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Bo'ness failed to follow up on the promise shown in midweek against Gala Fairydean with a largely disappointing performance in the first local derby of the season, played for the George Simpson Memorial Trophy on a scorchingly hot afternoon. Coach Jimmy Sandison had to contend, once more, with the absence of several core players, but nevertheless must have hoped for more than this ineffectual showing, in which Bo'ness showed precious little going forward to trouble hosts Linlithgow.
The first half, at least, was a reasonably even affair, with Bo'ness looking the equal of their hosts. However, Linlithgow started stronger - as early as the opening minute, a fierce ball was whipped across the front of the BU goal which 'keeper Cairns was just able to divert from the feet of a forward and wide for a corner.
Linlithgow were not to be denied for long, though. After seven minutes an unthreatening volley was needlessly pushed behind by Cairns. The strike surely could have been held, and didn't even appear to be heading on target, but the home side took full advantage of the gift of a corner, with the defence static as a high cross was sent to the far post and straightforwardly nodded home.
It looked set to be a difficult afternoon for Bo'ness, but they soon steadied themselves to relieve the early pressure. Both sides showed flashes of good football for the remainder of the half, punctuated by the odd needless error, but there was little in the way of spark, and almost nothing to get excited about. Bo'ness had their best effort after 24 minutes when Martin Mooney hit a fine free kick from 25 yards out, but the goalkeeper got down well to his bottom left corner to push the shot away.
Slow to get started in the first period, Bo'ness were no quicker out of the traps in the second. With fifty minutes played, a hopeful long ball from deep in the Linlithgow half caught the Bo'ness defence out entirely. By the time they had arisen from their siesta, old thorn-in-the-side Mark Whyte had chased down the ball to send an accurate looping volley across goal and into the far corner, out of the reach of Cairns.
Three minutes later Whyte was creating problems again, this time a wicked low ball in from the flank being pushed wide from six yards by the No.10, who should have done better.
Bo'ness' attempts to get back into the contest were seriously hampered by a lack of bodies up front. After Gordon Abbott's early exit with injury, John Jeffrey was left to toil away up front alone for much of the time, an especially difficult task in the sweltering weather. Moments of inspiration were few and far between, and the closest the away side came to a second half goal was when substitute Dale Ryan placed a dangerous low ball into the middle of the box, but the Linlithgow defence were alert enough to snuff out the danger.
With seventy minutes played the home team came near to a third, but Cairns made a superb save to beat out a powerful header from ten yards.
The game ultimately petered out, with heat and the apparent inevitability of the result taking their toll. It's not a result which will, local pride apart, overly concern Bo'ness - the upcoming league cup tie against Camelon is of greater import - but aspects of the performance and team organisation, most notably the impotence going forward, will be of greater consternation.
Bo'ness United: Cairns; Burroughs, McCluskey (Dillon), Smith [capt], Martin, Muirhead, Struthers, Mooney (Wotherspoon), Abbott (No.12 Trialist (No.3 Trailist)), Jeffrey, Savage (Ryan).