Attendance 150
East Of Scotland Premier League: Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Broxburn Athletic 9 September 2023
Broxburn made the short trip over the Forth to Dalgety Bay to face Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts on a gloriously warm day for football.
The Brox kept faith with the starting XI who had performed so well in disposing of Lochee United in the Scottish Cup last Saturday and climbed to the league summit on Tuesday by defeating Jeanfield Swifts at the Albyn.
Inverkeithing have had an indifferent start to the season and came into this game off the back of 2 home defeats from Kinnoull and Haddington respectively. The Swifts made 2 changes to the midweek defeat against Haddington Osborne and Wood replaced Kelly and Reilly.
The game kicked off with the sun beating down at and temperature gauges registering at 25 degrees. The hosts were first to have a chance in the 2nd minute from a mistake from Turner, Wood got to the bye line on the right and drilled a ball across which Moyles did well to knock behind for a corner. Cumming took the kick but the ball was headed clear.
In the 3rd minute Broxburn responded Moyles played a nice ball down the right wing for Munro who crossed well Heath’s header was blocked with the ball breaking to Brass whose effort was also blocked and cleared.
The Brox were buzzing around the Inverkeithing goal Heath forced a corner off Binnie. R.Nimmo took the kick but the ball was headed out to the edge of the box on the left to Bremner who steadied himself and curled in a shot which keeper Gibb dived full length to push away from danger.
The Swifts showed they could also be dangerous picking up on a Brox error in midfield Mason fashioned a shooting chance and curled his effort off the bar.
In 10 minutes Broxburn turned their bright start into a lead R. Nimmo collecting a ball on the right and feeding into Locke he played in a great ball which HEATH got to and headed down into the net past Gibb.
Broxburn had their tails up Heath once again proving a handful making ground through the centre of the Inverkeithing defence and sliding Locke in on goal with a fine pass, Locke tried to round Gibb but was clearly brought down with the referee pointing to the spot.
TURNER stepped up to take the kick and sent Gibb the wrong way to double the Brox’s advantage. Time 13 minutes.
Inverkeithing responded McMurchie slaloming his way past Brox players from just inside the Brox half with Page the defender who stopped him and cleared.
In 24 minutes from a ball in from Marshall Mason struck a shot which Watt took confidently.
Munro was disposessed in the following minute with the home side once again creating a shooting chance Wood’s effort taking a deflection and running through to Watt.
In the 33rd minute the Swifts were thrown a lifeline Ramage pushed the ball out wide to Marshall whose cross hit Munro on the arm who was only yards away so the free kick awarded seemed a bit harsh. Marshall took the kick and MASON rose powerfully and headed the ball high into the net.
Another chance was presented to Mason two minutes later from a Brox error but this time he hit his effort high and wide to the right.
The Brox ended the first half on a high Heath went on a run from his own half playing a 1-2 with Brass and despite close attention from Paterson swung over a cross deep to the back post where R.Nimmo was arriving like a train and his hard and low cross left BRASS with the simple task of smashing the ball into the net.
In first half injury time Paterson was booked for a foul on Heath.
HALF TIME: Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 1 – 3 Broxburn Athletic
Broxburn started off on the front foot in the 2nd half Heath, Nimmo and Munro combining for the former to cut in from the right and curl a shot towards goal which Gibb saved easily.
Locke went on a run from just inside the Swifts half before being stopped Illegally by Deas. Heath took the free kick which he overhit and the ball went out.
In 49 minutes Brass controlled a high ball well and played wide to R.Nimmo who crossed but Deas does well to block for a corner. Nimmo and Heath worked a short corner routine with Heath picking out the unmarked Bremner who clipped a fine ball back into the peanlty area finding BRASS who headed the ball into the net. Time 50 minutes.
The Brox were rampant now and from another free flowing attacking move R.Nimmo brilliantly dispossed Marshall went on a run forward and clipped a ball over Binnie, Heath took the ball in his stride and sent the ball past Gibb into the left side of the net for Broxburn’s 5th goal. Time 51 minutes.
It was almost 6 in 53 minutes Locke striking a shot which forced Gibb into a diving save to thwart the Brox skipper.
A minute later Reilly and Trialist 18 came on for Wood and Cumming.
On the hour Page went off for Broxburn Millar was the replacement.
In 61 minutes Broxburn cut through the home defence again Locke playing a great ball forward which Heath challenged for and was clearly brought down but advantage was played as R.NIMMO was on hand to tap the ball in for the Brox’s 6th goal.
From a Broxburn error substitute Reilly had a chance to shoot and curled in a shot which Watt saved comfortably.
Brass and Turner combined well on the right with the latter swinging in a deep cross which Heath won but the winger was off target this time.
Inverkeithing were still trying to come forward with the substitutes Reilly and Trialist 18 who got off a shot which Moyles blocked away for a corner.
McMurchie took the kick Mauchlan won the header which Watt had to look lively to save.
Slack play from the visitors allowed Reilly to play the ball to the back post where TRIALIST 18 was alone to apply the finish.
In the water break in 70 minutes Davidson and Thomson replaced Bremner and Turner. Inverkeithing replaced Paterson with Reid.
Heath was in scintillating form going on another run forward cut in from the right and firing in a shot, Gibb saved but BRASS was on hand to pick up the scraps and shoot into the net to complete his hat trick via the right hand post. Time 80 minutes.
In 82 minutes further Brox changes Downie and Wilson replaced the flying wingers R.Nimmo and Heath.
Inverkeithing to their credit continued to come forward Reilly playing the ball off Millar for a corner. From the kick the ball broke to Binnie whose shot took a deflection the referee indicating off a Broxburn player for another corner this time from the left. With the Brox defence sleeping the ball was played back with no challenge on McMurchie who swung a cross in where MASON headed down into the net with a suspicion from an offside position.
In injury time Mason was booked.
A sizzling Broxburn performance to match the late summer weather as the Brox go marching on and 3 points clear at the top of the table.
FULL TIME: Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 3 – 7 Broxburn Athletic
Referee MR. K.Brown Assistants MR R. Bowie, Mr. D. Brogan