Report - Bo'ness United 1-3 Neilston

Newtown Park, 28th July 2001 - Friendly

BO'NESS UNITED 1-3 NEILSTON (0-0 HT)

Bo'ness United's first warm-up match for the crucial new season, which will decide places in the new East Super League from 2002/3, ended in a disappointing defeat but was not without its encouraging signs.
As is par for the course in such friendlies, experimentation and testing new players were the priorities for the coaches. Bo'ness started the contest with three new faces, at left-back, right wing and in central midfield and introduced two more new players at half-time, included a goalkeeper. Defence was the area in which most experimentation took place - last year's full-backs, Gary Smith and Davie King, moving into central defence in the absence of Derek Yates and Brian Kemp, while John Black slotted in at right-back.
The unremarkable first half saw the visitors as the marginally better side. Lapses in concentration and a difficult first day for the new left-back provided Neilston with several half-chances, although they lacked the punch to make them count, even when enjoying numerical superiority. The best chance of the first period, however, fell to Bo'ness after 44 minutes, when the trialist midfielder no.7 found himself, out of the blue, with just the goalkeeper to beat, but was unlucky to see his lob clear not only the Neilston 'keeper, but also the crossbar.
It was to be a sign of things to come for the BUs, who were a much improved side early in the second half. Harrison, brought on in midfield, was most impressive of all, displaying technique and vision to trouble the Neilston defence. The best chances fell to Jamie Loney, but he was unable to convert them: once scuffing a shot wide, then seeing Neilston's substitute goalkeeper spread himself well to block, then being denied by the 'keepers reflexes and agility.
But, as was rather too often the case last season, Bo'ness showed themselves to be at their most vulnerable when playing best. Though notably superior than the away side for the first 25 minutes of the second half, they gave up a cheap goal after 71 minutes when Smith lost his footing enabling Neilston to go ahead on the break. Then, just two minutes later, another defensive lapse allowed Danny Diver (a former thorn in the Bo'ness side when playing for Shotts in the Scottish two season previous) to take the ball around the BUs' substitute goalkeeper to add a second with what was only Neilston's second opportunity since half-time.
Now looking much less assured, the BUs struggled to regain their composure, and conceded a third with seven minutes remaining, this time a fine passing move neatly tucked into the corner of the net.
There was, however, some consolation to be had with just a minute to play, when a static Neilston defence took their turn to offer gifts, allowing Paul McKinlay to race away in the clear and chip the ball past the goalkeeper.
Disregarding the score - something Bo'ness cannot afford to do once the serious action gets underway - there were positive signs in the performance. Davie King looked comfortable at centre-back, Harrison looked highly promising with his outing in the second half, and McKinlay once again demonstrated that he only needs one opportunity to put the ball in the net. The defence as a whole did not inspire confidence, but with the experimental nature of the line-up, and key figures to return, this was not a disaster as such. Of more concern was Bo'ness' continued propensity to concede goals when seemingly well in command of games - while this might be passed off as a mere friendly match, it was worryingly reminiscent of what the BUs were doing last season. But then another top five finish like last term, and a ticket to the Super League, might just about be acceptable.

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