended them without a great deal of fuss.
Just about worthy of a half-time lead, the home side deteriorated badly in the second half. Another effort from Ward, saved by the goalkeeper, was all the BUs could muster, while the feeling grew that Lochore - although still completely lacking in incisiveness - could well find a passage through the defence, helped by a solid grip on the midfield.
When it appeared Bo'ness may have been able to hang on, Welfare found the net with just seven minutes to play. A ball fired across the box from the left was drilled low and hard beyond Neil Binnie to give the visitors just reward for their endeavours.
Extra time was notably more eventful than normal time, with gaps appearing in both tiring defences. The home side were well on top in the first extra period, with the best chance falling to Gary Smith, who should have converted a free-kick curled in to the far post, but failed to control and knocked the ball wide with the net gaping.
That was to be the BUs' best chance of victory. The second extra period was dominated by Lochore, who were now at last finding ways through the Bo'ness back four. When Binnie flapped at a high ball in his six yard box, Davie King had to do brilliantly to hook the ball off the line and away to safety.
Then one of those "moments of madness" reduced Bo'ness to ten men, when Smith needlessly kicked out at an opponent, and was rightly shown a straight red by the referee with just ten minutes left. It was not long enough for Lochore to take advantage - although they almost won the contest in the 120th minute, but were denied by excellent goalkeeping as Binnie rushed out to block an attacker through on goal.
Having blown the advantage once, Bo'ness did so again in the subsequent penalty shoot-out. With Brian Kemp and Kevin Inglis hitting home their penalties, and Binnie producing a tremendous save from Lochore's first kick, Bo'ness looked well-placed to win at 2-0 up. In the end, the misses by Ward and Yates ensured defeat in a tie which had threatened on several occasions to go either way. It was unfortunate timing for Bo'ness' worst performance of the season so far.
Bo'ness: Binnie; Smith, King, Ryan (Hodge), Yates, Kemp, K Inglis, Drew, McKinlay, Ward, Brown (Loney).
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