League: Friendly
Ewan MacPherson
Louis Kennedy
Marcus Lavery
Mathew McDonald
Christopher O’Kane
Evan Myles (t)
Sam Gormley
BROXBURN ATHLETIC V BATHGATE THISTLE
Attendance 110
Broxburn Athletic: Bob Watt, Chris O’Kane, Andy Rodden, Greg Page, Matty McDonald, Shaun Brown, Jon Robertson, Errol Douglas, Jamie Docherty, Trialist, Kyle Bell.
Substitutes: Trialist (GK), Jack Thomson, Robbie Hamilton, Marcus Lavery & Ewan MacPherson.
We returned to Albyn Park for our third pre-season match against local rivals Bathgate Thistle on Saturday afternoon Â
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Bathgate Thistle are managed by Gordon Wilson. His coaching staff consist of goalkeeping coach Jim Smith and player coaches George Bonnar & Ryan Stevenson.
Players to watch for Bathgate include forwards Ryan Wilson and Jordan Devine & midfielder Fraser Cormack.
In season 2024/25. Bathgate Thistle won promotion after finishing third in the EOSFL Second Division. Winning sixteen, drawing two and losing ten of their twenty-eight games.
In the club’s last fixture, Bathgate Thistle defeated Livingston United 3-1 at Creamery Park last Wednesday evening in their first preseason game. Jordan Devine scored from the penalty spot and their trialist grabbed a brace.
In the last fixture between the clubs, Broxburn Athletic defeated Bathgate Thistle 2-1 at Albyn Park in the East of Scotland Cup back on Tuesday the 7th of November. Broxburn took the lead on 15 minutes. Calum Heath delivered an excellent cross from the right, finding Marcus Millar who headed home at the back post. Broxburn added a second early in the second half. Darren Downie’s cross from the right finds Kyle Connelly who taps in from close range. Bathgate pulled one back on 52 minutes from a good free kick from Fraser Cormack, but it was the home side who progressed.
Bathgate Thistle Starting Eleven vs Peebles Rovers: Saunders (GK), MacAdam, Campbell, Stevenson, S Thomson, Cormack, MacKay, Rodger, Devine, G Thomson © & Smith.
Bathgate Thistle: Last 4 Fixtures
(7/5/25) Leith Athletic (N) 4-4 (Lost on Penalties)
(10/5/25) Dalkeith Thistle (A) 1-2 (Win)
(17/5/25) Peebles Rovers (H) 0-0 (Draw)
(2/7/25) Livingston United (H) 3-1 (Win)
Broxburn Athletic are in their traditional home kits, red and white strips, white shorts and red and white socks. Bathgate Thistle are in all blue. Broxburn make three changes to the midweek narrow defeat to Kelty Hearts. In comes our trialist centre back, new signing Jon Robertson & Kyle Bell. They replace, Jack Thomson, Marcus Lavery and Scott McRory-Irving.
Broxburn create the first chance of the match with not even a minute on the clock. Jon Robertson finds Kyle Bell in space on the left. His shot is saved by Bathgate keeper Alex McMahon.
On 4 minutes, a cross from Andy Rodden finds new singing Jon Robertson whose header is saved by the Bathgate keeper McMahon.  On 6 minutes, Greg Page plays a good ball through for Shaun Brown, whose effort is over the bar. On 13 minutes, Matty McDonald’s picks up from a Kyle Bell throw in and from distance puts his effort way over the bar.
Bathgate create their first chance of the game on 15 minutes. Michael Gold is through on goal and attempts to cut it back for Ethan Hemmings, but Bob Watt reads it well and comes out to collect.
Good football by Broxburn on 19 minutes. Chris O’ Kane collects wide right and drives forward before finding James Docherty. Docherty plays a 1-2 with Jon Robertson before finding Shaun Brown on the left. The Broxburn number 7 shoots wide of the right-hand post.
On 21 minutes, Bathgate create another chance. Aaron Whitelaw’s long throw finds Michael Gould who gets on the wrong side of Greg Page. His dangerous low cross is cleared on the line by the Trialist defender.
GOAL! Broxburn take the lead! Errol Douglas chips a ball down the left in search of Kyle Bell. Bell does well to take the ball of the Bathgate number 5 before finding Jamie Docherty who scores into the left corner for his first Broxburn goal.
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (Jamie Docherty- 25 Minutes)
BATHGATE THISTLE 0
 On 26 minutes, Bob Watt’s looks to go long but his kick is right to the feet of Bathgate striker Michael Gould outside the box with an open goal, but Gould’s shot is wide of the right-hand post. On the build up to the move Ethan Hemmings is injured and has to be replaced on 27 minutes with Jordan Devine.
