League: East Premier League 2023/24

Attendance 535

Broxburn Athletic vs Crossgates Primrose

We returned to Albyn Park for our final league game of the season on Saturday. Fife side Crossgates Primrose were the visitors. Crossgates lie in 15th place in the East of Scotland Premier Division, four points behind Fife rivals Inverkeithing Swifts. In their last fixture, Primrose lost at home, last Tuesday night 4-1 to Haddington Athletic.

The last time the two clubs met was on Saturday January the 20th at Humbug Park. Broxburn ran out 4-1 winners. Broxburn scorers that day were Errol Douglas with two and goals from Callum Heath and Gary Brass. Craig Reid scored the only goal for Crossgates.

Broxburn are in their traditional kits. Red and white strips, white shorts and red and white socks. They start with a 4-4-2 diamond formation. Visitors Crossgates Primrose are in Yellow and navy shirts with navy shorts and socks and start with a 4-5-1 formation. Broxburn Athletic make 3 changes to the team that defeated Kinnoull last weekend. In come Greg Page, Ross Nimmo & Nick Locke. They replace Jack Sayers, Bryan Mwangi & Ben Davidson.

It’s a stunning day at the Albyn and a big crowd in attendance. The champions emerge from the tunnel to a guard of honour from Crossgates & the match officials.

Broxburn Athletic are first to threaten on 11 minutes. A long ball forward by Greg Page finds Ross Nimmo who is free wide right. His cross deflects wide for the corner. Crossgates Primrose defend the corner well and clear their lines.

9 minutes on the clock and the visitors have their first chance. Good delivery from the right finds Muirhead, whose header is saved by Bob Watt.

On 16 minutes, Errol Douglas plays a good ball through looking for Alassan Jones. But the Crossgates defender gets in first and clears. Callum Heath has a shot wide of target on 26 minutes and on 28 minutes, Nick Locke’s shot is saved by Crossgates keeper Komocki.

Good play by Broxburn on 37 minutes. Good build up play by Callum Bremner, Nick Locke and Alassan Jones is worked out wide for Ross Nimmo. Nimmo’s cross finds Errol Douglas whose header is on target but doesn’t have enough power and is cleared of the line by Reid.

G0AL! Broxburn take the lead! Ross Nimmo finds Gary Brass who flicks it on for the overlapping Marky Munro who finishes well.

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (Marky Munro-42 Minutes)

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE 0

GOAL! Its 2-0 Broxburn. A great delivery by Ross Nimmo on the right wing finds Errol Douglas who heads home at the back post.

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2 (Errol Douglas-45 Minutes)

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE 0

HALF TIME (2-0 Broxburn Athletic)

On 49 minutes, Ross Nimmo takes it past Crossgate number 16 Chingwalu and is in on goal. He puts too much on the ball and it runs out of play. Ross Nimmo is in again on 52 minutes, his shot is saved by Crossgates keeper Komocki.

On 54 minutes, a McLeod shot for Crossgates is saved by Broxburn keeper Bob Watt.

Kieran Moyles fouls Crossgates number 6 Kellichan in the box and referee Graves points to the spot. GOAL! Up steps Cross whose effort just beats keeper Watt.

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE 1 (Cross PEN-56 Minutes)

QUADRUPPLE BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (58 Minutes)

ON-Darren Downie, Bryan Mwangi, Conor Thomson & Ben Davidson

OFF-Callum Bremner, Gary Brass, Alassan Jones & Ross Nimmo

 

On 63 minutes, a good Marky Munro delivery from the right finds Bryan Mwangi, whose shot is saved by Crossgates keeper Komocki. A fantastic save!

GOAL! An equaliser for Crossgates Primrose. Henderson’s volley hits the bar and goes in. Good goal!

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE 2 (Henderson-70 Minutes)

An Errol Douglas effort is over the bar on 72 minutes.

GOAL! Broxburn take the lead again. A high hopeless looking cross is brought down out the air by Darren Downie. He plays it to Ben Davidson whose cross finds Errol Douglas. Douglas heads home for his 30th goal of the season.

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 3 (Errol Douglas-78 Minutes)

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE 2

SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (79 Minutes)

ON-Marcus Millar

OFF-Callum HeathSutherland is saved by Bob Watt.

Broxburn take all three points in our last league game and now have a week to prepare for the first playoff vs Dalbeattie Star. The club was presented with the East of Scotland Premier Division trophy after the match with Nick Locke and Lewis Turner lifting the trophy with scenes of joy from the big support.

We wish Crossgates Primrose, all the best for the future.

FULL TIME

Broxburn Athletic 3 (Douglas x2, Munro)

Crossgates Primrose 2

Teams

BROXBURN ATHLETIC – Watt, Munro, Page, Moyles, Nimmo, Jones, Douglas, Heath, Brass, Bremner, Locke ©

SUBS- Donoghue (GK), Downie, Sayers, Thomson, Davidson, Mwangi, Millar

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE – Komocki, Reid, Kellichan, Philip, Muirhead, McLeod, Smith, Chingwalu, Cross, Paterson, Barnett

SUBS- MacDonald, Campbell, Henderson, Kinnonmonth, Sweenie-Rowe, Sutherland, Jarrett

NEXT UP

TBA

Dalbeattie Star vs Broxburn Athletic

Islecroft Stadium

2.30pm

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE- Mr Graves

ASSISTANTS-Mr Dickson & Mr Allan