Cowdenbeath v Broxburn Athletic

Report

Attendance 288

Broxburn visit Fife for a away game at Cowdenbeath in the Lowland League sitting top of it . Their record against their hosts is incredible going into the game having won four league games previous  and not conceded a goal in those previous four league encounters on our way to maximum points . With a gale force wind going from west to east and a bumpy park it was going to be tough conditions to play in .

Cowdenbeath with the wind behind them the first half carved out a an opening when a cross from the left landed on top of the net for a bye kick .  Ten minutes in and Cowdenbeath’s main weapon of a long throw was produced and despite efforts of the host’s forwards they could not force the ball over the line and the visitors stood firm and cleared the danger . A couple of minutes later good play by Sam Jones sent a ball into McDonald but was just too high for his team mate and Cowdenbeath cleared out the box .  On 24 minutes a Cowdenbeath corner came to nothing and Broxburn broke on the counter attack with A Sam Jones shot going in but desperate  defending by Jack Denham cleared the ball of the line for a corner with his keeper beaten .

On the half hour mark a short throw level with the 18 yard box saw Docherty try and curl one but Dion Gear gathered comfortably .Rys Walker made a great run down the right before sending in a cross which Mark Ferrie  glanced a header wide left of the upright . Jack Denham should have done better when a second consecutive corner   saw the big defender head well over . The hosts were pressing for the lead before half time and were unlucky to see a header goal bound before being deflected for a corner . The last chance of the half fell to the visitors when a long ball out of defence  over the top saw Chris O’Kane fire a shot from 18 yards going in to the bottom left hand corner before Dion Gear in goals finger tipped the ball to his defender who cleared  .

HALF TIME 0-0

Broxburn came out the traps the second half and found themselves in front on 49 minutes when good play saw a clearance out the box only went as far as QUINN MITCHELL on wide left who took a couple of steps forward before dispatching the ball past Gear into the far bottom corner .

A minute later at the other end Sam Gormley blocked and cleared a effort to keep his side in front .   Docherty created a great chance on 52 minutes but  his effort was well saved .  With the game going end to end  Sam Gormley to the rescue again whilst facing his own goal he overhead kicked it clear of the goal line .. A minute later from a long throw Jack Denham saw his header crash of the cross bar .With almost an hour  Rhys Walker sent a great ball into the box and found former Broxburn man Bryan Mwangi who’s shot was blocked and cleared .

Broxburn made a double substitution on 61 minutes bringing on Kane Thomson and Morgaro Gomis  for  Mathew McDonald and Quinn Mitchell . Cowdenbeath introduced Dylan Mauchin for Nathaniel Wedderburn on 67 minutes .

Great play from the visitors saw good pressure pay off when a ball from the left was played in to the box any one of three Broxburn Players could have had a free shott 14 yards out but it was SAM JONES who got the shot away into the bottom right hand corner  on 69 minutes  .

With 15 minutes remaining Max Williamson and Callen Robb replaced Bryan Mwangi and Mark Ferrie for the hosts . Four minutes later Liam Hoggan replaced Jack Allan as the hosts tried desperately to get back in the game .

Errol Douglas came on for the last ten minutes replacing Christopher O’Kane .

The Broxburn clean sheet record so  far this season led a charmed life on 83 minutes when a scrambled effort bounced everywhere but in the goals for the hosts but bounced of Gallagher Lennon straight into the save hands of his thankful keeper Kyle King .

FINAL SCORE 0-2

A break from league business next Saturday as we head back to Fife for a Qualifying cup tie at Lochgelly Albert . Please note this game is scheduled for a 2-30pm kick off

Cowdenbeath  1. Dion Gear , 2 . Finlay Ness , 3. Samuel Newman ,4. Jack Denham , 5. Harvey Petrie  ,  6. Nathaniel Wedderburn ( 16.Dylan Mauchin 67m) , 7.Rhys Walker , 8. Jack Allan ( 15. Stuart McDowell 79m), 9. Mark Ferrie (18. Callen Robb 75m),  10. Lewis Milne , 11. Bryan Mwangi ( 17. Max Williamson ) .   SUBS NOT USED . 21. Blair Gallacher , 12. Conley Anderson , 14. Liam Hoggan

Referee Mr C. Foreman ,  Assistants  Mr K. Brown ,Mr Kris Linejs