Broxburn make a change on 28 minutes. Robbie Hamilton replaces Matty McDonald.
On 30 minutes, Bathgate striker Michael Gould’s free kick from outside the box is just wide of the left-hand post.
On 32 minutes, Andy Rodden’s corner finds Greg Page at the back post, but his header is over the bar. On 35 minutes, Jamie Docherty plays a lovely 1-2 with Robbie Hamilton. Hamilton is through with just the keeper to beat but his effort hits the post.
GOAL! And it’s an absolute cracker! Jon Robertson heads the ball down to Robbie Hamilton who unleashes a left foot volley from 25 yards into the left corner.
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2 (Robbie Hamilton-36 Minutes)
BATHGATE THISTLE 0
 On 37 minutes, Kyle Bell feeds Errol Douglas in on goal, but the Broxburn striker puts his effort over the bar. On 41 minutes, Shaun Brown plays a 1-2 with Jon Robertson before finding Jamie Docherty wide right who shoots over the bar.
HALF TIME (2-0 Broxburn)
Broxburn make 3 changes at the half time break. On comes Ewan MacPherson, Marcus Lavery & Jack Thomson who replace Greg Page, Kyle Bell & Shaun Brown.
On 48 minutes, a low cross from the left from Andy Rodden finds Errol Douglas who’s shot from close range is saved by Bathgate keeper McMahon.
Bathgate make a change on 62 minutes. James McAdam replaces Ryan Stevenson.
On 63 minutes, Jamie Docherty finds Ewan MacPherson whose effort hits the bar.
On 64 minutes, Bathgate break through Michael Gould who picks up at the halfway line. He drives towards goal and his shot is saved by Bob Watt.
On 67 minutes, Bathgate make a treble change. Logan McAuley, Ryan Lametti and Adam Watson replace Aaron Whitelaw, James McCullagh and Michael Gould.
On 70 minutes, Andy Rodden delivers another good cross that finds Errol Douglas, but the Broxburn striker hits the side netting.
Chance for Bathgate on 76 minutes. A deep cross from a corner finds Jordan Devine who header is over the bar.
On 82 minutes, Robbie Hamilton’s shot was saved by Bathgate keeper McMahon. On 86 minutes, Andy Rodden has an effort that ends up on top of the net.
Another good exercise for the boys. Everyone got minutes and we look forward to hosting Stirling Albion on Tuesday.
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FULL TIME
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Broxburn Athletic 2 (Docherty & Hamilton)
Bathgate Thistle 0
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE- John Fairley (Jnr)
ASSISTANTS- Darren Robertson & Stuart Robertson
Bathgate Thistle  – McMahon (GK), Whitelaw, Stevenson, Boyd, Forbes, Tapping, Hemmings, McCulloch, Gould, McAuley, Rodger
Subs: Â McAuley, McAdam, Lemetti, Watson & Devine.
Next Game:
Tuesday the 8th of July
Stirling Albion (Home)
Pre-Season Friendly (4)
Albyn Park
Kelty Hearts v Broxburn Athletic
Attendance 225
Broxburn Athletic: Bob Watt, Greg Page, Jack Thomson, Matthew McDonald, Shaun Brown, Errol Douglas, Jamie Docherty, Marcus Lavery, Luke Morris, Trialist & Scott McRory Irving ©
Substitutes: Trialist (GK), Andy Rodden, Alassan Jones, Trialist, Ewan MacPherson & Kyle Bell.
We travelled over the bridge to Fife on Tuesday night, for our second pre-season match against Kelty Hearts at New Central Park.
 Kelty Hearts are managed by ex-Greenock Morton & Partick Thistle defender Thomas O’Ware. He is assisted by ex-Aberdeen youngster Michael Paton who recently joined the club from our league rivals Albion Rovers.
Players to watch for Kelty include, ex Hibernian youth player Innes Murray, veteran defender Kirk Broadfoot, youngster Luke McCarvel, ex Rangers forward James Murray and ex Hearts youngster Callum Flatman.
In season 2024/25. Kelty Hearts finished 6th in Scottish League One. Winning eleven, drawing eleven and losing fourteen.
In the club’s last fixture, Kelty Hearts defeated Kirkaldy & Dysart 4-1, away at the Bodywyse Autocare Park last Saturday. On the scoresheet for Kelty were, James Graham with a brace and goals for Luke McCarvel and Innes Murray.
