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Bo'ness were worthy winners of this vital clash at a windy Central Park against league leaders Whitburn, picking up maximum points - and pulling within a point of the home team - thanks to fine second half goals from Greig Hodge and Iain Ferguson.
It looked an ominous start, however, for the BUs. Playing against the strong wind in the first period, the home side piled on the pressure in the opening minutes, and it looked like this 25th January meeting might end with it being Burnie's Night. (Sorry, the temptation was too great to resist.) But despite a series of corner kicks and territorial advantage, Whitburn were unable to forge any clear chances.
In fact, Bo'ness came closest in the opening quarter hour, when Martin Mooney was unlucky to see his brilliantly judged free kick from 25 yards smack off the crossbar. Five minutes later, and Whitburn had their best opportunity so far - ex-BU Colin Campbell easily turning Derek Yates to go clear on goal, but Neil Binnie, closing down the angle, made an excellent block to deny his former team mate.
The first half offered little else in the way of genuine chances. Both sides periodically threatened, although it was no surprise that the game was still scoreless at the half. Bo'ness had reason to be satisfied, however. After enduring a torrid opening ten minutes, they adapted better to the conditions, and looked better than the hosts for much of the half. Whitburn must have been disappointed with the deterioration of their performance, and their failure to cash in on the theoretical advantage of having the wind at their backs.
Whitburn, however, began the second period in more encouraging fashion. Within half a minute of their kicking off, Campbell had another good chance to open the scoring. Unmarked, he received the ball eight yards out on the right, but, without the time to bring the ball down, his volley flashed just wide of Binnie's left hand post.
Early hope, then, that Whitburn could make an impression even playing against the wind, although this optimism was short-lived. With 53 minutes played, Ferguson pushed a superbly measured diagonal ball through the last line of the defence for substitute Hodge to run onto. Clear on goal, the Bo'ness veteran finished well from the edge of the penalty area to put Bo'ness ahead.
Four minutes later, Bo'ness confirmed their grip on the game by adding a second. Scott Love skipped past his man on the right flank, then, with plenty of time, delivered an excellent cross to the unmarked Ferguson, who picked his spot and headed into the goalkeeper's bottom left corner.
Midway through the half, Bo'ness might have put the result beyond doubt. After a pass from Ferguson had been cut out by Whitburn's No.2, the defender was robbed by John Jeffrey, who found himself through on goal, only to be denied by a fine stop from the goalkeeper.
The home team began to claw their way back into the contest after this, and had an opportunity to pull a goal back with ten minutes remaining - however, after a fine ball played across the face of the goal from the right flank, Glynn scuffed the ball wide at the far post.
It was Whitburn's last real chance. Jeffrey might have added to the scoring for the visitors in injury time, but was dispossessed by the goalkeeper as he tried to take the ball around him.
Not, overall, a classic, but a pleasing performance nonetheless from Bo'ness, who remain unbeaten since October and put themselves in the frame for the divisional title.
Bo'ness United: Binnie; Smith, King, Donald (Dillon (Hodge (Kemp)))*, Yates [capt], Muirhead, Love, Mooney, Ferguson, Jeffrey, Ryan.
* No, really