Report
Pre Season Friendly: Broxburn Athletic v Bo’ness United – 16 July 2022
Broxburn continued their pre-season build up at the Albyn against local rivals Bo’ness United from the Lowland League. The Brox showed 4 changes to their starting line up from the Tranent game, Greenhill, Binnie, Downie and Henderson replacing Brass, Gillen, Jeffries and Douglas.
Bo’ness had 5 changes from the side who beat Dunbar with 2 late goals on Tuesday night, McCormack, Jacobs, Jones, Hughes and Love replacing Hawkins, Ward, Johnston, Grant and Trialist.
Broxburn had a glorious chance in the 2nd minute Churchill played in on goal but he inexplicably sclaffed his shot completely and the chance was gone.
From a long ball the BU’s were almost in on goal but for alert defending by Donaldson to prevent Love having a clear run on Wallace.
In 8 minutes Bo’ness made an early breakthrough, Jones slid a nice ball through for Stevenson to run on to, Wallace was switched on to the danger and came off his line to slide in to clear the ball but missed it completely allowing STEVENSON an empty net to tap the ball into.
This seemed to rattle the home side and from a Jones corner 2 minutes later McCormack was left unmarked at the back post, fortuanately his header back across goal did not find a team mate.
In 12 minutes Henderson was heavily challenged by Gemmell forcing the winger to have extended treatment. From Orru’s free kick Bo’ness cleared only as far as Greenhill who floated the ball back in but his cross was well claimed by Dibaga in the visitors goal.
In a niggly period of play Stevenson brought down Newall , with Greenhill taking the free kick short to Henderson but his cross was disappointingly over hit.
In 19 minutes Henderson had to come off not having recovered from the previous challenge, to be replaced by Jeffries.
The visitors went close again in 22 minutes Hughes sending in a great free kick which Coll headed just over the bar.
Binnie got into a decent position for the Brox but he shot wide and over the bar.
The BU’s had their tails up in 35 minutes when they increased their lead, WATT ran on to a nice ball down the left and he steadied himself before curling a great shot past Wallace into the right hand corner of the net.
Broxburn were not dealing well with wind assisted long balls Stevenson having a great opportunity but he lobbed this effort to the right of the target.
From a high ball from the left from Jacobs, Wallace had to keep a close eye out doing nicely to tip the ball over the bar. From the corner Stevenson engineered a shooting opportunity which Wallace parried away to safety.
Broxburn through themselves a lifeline right on half time from a neat through ball Churchill picked out DOWNIE who dispatched the ball past Dibaga to pull a goal back.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 2 Bo’ness United
A real blow for Broxburn early in the 2nd half when McConnell challenged for the ball going down in real pain and needing extensive treatment before being stretchered off and an ambulance called for.
A trialist took the stricken McConnell’s place in 54 minutes.
In 56 minutes after a bad foul on Churchill resulted in a free kick, Greenhill and Churchill combined nicely to send Newall away down the right but his cross just evaded Downie.
From a Jones corner in 58 minutes deep to the back post slack marking allowed Love a free header but he just couldn’t divert on to target.
That warning wasn’t heeded when a good cross came in from the right STEVENSON got ahead of Newall to head past Wallace to give the BU’S a 3-1 lead in 61 minutes.
Bo’ness then made some changes Todd, Gemmell, Jones, Watt and Stevenson going off to be replaced by Hamilton, Johnston, Grant, Dukuray and Ward.
Broxburn also made changes Brass, Sayers and another trialist for Binnie , Orru and Newall.
There were home claims for a penalty when trialist number 16’s cross appeared to strike an arm but the referee wasn’t impressed and play went on.
In 65 minutes the same trialist was once again prominent playing a defence splitting pass which went past Dibaga but Brass couldn’t catch the ball before going out.
The Brox went closer in 68 minutes involving trialist 16 to Brass who sent Churchill down the left his curling effort hitting the bar.
A long ball forward forced Ward into an error but Brass who had pressured him couldn’t get in a decisive effort on target.
From a quick break forward with 10 minutes left Hamilton played a nice pass to GRANT who slotted the ball past Wallace.
In 82 minutes Jeffries sent Sayers down the right wing with his cross just out of reach of Brass and Downie.
In 88 minutes a high hanging ball in from the right from McCormack was dropped by Wallace but scrambled clear to safety. Wallace was soon back in action pulling off a save at full stretch from Love.
In the last minute Brass neatly found Downie who got off a shot which was deflected wide. From the corner Donaldson from 3 yards out missed the ball altogether when any touch would have been a scoring one.
A tough day for the Brox with Bo’ness taking their chances and punishing the hosts mistakes and not taking chances when presented. Pre-season preparation continues on Tuesday when Edinburgh South come calling to the Albyn.
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 4 Bo’ness United
vs 
Bo’ness United