In a past encounter, on Saturday November the 30th 2016, Kelty Hearts defeated Broxburn Athletic 2-1Â at Albyn Park in the Super League. Nelly McCabe gave the fifers the lead on 24 minutes. But Broxburn hit back through Darren Gribben with a free kick on 68 minutes. But it was the west Fife side who took all three points, through a Steven Husband later winner.
Kelty Hearts Starting Eleven vs Kirkaldy Dysart: Adamson, Thomson, Paterson, Fellows, Clay, Ferguson, Moore, Johnston, Arnott, Bexfield & Murray.
Kelty Hearts: Last 4 Fixtures
(19/4/25) Queen of the South (H) 1-3 (Loss)
(26/4/25) Cove Rangers (A) 2-2 (Draw)
(3/5/25) Alloa Athletic (H) 2-1 (Win)
(28/6/25) Kirkaldy and Dysart (A) 1-4 (Win)
Kelty Hearts are in all maroon, while Broxburn Athletic are in their changed kits, Gold and Black shirts, black shorts and black gold socks. Broxburn Athletic make six changes to the side who played Gartcairn in the 2-2 draw on Saturday. In comes, Bob Watt, Jack Thomson, Shaun Brown, Luke Morris, Scott McRory Irving and Errol Douglas. They replace, three trialists, Kyle Bell, Andy Rodden and Robbie Hamilton.
First half chance of the match comes for Broxburn on 9 minutes. Matty McDonald’s low ball in from the right is well read by Kelty goalkeeper Ryan Adamson who manages to get out to the ball before onrushing Broxburn striker Errol Douglas. On 11 minutes, Errol Douglas picks up in deep in Kelty’s half. He holds up play, before taking on Kelty left back Corrie Fellows, his cut back finds Jamie Docherty who lays off to Sean Brown. Brown doesn’t connect right with the ball and Kelty captain Clay clears for the Fife side.
On 13 minutes, Kelty get forward in numbers and the ball finds Murray Thomas wide left. His ball in has too much on it and is shepherd behind by Broxburn keeper Bob Watt for goal kick. On 19 minutes, a free kick by Kelty Hearts striker Scott Mercer has no power and is easily saved by Bob Watt.
GOAL! Kelty take the lead. Aaron Arnott’s cross from the left finds Kai Kirkpatrick in acres of space, he lays it off for James Graham whose strike finds the top right corner leaving Broxburn keeper Bob Watt no chance.
KELTY HEARTS 1 (Graham-25 Minutes)
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 0 Â
 GOAL! Broxburn equalise a minute later. A corner by Marcus Lavery on the right, is half cleared as far as Greg Page, Page’s low ball in finds Errol Douglas whose header catches the bar on the way into the back of the net.
 KELTY HEARTS 1Â
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (Errol Douglas-26 Minutes)
 GOAL! Kelty regain the lead. Kai Kirkpatrick finds Aaron Arnott who cuts on to his right foot before delivering a great strike into the right corner.
 KELTY HEARTS 2 (Arnott-29 Minutes)
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1Â
 HALF TIME (2-1 Kelty Hearts)
 Andy Rodden and Kyle Bell replace Greg Page & Sean Brown at half time.
On the hour mark, Kelty make numerous changes and Alassan Jones and Ewan MacPherson replace Errol Douglas & Jamie Docherty for Broxburn.
On 64 minutes, Scott McRory-Irving finds Andy Rodden in space wide left. His cross is too close to Kelty keeper Ryan Adamson who collects.
Good play be Kelty. Lewis Moore drives at the Broxburn defence, plays a 1-2 with the Kelty trialist before bending his shot just wide of the right-hand post.
On 75 minutes, Kyle Bell’s effort from range is saved by Kelty keeper Ryan Adamson. On 82 minutes, a backward header from a corner by Broxburn’s Ewan MacPherson is saved by Kelty keeper Adamson.
A good performance by Broxburn today. Not much between the teams. Kelty’s finishing was frightening. But a great exercise for the boys and we look forward to Bathgate on Saturday.
FULL TIME
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Kelty Hearts 2
Broxburn Athletic 1
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE- Stuart Luke
ASSISTANTS- Liam Duncan and Tayler Martin
KELTY HEARTS – Adamson (GK), Thomas, Fellows, Clay ©, Ferguson, Arnott, Kirkpatrick, Cole, McCarvel, Graham & Mercer
Subs: Â Miller, Moore, Trialist, Johnston, Bexfield, Trialist, Murray & Trialist.
Next Game:
Saturday the 5th of July
Bathgate Thistle (H)
Pre-Season Friendly (3)
Albyn Park
2.30PM