Bo'ness fire their way into history by retaining title

Bo'ness manager Willie Newbigging heaped praise on his players, as well as everyone else connected to the club, after they earned a place in the record books by becoming the first side to win the East Region Super League two seasons running.

A first-half double from Nicky Walker secured the win Bo'ness needed in their final game to retain the crown and, at the same time, consign Tayport to relegation from the top flight along with Newtongrange Star.

"It is extremely pleasing - I'm a really proud manager at the moment," said Newbigging. "But it's definitely not just down to me. It's the players, the backroom staff, the committee and the supporters who are unbelievable."

Cup commitments in the first half of the season left Bo'ness playing catch up in the league entering the final few weeks of the campaign and they looked to have a tough hands on their task to close the gap on arch-rivals Linlithgow.

It was definitely advantage Lithgae after they won 4-0 at Newtown Park just over a fortnight ago but Dave Baikie's side then slipped up at home to Bonnyrigg Rose in their final game to drop out of the title race.

A win at Forfar on the same day left Bo'ness needing just a draw in this game to finish above Hill of Beath and, though the nerves were palpable early on, the outcome was never really in doubt after Walker struck twice in a ten-minute spell before the break.

"This is a fantastic day," added Newbigging. "Everyone had written us off with a couple of months to go when we had six or seven games to catch up. We just had to plod away game at a time and it's not been easy. I always said it wouldn't be impossible. I said it would be hard but I got great commitment from the players who also showed great character.

"Over the course of the season the whole squad has been superb - they deserve a lot of credit."

The first arrived in the 35th minute, by which time the lightning-fast Walker had shown he was probably going to be the player to unlock a stuffy Tayport defence.

Chris McFadyen flicked on a header to put Walker through on the left and while he didn't hit his shot nearly as well as he would have been hoping it had still has enough power to get past goalkeeper Neil Ferrie.

Stuart Baillie did a better job in keeping out an effort from James Russell at the other end before Walker struck again in the 45th minute.

Brian Livie's back header went past Ferrie, the ball coming off the keeper's right-hand post and as it ran along the line Walker pounced to hammer home into the empty net.

"Nicky started the season on fire then had a bit of a dip which happens to everyone," said Newbigging of his two-goal hero.

"But he returned to form in the last two or three weeks and has been working really hard for the team.

"He scored two great goals for us today and they both came at great times for us as well."

Walker almost claimed his hat-trick early in the second-half, bursting clear on the right to fire in a shot that was saved low down by Ferrie.

Russell had a free-kick tipped over by Baillie as Tayport, as expected given they needed a win to stay up at the expense of Camelon, started to press more than they had in the first half.

And, with just over 20 minutes to go, the visitors pulled one back, Russell making no mistake from the penalty spot after Stuart Hunter certainly handled the ball though whether it was intentional or not was a matter for debate.

Grant Plenderleith headed just over from a cross from Andy Shirra, who then screwed a shot just wide after getting himself into a great position in the box.

And, as Bo'ness definitely finished the game the stronger, McFadyen was inches away from getting on the end of a great cross from Walker. The final whistle sparked scenes of joyous celebrations and it was perhaps fitting that Allan McGonigal, the man who guided Bo'ness to last season's title triumph, was back alongside Newbigging in the dugout on Saturday.

"Derek Murray, my assistant, is away playing in the Senior World Cup in Thailand - with all the has-beens!" joked the manager. "He was swithering about it but it was a great achievement for him to be picked for that. I asked Allan to give me a hand because you can't do it yourself and he's back to his old self shouting and roaring at people!"

The experienced duo will now be hoping for one more spirited performance from their players when the double champions face Linlithgow on Thursday night in the final of the Fife & Lothians Cup at Prestonfield (7.15pm kick-off).

Bo'ness United: Baillie, Guy (Duffin 72), Fleming, Snowden, Hunter, Hay, Donnelly, Shirra, McFadyen, Plenderleith (McNaughton 74), Walker. Subs: Ballantine, Cooper, Forrest, Fraser, Ure, Longmuir.

Tayport: Ferrie, Donachie, Livie, Wemyss (Anton 32), Bryce, Henderson, Russell, Ferguson (McNaughton 20), Morris, Elvin (Manzie 86), Whatley. Subs: Stewart, Black, Kenneth, Morris.

"Over the season the whole squad has been superb - they deserve a lot of credit"

WILLIE NEWBIGGING