Stoppage-time victory stretches lead to seven points

ROGER DUFFIN'S winner two minutes into stoppage time secured Bo'ness United's biggest win of the season, according to manager Alan McGonigal, as they stretched their lead in the East Region Super League to seven points with eight games left.

On this evidence, McGonigal's men will be worthy champions, having thoroughly deserved to pick up all three points against the current title holders.

The goal stemmed from the trusty left foot of Derek Fleming, the classy former Dunfermline and Livingston full-back using the wind to swing over a great corner to the back post, where Duffin rose to send a header through a crowd of players and past the helpless home goalkeeper, Greg Logan.

As Bonnyrigg manager Alan Miller admitted afterwards, his side could have no complaints and, although they may have stuttered a bit in recent weeks, Bo'ness showed they have no intention of throwing away all their good work from earlier in the season.

"It was a real team effort and I'd say that's as big a win as we've had all season – I think it is a massive result," said McGonigal. "The other teams would be hoping we'd drop something and it was a potential banana skin as Bonnyrigg are a top team with top players

"But I was delighted with the way we played from back to front for the 90 minutes. That's the first time this season we've been consistent right through the game."

On that cushion, which now looks a lot healthier again following Newtongrange's defeat at Kelty on Saturday, McGonigal added: "It's a case of catch us if they can. It has been in our hands from day one and it's about what we do – we are certainly not looking over our shoulders.

"I know Hill of Beath can still get close to us but it's a hard ask to win all those games, especially when we get into midweek fixtures."

With Andy Shirra pulling the strings in the middle of the park, Bo'ness ran the show in the first half and could have had the points wrapped up by the break.

Logan made a good save to deny the dangerous Darren Gribben midway through the half before Fleming stung the hands of the home custodian with a rasping drive after Bonnyrigg had failed to clear the lines at a corner.

The closest Bo'ness came to breaking the deadlock in the first half was just before the half-hour mark and it typified everything about the team that McGonigal and his assistant, Willie Newbigging, have assembled at Newton Park.

From his right-back position, Will Snowden found Paul Shields making a run into the inside right channel. Shields held the ball up before feeding strike partner Gribben. He fired in a shot that Logan saved but then got lucky as David Morrison, who was following up, hit the post with the rebound.

It was a move that had good distribution, good movement and good link up play, elements that were evident in pretty much everything Bo'ness did in the match.

Shields came close before the break with a shot that beat Logan only to flash wide and, though Bonnyrigg continued to defend doggedly in the second half, their resolve was finally broken by that late winner from Duffin.

"If we had been 3-0 up at half-time I don't think it would have been a slant on us," added McGonigal. "We created a lot of chances and all credit to the players because they never gave up.

"I don't often pick out a man of the match but Andy Shirra was head and shoulders above anyone on the park. He gets the ball down and drives us forward.

"It's been a long time since we had a clean sheet so all positives for us. We scored at the right time and that shows why we're where we are."

While Miller was pleased to see his side defend a lot better than they have for much of this season, he conceded that Bonnyrigg had offered little or nothing from an attacking point of view.

"I think Bo'ness deserved the win but, at the same time, I was disappointed for my players because they put a huge amount of effort into the game," he said.

"We defended far better than we have in recent weeks but it just shows you that when you focus on one end of the park it goes at the other end.

"I can't remember us having an outstanding chance in the game so we have no complaints about the result. We thought it was going to be 0-0 and we're disappointed to lose a goal two minutes into stoppage time."

Bonnyrigg: Logan, Robertson, Noble, Morrice, Dunn, Wilson (Martin 43), Grady, Bracks, O'Reilly (Paliczka 73), McLeish, Brigain. Subs: Burrell, Moffat, Reid, Hamilton, Combe.

Bo'ness: Longmuir, Snowdon, Fleming, Forrest (Kinczynski 77), Duffin, Morrison, Ballantine, Shirra, Shields (Churchill 85), Gribben (McFadyen 70), Donnelly. Subs: Brown, Main, Nixon.