League: East Premier League

Attendance 100
East Of Scotland Premier League: Hill Of Beath Hawthorn v Broxburn Athletic – 01 October 2022

Broxburn were on their travels once again this time to Fife to face Hill Of Beath Hawthorn.
The Brox made 3 changes from Wednesdays draw against Inverkeithing, Newall, Binnie and Clark replacing Jeffries, Donaldson and Harrison.
Hill of Beath were still seeking their first league win of the season having lost midweek at Vale Of Leithen by 2-0.
There was a strong breeze blowing straight down the ground which was in favour of the home side in the 1st half.
In the 2nd minute Connelly made a good run down the left his cross finding Leishman in the penalty box but he fell over under challenge from Orru and the ball cleared.
A Gillen miscontrol in 6 minutes allowed Connelly clear to cross but Douglas defended well and cleared.
Broxburn created their first decent attack a minute later Newall finding Gray with a throw, his shot blocked, Newall receiving the ball back and his cross was a good one well saved by Hall.
The home side were making good use of the wind at their backs a cross from Leishman finds Connelly in the middle of the goal mouth but he can only direct his header straight to Blair who fumbled the ball but it was then cleared.
In 13 minutes controversy kicked off! Connelly passed to Allum in the box and challenged by Orru which all seemed quite innocent until the referee pointed to the penalty spot, with home players as surprised as the visitors. After a number of protests ex Brox striker ALLUM dispatched his kick into the net.
The drama wasn’t over however before the game could kick off Orru was shown a red card by the referee with it not being clear what for. Foul and abusive language towards a spectator perhaps.
In 18 minutes Kellichan played a nice through ball to Connelly who advanced but dragged his shot wide right of goal.
Brass was then booked for Broxburn presumably for arguing about manager Townsley’s red card.
Connelly was prominent in the home sides attacks and from a run on the left he played the ball inside to MacLachlan whose shot was blocked by Blair with his feet.
Hill Of Beath continued to create chances with numerical advantage and the wind they forced 3 corners in succession the last of which saw Watt wins a header which Blair did well to parry and was then fouled as the home side bundled the ball into the net, correctly chalked off by the referee.

In 35 minutes Clark played a neat through ball to Binnie who had strayed offside. The home side played the ball forward quickly with Adamson hitting a great shot producing an equally great save from Blair.
Broxburn were nearly level in 37 minutes after a great individual effort by Gray his curling shot from 25 yards looked netbound until Hall saved by diving to his left to concede a corner. From the corner Clark squeezed an effort in at the back post which was scrambled clear from the line.
This was definitely Broxburn’s best spell and Binnie was played neatly through by Newall but his shot was well wide and high.
In 45 minutes Gray was booked.
HALF TIME: Hill Of Beath Hawthorn 1 – 0 Broxburn Athletic
Sinclair was introduced for Gray at half time.
Clark got in a decent cross in 47 minutes but its just out of Binnie’s reach.
Allum then has a ball to chase but Blair is alert and claims at the edge of his box.
A neat home passing move between Adamson and Connelly sees the latter shoot well off target.
In 50 minutes Sayers is the Brox hero making a great saving tackle with Connelly looking to get in on goal.
Broxburn made good ground down the right with Newall playing in a cross which broke to Clark but his shot was too high.
In 52 minutes from a Kellichan free kick the ball was flicked into the net but from an offside position.
The Brox pulled level in 56 minutes Binnie chasing hard to win a long ball, he played to McConnell who passed to the right wing to Newall who put over a great cross which CLARK won with a diving header into the net.
In 62 minutes a corner from Luke is right on the money Watt wins the header but it cracks off the bar and cleared to safety.
From a long ball forward Newall misjudges although injured at that point Connelly has a great opportunity but fires wide to the right.
Allum makes a good run down the right and finds an equally good cross which Douglas defends brilliantly and collected by Blair.
In an end to end game Binnie appears to be completely wiped out by Hall in the penalty box but the referee and his assistant are motionless which seemed bizarre given what was awarded in the 1st half.
Newall went off injured in 68 minutes, Henderson coming on. McConnell moving back into defence.
The Brox work a nice break out in 71 minutes between Henderson and Brass with the forward sending Binnie away but he has strayed offside.
In 72 minutes Payne comes on for Connelly.
Another home corner has the Brox defence struggling Luke again with a great delivery Watt wins again and same result as before he hits the bar.
In 78 minutes Forbes replaced Watt.
Another corner from Luke has Douglas scrambling the ball away from the line.
In 81 minutes Henderson was booked.
In 88 minutes Turnbull came on for Clark.
To complete Broxburn’s afternoon McConnell was given a straight red card for a last man challenge on Payne in 89 minutes.
From the free kick Luke curls a good effort on target which is matched by Blair’s save.
In injury time incredibly from another Hill Of Beath corner Broxburn break out quickly Sinclair finding Binnie on the left he advances to the penalty box but strikes with his left foot which Hall saves easily.
FULL TIME: Hill Of Beath Hawthorn 1 – 1 Broxburn Athletic

Referee Mr Robert Bowie     Assistants Mr S.Ross, Mr J. Feechan

Attendance 151

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts – 28 September 2022

Broxburn welcomed Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts for a game under the floodlights at the Albyn.

