Blackburn United v Broxburn Athletic

Report

Attendance 120

East Of Scotland Premier League: Blackburn United v Broxburn Athletic – 7 January 2023

Broxburn went first footing up to neighbours Blackburn United for their first game of 2023.

Broxburn made 3 changes from the side which had lost at home to Linlithgow Rose G.Donaldson, McConnell and Henderson replaced Sayers, Jeffries and Downie.

Broxburn had the wind at their backs in the 1^st half but in the early stages of the game it was scrappy stuff as both teams acclimatised to the conditions.

With the ball holding up in the wind Wright attempted to head back to keeper Blair but Heath beat the keeper to the ball resulting in a collision and a penalty awarded. SAMPSON converted the penalty sending Blair the wrong way. Time 6 minutes.

In 8 minutes Broxburn gave the ball away in midfield allowing Sampson a sight of goal but he wildly shot over the bar.

Orru then took up good position on the left and slung in a cross but it was too near home keeper Welna who gathered the ball confidently.

Blackburn looked dangerous once again in 10 minutes Heath sending Sampson away down the right, he got to the bye line and fired over a great ball but there were no takers in black jerseys to apply a finish.

Broxburn’s first good move came in 14 minutes Orru slipping the ball inside to McConnell whose shot was just too high.

From a ball played in from the right the ball sat up nicely for MCCONNELL and he smashed a volley into the net off the underside of the bar.

The visitors had their tails up now G.Donaldson played the ball inside to Brass but his shot was well off target and over the bar.

Moments later and it was Henderson trying his luck from 25 yards but he hit his shot with his left foot which dragged wide right of target.

A mistake from Wright in 23 minutes gave the ball to Hutton but he overhit his pass to Sampson, the ball going out of play.

In 27 minutes Howe passed to Sampson whose cross was blocked by Wright for a corner. Another corner was then conceded with Otonti took the kick to the back post where Forrest shot over the bar.

In a break forward in 29 minutes Sampson was denied by Blair who dived at his feet with the ball being scrambled clear.

Two minutes later and from an Orru misplaced pass Otonti collected with the shot which was blocked collected by Blair.

In Broxburn’s next attack Orru played in a great ball which found the arriving Gillen but he bundled his shot past the right post.

In 35 minutes the visitors took the lead Douglas was fouled 35 yards from goal on the right, Greenhill took the free kick to the back post where WRIGHT rose majestically to head back across the goal and into the net.

Another nice move from Broxburn down the right saw the ball played into Brass whose shot deflected wide for a corner. From another excellent Greenhill corner this time Wright headed over the bar.

In 39 minutes Blackburn were awarded a free kick 35 yards out on the right, Heath took the kick with Wright heading clear the ball falling to Hutton whose shot was high and wide.

The hosts continued to look dangerous Howe doing great work on the left touchline and firing a cross hard and low into the 6 yard box where G.Donaldson did brilliantly to defend and clear.

Right on half time B.Donaldson played a great ball to Orru who chipped forward for Brass but keeper Welna was alert to the danger and collected the ball before the striker could get the ball under control.

HALF TIME: Blackburn United 1 v 2 Broxburn Athletic

Devine replaced Sampson at the break.

In 46 minutes from a Blackburn free kick Miller won the header at the back post but his effort was comfortably collected by Blair.

Blackburn had come out in the 2^nd half fired up, from a mistake by Gillen, Otonti took advantage but his shot was saved by Blair. Moments later Howe got in on the right and he forced Blair into another save.

In 49 minutes Wilson was booked.

Forrest followed him into the referee’s notebook for a foul on Orru.

Greenhill took the free kick with McConnell’s head flick just going wide of the right post.

In 53 minutes Hutton did well on the right and played in a great cross which was well defended by B.Donaldson at the concession of a corner. The pressure remained on the visitors with another cross into the box from the left Wright won the header but it fell to HEATH who neatly shot the ball into the right corner of the net. Time 55 minutes.

Broxburn responded a minute later and from a Greenhill corner G.Donaldson controlled and sent the ball into the 6 yard box where there was an incredible scramble with at least 2 Brox players having their efforts blocked near the line.

In 61 minutes Howe went on a great run without being challenged with his shot going wide left from 22 yards.

In 63 minutes Downie replaced Douglas.

Wright was then booked for a foul on Devine two minutes later. Heath took the free kick but it was well over the bar.

In 66 minutes Wright unfortuanately slipped on the bye line the ball being played to Howe whose shot was brilliantly tipped on to the bar by Blair.

HUTTON was then allowed to run in from the left unchallenged and allowed to get in a shot which beat Blair to put the hosts back in front. Time 67 minutes.

Kane replaced Wilson in 69 minutes.

A big left off for Broxburn in 72 minutes from a Hutton corner no one in red reacted allowing Miller a free header which he headed wide.

Clark then replaced Orru.

G.Donaldson was booked in 74 minutes.

Gillen and Brass played a neat 1-2 down the right with Gillen getting in a cross which was blocked for a corner. Greenhill took the kick which forced Welna to punch clear.

In 81 minutes Liam Gray replaced McConnell. Hutton was then replaced by Richards.

In 86 minutes Otonti was replaced by Nicolson.

Henderson slipped the ball to Gray but the substitute didn’t catch his shot right and it went easily through to Welna.

Howe was booked in injury time.

FULL TIME: Blackburn United 3 v 2 Broxburn Athletic

REFEREE  MR S. DUFF  ASSISTANTS  MR S. REDGRAVE , MR T. WADDELL