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A late headed goal gave Kelty maximum points at Newtown Park in this reasonably entertaining league fixture, punishing Bo'ness for their earlier misses in a match which might have gone their way on another day. Kelty thus maintain a 100% record at the top of the table after four games, while Bo'ness - who finished with ten men after Jamie Loney's dismissal - will have to settle for the consolation that this, at least, was an improvement on last week's dismal showing at Arniston.
It was Kelty who started, as well as finished, on top, with a good opportunity after just four minutes driven into the side netting from an angle by the No.9. Two minutes later they came close again, this time an aerial chance headed over from eight yards out.
But the home team recovered and began to take more of a grip on the game, though the incisive pass up front was missing. The BUs' first real effort came with 21 minutes gone when Martin Mooney hit a fine free kick effort from 25 yards, which the goalkeeper saved and held well at his bottom left hand corner.
Kelty were still looking dangerous, however, as they did throughout this contest. After 28 minutes they had another headed opportunity when a ball whipped in from the left skimmed off the head of a forward in space at the far post; the cross perhaps had just a bit too much zip on it.
It was Bo'ness, however, who had the two best chances so far late on in the first period. With 40 minutes played a Dale Ryan cross from deep was headed on into the box by Hunter for Graeme Donald to run onto. Having lost his marker, the midfielder found himself in a surprising amount of space, but from ten yards he completely mishit his shot, slicing it wide of the 'keeper's left post. Then, in stoppage time, there was a real scramble in front of goal when a Bo'ness free kick was driven into the box, but with the goalkeeper struggling, Derek Yates had his close range shot blocked on the line by a defender, and neither he nor Hunter could force home the loose ball.
Without a goal, but perhaps given hope by these two chances, Bo'ness started the second half the stronger side. Just a minute after the restart Loney forced a near post save from the goalkeeper with a well struck volley on the turn. Gordon Abbott had a strike from the edge of the area blocked by the defence, then around ten minutes into the half, the same player was just unable to get on the end of a header across goal from Donald.
The visitors began to steady the ship, however, and with 64 minutes gone received a boost when the BUs were reduced to ten men, when Loney thoughtlessly hit a player obstructing his throw-in with the ball. It was hardly GBH, but the wing-back was sent marching with a straight red card. The automatic red was perhaps harsh, but in any case Loney had already received a first half caution for dissent.
The prospect of a home win was beginning to recede, though Bo'ness, even a man down, were continuing to look for a way through. But Kelty were by now creating the best openings. Only an excellent save from Campbell kept Bo'ness level on 70 minutes, the goalkeeper deflecting a shot wide with his legs after Kelty's impressive No.11 easily turned Gary Smith at the edge of the box before getting in a shot from an angle.
This wasn't a game which deserved to finish scoreless, and the breakthrough did eventually come with 81 minutes on the clock. Bo'ness survived one scare - a cut-back from a dangerous position cut out by a defender - but from the resulting corner on the right, the ball was headed goalward at the far post, then deflected past the helpless Campbell by a forward two yards from goal.
The 82nd minute winner also, thankfully, means that we can concentrate on giving Kelty their due for a good showing and result, rather than concentrating on the performance of a referee who was determined to be the centre of attention with his fussiness and persistent awards of soft fouls, to say nothing of the fact that the card count almost reached double figures in a game which was never dirty, nor even particularly hard.
United nearly produced an immediate reply to the goal with a swift and incisive attack a minute later, but from Donald's left-wing cross, Abbott was unable to turn his near post volley on target from six yards.
Hopes of a late siege on the Kelty goal were dashed, however, as this proved to be the home team's last chance. Kelty themselves might have added to the score - on 86 minutes, No.9 headed a splendid cross over from eight yards. Then, in stoppage time, No.8 picked the ball up in his own half and charged through the centre of defence at half-way, only for his attempted lob from 25 yards to sail wide of Campbell's left post. Unlucky, but by that stage it mattered little.
Bo'ness United: Campbell; Smith, Loney, McCluskey, Yates [capt], Hunter, Ryan, Donald, Abbott, Mooney, Savage (No.12 - Trialist).