Harvey Copeland, (13) joins the sports team here on Black Diamond FM

Bryan Copeland
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I don’t tend to do match reports on friendlies so my son Harvey who goes to every game with me wanted a go. On this basis I’ve told him he can sin the friendlies if he likes and I may even give him a competitive game or 2 as well.

A little help from me but mostly him and here is tonight’s match report courtesy of Harvey Copeland

Match Report
Pre Season Friendly
Harthill Royal v Bo’ness United.
Tuesday 05/07/22. KO : 19:30
Bo’ness United:
Trialist (Gk). Hawkins, Jacobs, Trialist, McCormack. Trialist, Grant, Hughes, Stevenson, Locke, Watt.
Subs: Trialist, Trialist, Gemmel,,Johnston.
A first look for the BU fans tonight at gaffer Max Christie’s new signings and some Trialists in the opening friendly match of the season. New keeper Mousa Dibaga with big gloves to fill as Andy Murphy replacement remains to be seen as he is on holiday with a Trialist taking on the role for this match. Some familiar faces remain in Gemmel, Jacobs, Stevenson along with some others while Hunter, Skinner and some others have left the club.
Although tonight is only a friendly it’s still a chance for the team to gel together with the league starting on the 23rd of this month.
Into the game then and it was a good positive start from the visitors knocking the ball about well retaining possession. The home keeper was kept busy and done well coming for cross balls and saving some efforts both from inside and outside the box. The opening goal inevitably came for the visitors as persistent pressure paid off a ball from the left found Grant who turned quickly and hit a 1st time shot that came off a helpless home defender and the ball nestled in the bottom corner of the net. Harthill 0 – 1 BU. The home side resumed the match but struggled for possession as the visitors looked well in control and a busy home keeper was getting frustrated as he looked the best player for the home side at this time making some very decent stops as the visitors cut through his team with good ball retention and sharp passing. He could not have done anything however as the visitors doubled their lead. Good play down the right ended with a perfect delivery to new forward Watt who made no mistake picking his spot in the corner of the net. The visitors weren’t finished in the 1st half when again the ball came down the right after a good switch from the left from Stevenson led to another dangerous ball into the box from the right. Watt was again the man taking a touch to control the ball before once again picking his spot in the corner. Harthill 0 – 3 BU. The visitors comfortably saw out the 1st half.
Half time Harthill Royal 0 – 3 Bo’ness United.
Into the 2nd half and quickly the visitors added another goal Stevenson this time the man finding the net. This gave Ryan Stevenson an eye for goal as he added a 2nd of the match to his tally. The home side who played in the west league last season struggled to compete with lowland league Bo’ness as Max Christie and the watching BU support must have been encouraged by tonight. Ryan Stevenson iced his and the BU cake as he found the net for his hat trick to make it Harthill 0 – 6 BU. The scoring wasn’t done yet however as McCormack and Coll scored to give the BU 8 goals on the night. And if it wasn’t bad enough for the home side they finished with 9 men as 2 players went off injured. In fairness to Bo’ness they did take 2 players off to level up the sides at 9 for the remainder of the game.
Yes it’s just a friendly but a lot of encouragement for the BU tonight.
Full time – Harthill Royal 0 – 8 Bo’ness United.