Bo’ness boss sure side can bounce back

ALLAN McGONIGAL believes Bo’ness can still finish the season with as much to shout about as high-flying neighbours Linlithgow.

Trailing their local rivals by 20 points, a third Super League title triumph in four seasons is now a longshot for Bo’ness.

They’re still in the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup, though, and the weather will again determine if it’s third-time lucky for a fourth-round tie at Dundee Violet tomorrow – as well as two other Cup competitions.

“Football is a frustrating game and there’s no doubt what’s happening over the hill (at Linlithgow) is putting more pressure on everyone here,” 
badmitted McGonigal.

“People can say Bo’ness aren’t having the best of seasons yet we are second in the league and still in three Cups. I say this slightly with tongue in cheek, but it shows how expectations have changed at this club. When I first went to Bo’ness four years ago, they paid the players a bonus for every point they finished away from the bottom of the league.”

Following last week’s postponement in Dundee, Bo’ness played Newtongrange in a friendly at Newtown Park.

Now McGonigal is hoping his side can join the likes of Linlithgow and Auchinleck in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup, admitting he’s enjoying working with the current crop of players.

“I like players who play on the edge and we’ve got some like that,” he said.

Musselburgh will also try for a third time against Pumpherston and home boss David McGlynn is hopeful Olivebank will get the green light tomorrow.

“The pitch was close to 
being playable last Saturday so it should be okay this weekend,” he said.