United keep the edge after impressive draw with rivals Bathgate

SUPER LEAGUE leaders Bo'ness took another step nearer the title with a share of the points against one of the sides who have the potential to overtake them in the run-in for the flag.

"Like a cup tie with both teams going all out to win and heap pressure on the other," was how Bo'ness United boss Alan McGonigal assessed the game.

Bo'ness are firmly in the driving seat now though and would need to lose all their remaining games and the chasing pack win all their matches for there to be an upset. Bathgate and Linlithgow can mathematically catch them but, especially given United's form, it seems unlikely.

Bo'ness stated the better of the two sides and were soon piling pressure on the Bathgate defence. They opened the scoring after 17 minutes with a super piece of finishing.

The Bathgate back four couldn't clear their lines allowing Andy Shirra to slip a good ball into space in the box for Gary Brown to run on to.

His shot to the near post caught out keeper Andy Carlin, who could only watch as the ball almost burst the net. Bo'ness continued to press but Bathgate looked dangerous at set pieces and forced a corner on the left just before the half hour. Graeme McLaren took it and swung over the ball for Stewart Hunter to rise above everyone and power a header into the net.

The second half had hardly started when Bathgate's Alex Lurinsky turned superbly in the box and his snap shot brought out the best in Bo'ness keeper Jordan Longmuir. This was the incentive Bathgate needed and soon they took the game to Bo'ness.

However, as much as Bathgate pushed hard for a winner Bo'ness were not content with a draw and they were awarded a free kick just outside the box for a foul on Shirra. Derek Fleming took the kick, forcing Andy Carlin into a tremendous save, tipping the ball over for a corner. They then hit the bar with a cheeky header from David Morrison before Bathgate, too, were awarded a free kick just outside the Bo'ness box. McLaren took it this time but instead of firing a high ball over the wall he blasted it at ground level as a packed Bo'ness defensive wall jumped to block the attempt. The ball however took a deflection off a Bo'ness foot for a corner.

There was no more scoring but the two sides kept the momentum going to the final whistle. If Bo'ness continue to play this brand of football then the others can forget about winning the title.

Bathgate manager Graeme Love wasn't surprised by the game. "There were two good sides out there playing football to win. It was always going to be close because, in recent games against each other, it's been the same. Bo'ness shaded the first half but we had the second.

"We're now looking to play catch up, but it's going to be very difficult. But until it's mathematically impossible then we'll keep trying. Saturday's game was played like a cup final. Both sides going at it for the full 90 minutes. A bit like our recent Scottish Cup tie which we won with the last kick of the ball."

Such sentiments were shared by Bo'ness boss McGonigal, who is now more determined then ever to stick to the task in hand. "It was as if the Scottish Cup tie was continuing. We wanted to win this one and put pressure on the chasing teams but results elsewhere helped us as well.

"So it's as we were at the top and all we can do is keep playing the way we do. I'm happy with the football we're playing."

Bathgate: Carlin, Wilson, Fallon, Hunter, Easton (Gupwell), McColligan (F Love), McPhee (Jack), Riley, Lister, Lurinsky, McLaren. Subs: Neill, Menmuir, G Love, McCafferty.

Bo'ness: Longmuir, Snowdon, Fleming, Forrest, Duffin, Morrison, Brown, Shirra, McFadyen, Walker, Ballantine (Kiczynski). Subs: Churchill, Gribben, Main, Shields, McGurk.