Lowland League: Bo'ness United boss Stuart Hunter happy with his side being chasers
With his side now sitting just seven points off Scottish Lowland Football League leaders Clydebank, Stuart Hunter says his Bo’ness United team are happy to quietly go about their business as part of the chasing pack.
The Newtown Park outfit chalked up a 4-0 win home over Gala Fairydean Rovers last Saturday to open up a five-point gap between themselves in sixth spot and Caledonian Braves directly below them. And boss Hunter believes that the BU are in a great position ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bonnyrigg Rose, who are one point above them in fifth place.
"There needs to be an appreciation of just how much quality there is in the Lowland League, Hunter explained. “It’s a tough league with some brilliant teams. For us to be in that chasing pack almost halfway through the season is good enough for me. We’ve played most of the top teams away from home. We’ve haven’t won them all but we’ve competed well. We’re picking up more points than we are dropping. If we can stay in the rear with the gear then I am quite content with that – no-one is fancying us to do anything dramatic and we are are giving ourselves an opportunity at the moment to really do something.”
Last weekend’s win against 14th-placed Gala came courtesy of goals from Jack Hodge, Kieran Mitchell, Jamie Watson and Kyle Johnston. And Hunter admitted that it was a much-needed victory against one of the division’s so-called weaker sides.
The boss said: “I wanted a clean sheet more than anything. And I got that. We were superb in the first half and did the job required in the second half. We did the basics right and didn’t gift them anything. Gala have some cracking players. Against teams that are maybe further down the division, that’s been our Achilles' heel so far this season. Consistency in those sort of games has been a problem for us and we put that right on Saturday.”
East Stirlingshire’s frustrating Lowland League campaign continued last Friday night as they draw 3-3 with Hearts B at Ainslie Park. Callum Tapping’s team found themselves in a winning position again but failed to capitalise in the capital. A 90th-minute penalty secured a point for the hosts after Fin Malcolm (2) and Mark Docherty had scored for the Shire. They travel to Dunipace for a friendly tomorrow.