There were 4 changes in the Brox line up from the disappointing loss at Linlithgow last Saturday Douglas, Harrison, Gillen and Gray replacing Clark, Henderson, D.Nimmo and Newall.

Inverkeithing came into the game on the back of 4 straight losses the last one being a reverse in a Fife derby with Dundonald Bluebell by 2-1.

In 3 minutes Liddell was brought down for the visitors 30 yards from goal but the free kick was wasted going straight out.

The Brox responded in 5 minutes Orru being pulled down on the left. Gray took the free kick in line with the penalty box but his effort drifted just wide to the right.

Broxburn continued to move forward with purpose Orru playing a nice pass to Jeffries who laid the ball off for McConnell to run on to but his effort went high over the bar.

In 8 minutes the first real chance of the game fell to the Swifts when Spence was played through but he delayed his shot long enough for Sayers to make a brilliant saving tackle.

Broxburn forced a free kick and corners in a good spell of pressure with good deliveries from Gray and Jeffries but the visitors defended these diligently.

In 13 minutes Douglas slipped the ball to Gray on the right who curled a great shot towards goal which Mitchell in the Swifts goal palmed away.

In a very open game the visitors Trialist, Liddell and Simpson created a great chance which the latter just shot wide.

Broxburn were having a difficult spell, in an attempt to move forward quickly they took a short free kick deep in their own half which Murray was alive to and got into shooting position but his effort was just wide and no more.

The warnings weren’t heeded with the Swifts Liddell feeding a great through ball to MURRAY who slid the ball past Blair and into the bottom right hand corner to put the visitors ahead. Time 18 minutes.

In 26 minutes after good work by Gray he appeared to be pulled back as he shoots with the shot running easily through to Mitchell.

A minute later and the hosts had their equaliser with a great passing move McConnell played a great ball into the box to GILLEN who tucked his shot past Mitchell into the keepers bottom right corner of the net.

Sayers then had a go for Broxburn from 35 yards out with his effort going past the right hand post.

In the 33^rd minute another excellent Broxburn move sees them ahead Orru doing well down the left the ball finding GRAY who cut inside his man before shooting high into the net from 12 yards.

In 38 minutes the Brox had another presentable opportunity Gray and Orru working a nice move down the left which was stopped by a handball. Brass took the free kick but it was well off target high over the bar.

From a Donaldson error Spence went chasing down the left, Donaldson doing well to recover to concede a corner. From the kick the Trialist headed over the bar.

The Brox capped a great half by increasing their lead in 44 minutes a Douglas shot parried by Mitchell with MCCONNELL following in to shoot home.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 1 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

The Swifts came out positively in the 2^nd half Trialist flicking the ball on to Spence who was brilliantly tackled by Sayers to prevent a goal scoring chance.

In 51 minutes with claims for offside Spence chased a long ball to the bye line and put over a great cross which SIMPSON applied a finishing to, to pull a goal back.

Three minutes later Jeffries played in a great ball which Douglas won in the air but he could only pick out keeper Mitchell who saved.

Brough went off to be replaced by Kelly for the Swifts. Time 58 minutes.

In 63 minutes a pass back from Harrison to Blair sees him delay a fraction in clearing which Spence blocked taking a deflection off Blair for a corner. From the resulting corner Scullion headed back across goal from the back post the TRIALIST does brilliantly to control and turn and fire low into the net to equalise.

In the following minute Henderson replaced Jeffries. Six minutes later Binnie replaced Gray.

The visitors were in the ascendancy and a neat move saw Liddell play the ball in to Kelly who turned Donaldson, with his shot well saved by Blair.

Sayers was booked in 74 minutes.

The Brox had their best move of the 2^nd half Gillen forcing a corner, Henderson taking the kick to the back post, Donaldson wins the header but the player on the goal line cleared.

The Swifts broke out and Spence hit a fine shot which brings out a good save from Blair at his near post.

In 79 minutes the clearest chance for the Brox in the 2^nd half Henderson is sent clear but Mitchell is very alert off his line and does brilliantly to block Henderson’s shot.

In 85 minutes from a Henderson free kick Harrison wins a header but he can’t direct on to the target.

Brass sends Henderson scampering down the right wing he put over a great cross which Mitchell has to dive to intercept.

In the last minute Kelly hits a fantastic curling shot which hits the inside of the post and comes out to Spence who volleyed home smartly, only to see the flag up for offside.

Three other bookings in the game McConnell for Broxburn and Liddell and Scullion for Inverkeithing.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 3 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

REFEREE MR. C. WHYTE    ASSISTANTS MR C. ASHLEY, MR K. CHARLES