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Bo'ness made it three consecutive wins since their Scottish semi-final exit and advanced to the last eight of the Streamline Taxis-sponsored St Michael Cup following an ultimately comfortable win over Division Two promotion challengers Penicuik. It was a considerably better game (and performance) than last week's borefest at Broxburn, for the simple reason that both sides showed a measure of desire and attacking ambition, though in the end the visitors' defensive frailties let them down.
Penicuik began this game in reasonably encouraging fashion, testing Neil Binnie at his near post in the third minute, with the BU goalkeeper doing well to hold onto a low, hard drive with a scavenging forward lurking. That they had more attacking intent than Broxburn was obvious early on, although the Bo'ness defence held firm in what was an interesting but rarely thrilling first half. Bo'ness for their part enjoyed their share of attacking possession, but their failure to find a killer final ball was frustrating. Bo'ness, should, however, have taken the lead after 14 minutes when Jamie Loney, ruled onside, charged onto a pass down the left and found an unmarked Martin Mooney in the box with a low cross. The midfielder should have scored, but after taking a touch instead of shooting first time, the goalkeeper was able to narrow the angle and make a good block from Mooney's effort from six yards.
The game appeared to be heading to half-time scoreless before Bo'ness opened the scoring with 39 minutes played. Gordon Herd, with the aid of a slightly lucky bounce off the defender's leg, beat his man on the byeline on the right and clipped the ball across to David Muirhead in space at the penalty spot. Muirhead mis-hit his volleyed effort, but the ball spun awkwardly and past the goalkeeper into the net anyway for the midfielder's twentieth goal of the season.
Four minutes later and Bo'ness, clearly buoyed by the opener, doubled their lead from the penalty spot. It was a disappointing penalty kick to concede for the visitors; Herd, under pressure in a packed penalty area, fouled with his back to goal and apparently going nowhere. An unwise challenge and a soft penalty, but Muirhead was unconcerned - he made it 2-0 and a personal double with a low, hard strike just off-centre.
Bo'ness had worked hard enough for their lead, but Penicuik must have felt a little unlucky to be two goals down after the first period. Into the second half, United had a more confident look about them going forward, but it was Penicuik who were to grab the next goal. Six minutes after the restart, a corner from the left was headed in by the poorly marked No.2 to give the away side renewed hope.
Four minutes later Mooney had the ball in the net for the BUs, but he was controversially ruled offside by the referee. In fairness to the referee, the whistle was blown before Mooney's strike cracked off the crossbar and bounced in, but not before the ball had reached the unmarked midfielder in a dangerous position fifteen yards from goal. Within a minute, Penicuik nearly had the score level with an effort which rolled just wide of Binnie's right hand post.
Goals were evidently there to be had - Penicuik's defence was now looking extremely vulernable, not helped by an unconvincing offside trap and lamentable communication, but Bo'ness themselves were not looking entirely secure, and with 64 minutes gone a header across the goal might have been turned in when the No.11 chipped the ball over Binnie from eight yards, but also over the bar. But in so doing he caught Binnie, who had to go off injured to be replaced with reserve goalkeeper Kevin McFarlane, making his first competitive appearance for Bo'ness.
The home support needn't have had any concerns over this, however. McFarlane looked solid enough when called upon, and in any case, with 71 minutes played, Bo'ness gave themselves a cushion with the third goal they had been threatening. After some neat midfield work, Jeffrey was played in down the left; his cross into the danger area was cut out but not satisfactorily cleared, and when the ball broke to Mooney at the edge of the box, he produced a fabulous finish, volleying into the goalkeeper's bottom right corner.
Two minutes later any remaining doubts were vanquished by a fourth goal. Mooney was ruled onside as the ball was played into space down the left, and the playmaker rolled the ball inside for Jeffrey, who, under no defensive pressure, finished comfortably from 10 yards.
With progress in the cup assured, Bo'ness dominated the latter stages of the game, threatening to add further to their lead. Herd, completing his first ninety minutes in some time after his recent injury troubles, came closest with a left foot effort which rolled across the face of the goal from a tight angle.
A deserved triumph for the home side, who remain in contention on three fronts with the season entering its final stages.
Bo'ness United: Binnie (McFarlane); Ryan, King, Todd, Yates [capt], Muirhead (McPherson), Jeffrey, Donald, Herd, Mooney, Loney (Wood).