Bo’ness United boss Stuart Hunter hailed star striker Kieran Mitchell’s “moment of magic” mastery after Saturday’s 2-0 win over East Stirlingshire.

The Newtown Park side didn’t hit the heights against the Ochilview outfit – who sit bottom of the Scottish Lowland Football League table – but they got the job done to make it three wins on the spin in the fifth tier.

And the latest victory sees the BU move one point above fierce rivals Linlithgow Rose.

With his team now sitting fifth, Hunter said: “It was great to keep the winning streak going. After the Linlithgow win, the goal was to use that as a springboard and we’ve managed so far to go and also beat Broxburn and now the Shire.

Kieran Mitchell (16) finds the top corner for Bo'ness United against East Stirlingshire (Photo: Michael Gillen)

placeholder image — Kieran Mitchell (16) finds the top corner for Bo'ness United against East Stirlingshire (Photo: Michael Gillen)

"Callum (Tapping) has them playing well. They are bottom but they shouldn’t be. They are a good side. It’s been a really positive start to 2026 for us. The Shire started better than us on Saturday and we had to ride out pressure but as a collective unit we stood up well to it and that is all you can ask as a manager.

"We managed to get a goal against the run of play and in the second half we played better and had more control which allowed us to the get the all-important second.”

Matchwinner Mitchell grabbed his 15th and 16th goals of the league campaign last weekend and Hunter highlighted the attacker’s stunning season so far.

"He had a lot of injury issues the season previous but I knew what he could do for us,” the boss said. “I knew what we needed and it something that he could provide. We needed a fit Kieran Mitchell.

"He’s been electric. He brings something extra – you always know that you can score a goal out of nothing if he is on the park. He has that moment of magic in him because he can get in behind and he is a fantastic finisher.

"All he needs is a half-chance and he can find the back of the net. He is player who has a lot of confidence at the moment and the other guys around him have supported him well up top. That’s been important too.”

The BU, who now have 39 points after 23 outings, have a free weekend and return on Saturday, January 24 with a home match against the University of Stirling. The students sit 13th but have picked up a couple of surprise wins over high-flying teams so far this season.