Whitburn beaten by runaway leaders Bo’ness

Dec 10 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

RUNAWAY league leaders Bo’ness beat Whitburn for the second time in a matter of weeks to tighten their grip at the summit of the Super League.

It was always going to be a big ask for the Burnie to overcome the league leaders, who look to be unstoppable at the moment.

But despite this, Whitburn took the game to their guests in a dominant first half but for all their huffing and puffing they proved unable to blow the Bo’ness house down.

The second-half was proving to be a very even affair and a draw and subsequent share of the spoils looked to be on the cards until Bo’ness sent on goal-den boy Darren Gribben.

Gribben, the league leader’s top goalscorer, made an instant impact from the bench and fired his side in front with his first touch.

There was just 15 minutes left on the clock when Gribben found a pocket of space at the back post to squeeze the ball past the keeper.

Whitburn’s response was immediate and they drew level through an impact sub of their own.

Ian McSween chased a nothing ball into the Bo’ness penalty box and made something from it.

He showed great tenacity to win possession before skipping round the keeper and rolling the ball home, despite the desperate attempts of the back-tracking defenders to clear it.

The drama didn’t end there as Gribben stepped up to take centre-stage again.

This time, though, he was provider as he carried the ball menacingly along the goal-line before firing in a low cross which Burnie stopper Andy Doig knocked over his own line for an own goal and one which proved to cost his side a point.

Whitburn: Walker, MacKay, Mooney, Doig, Leiper, Donnelly, Gormley, S Murphy, Weir, Strickland, McNelis. Subs: McSween, D Murphy, J Murphy, Hastie.