Gretna 2008 v Broxburn Athletic

Report

By Stuart McLellan

We travelled down to the borders on Saturday, for a Lowland League away tie to Gretna 2008.

Gretna 2008 are in black and white shirts and black shorts and socks. Broxburn Athletic are in their traditional home kits. Red and White shirts with white shorts and red and white socks.

Gretna 2008 make two changes to the team that were defeated 5-0 away at Clydebank on Saturday the 27^th of December. In comes Tyler Bowman and Lewis Bell who replace Stuart Douglas and Sean McKenzie. Broxburn Athletic make four changes to last weeks 4-2 Lowland League Cup victory over University of Stirling. In comes Jack McConnell, Marcus Lavery, Jon Robertson and Kyle Bell. They replace Bob Watt, Gallagher Lennon, Luke Watkins and Alasdair Shrive.

Broxburn are first to threaten on two minutes. Good play by Kyle Bell down the left wing. He finds Jamie Docherty whose shot is headered clear by Gretna defender Sam Atkinson.

Up the other end, on seven minutes Gretna’s Hayden Tait’s cross from the right is headed down by Kyan Gunn to striker Iain Anderson in Acers of space in the box. Sam Gormley makes a vital challenge for the visitors.

GOAL! Broxburn take the lead on fourteen minutes. Errol Douglas finds Jamie Docherty in a central position, and he scores low into the left corner. 1-0 Broxburn!

On twenty-one minutes, Robbie McGale plays in Errol Douglas, his shot is saved by Gretna keeper Jim Atkinson.

A deep Gretna cross by Liam Short is well held by Broxburn keeper Jack McConnell on twenty-three minutes.

GOAL! Broxburn go two goals ahead on twenty-five minutes. A long ball by Greg Page finds Errol Douglas who lays it off to Jamie Docherty twenty-five yards from goal. Doc spots the keeper out of position and finds the left corner.

On thirty-two minutes, a shot by Gretna’s Sam Atkinson is wide of target.

Errol Douglas comes close on thirty-five minutes. Jamie Docherty feeds him in Douglas who attempts to lob Gretna keeper Jim Atkinson, but it isn’t on target and Gretna clear.

Iain Anderson drives into the Broxburn box and gets his shot away but it’s well blocked by Greg Page. A minute later, Andy Oram finds Sam Atkinson in the box and his shot hits the bar. Good spell by the hosts.

On forty-one minutes, a Scott McRory-Irving shot is saved by Gretna keeper Jim Atkinson.

Half Time (2-0 Broxburn)

On fifty minutes, Kyle Bell finds Scott McRory-Irving whose shot is saved by Gretna keeper Atkinson.

We have our first booking of the match on fifty-five minutes. Gretna’s Sam Atkinson is booked for a foul on Jamie Docherty.

On fifty-seven minutes, a Robbie McGale cross is brought down by Errol Douglas who finds Kyle Bell, who fires his shot over the bar.

We have a stoppage in play as Sam Atkinson is down injured. Unfortunately, he can’t continue and is replaced by Harry Aitchison on sixty-one minutes. We wish Sam all the best and hope the injury isn’t too serious.

GOAL! Gretna have one back on seventy-three minutes. Lewis Bell plays in Iain Anderson who finds the bottom left corner.

Kyle Bell shoots wide of target on seventy-three minutes for Broxburn. On seventy-seven minutes, a cross from Jamie Docherty finds Errol Douglas whose header is saved by Atkinson.

Big chance for a Gretna equaliser on seventy-nine minutes. a cross from Haydn Tait goes right over the goalmouth and wide via a deflection.

GOAL! Gretna equalise on eighty minutes. A cross by Liam Short is cleared by Errol Douglas as far as Liam Lamonby who floats it back into the box for Andy Oram. Oram nods it onto Iain Anderson at the back post, whose initial shot is saved by Broxburn keeper Jack McConnell, but Anderson makes no mistake with the rebound and smashes it into the net. All square at Raydale Park!

Broxburn make a treble change on eighty-one minutes. On comes Alisdair Shrive, Gallagher Lennon and Nick Locke who replace Greg Page, Jon Robertson and Matty McDonald.

Broxburn make their last change on eighty-seven minutes. Luke Watkins replaces Scott McRory-Irving.

Broxburn push for a winner. On ninety minutes, a Nick Locke shot is saved by Jim Atkinson.

A tale of two half’s this game. Broxburn went in at half time disappointed not to be more than two goals up. Gretna grew into the game and could easily have won it at the end.

FULL TIME

Gretna 2008 2

Broxburn Athletic 2 (Docherty x2)

VIEW FROM THE ALBYN MAN OF THE MATCH

 Had the pleasure of sitting next to Kyle Bells dad Stuart on the bus journey down. Let him vote this week. He chose Jamie Docherty for the two goals.

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE– Lewis Barnie

ASSISTANT REFEREE’S-Paul Salina & Lucas Viola

Next Game:

Saturday the 7^th of February

University of Stirling (Away)

Lowland League

Forthbank Stadium