21/22 Match Report – 22nd January

This King Cup 2nd Round tie was Tweedmouth Rangers’ first competitive match in over two months. Whilst the hosts, second in the East of Scotland League Conference ‘X’ table, enjoyed the luxury of a full bench, Rangers’ match day squad, including new loan signing Archie Roue from Gala Fairydean Rovers, was limited to just thirteen players.

That Bo’ness chalked up seven first half corners to Tweedmouth’s one gives an indication of much of the direction of play but it was also testament to the visitors’ gritty determination in defence. None of the corners led directly to goals though straight after the second one, in the 10th minute, Athletic got in a couple of shots. Both were stopped by the diving Mark Walters, two of many the keeper was to make during the course of the afternoon.

Bo’ness are obviously well practised in swinging the ball across the plastic of the Newtown Park pitch and it was this aspect of play which brought about their only goal of the first half in the 17th minute. Tiwi Daramola sent the ball from left to right to former Berwick Ranger Grant Rose who returned it half the distance to Jonny Mitchell, perfectly placed to tap it in by the far post.

Jack Forster beat the offside trap to run on to an excellent Drew Cummings’ through ball but faltered in front of goal whilst Sean Campbell aimed too high after similar service from Rangers’ midfielder Cummings. Skipper Regan Graham came closest to grabbing an equaliser after Campbell turned provider but his shot spun just over the Bo’ness bar. This, just after Tweedmouth had miraculously survived an almighty goal area scramble which saw a handful of players get a touch of the ball before it was finally cleared.

Tweedmouth won another corner a minute into the second half. When Bo’ness hit back, Walters produced a trio of saves…. with one foot from Scott Sinclair, at point blank range from Mati Zata and then by diving to again prevent Sinclair adding to his tally for the season so far of around the forty mark.

Tweedmouth appealed for a penalty when they thought Ryan Shanks handled before they lost the ball in the tackle deep inside their own half. It was passed to Chris Ogilvie to make it 2-0 on the hour. Soon, a header from another sub, Callum Sheridan, bounced off the post. It was also a header which wrapped up the scoring with seven minutes left. A rapid home counter attack ended with Daramola nodding home Ogilvie’s inch perfect cross from near the right corner flag.