Attendance 165
League Cup 2nd Round: Broxburn Athletic v Sauchie Juniors – 4 April 2023
Cup tie action at the Albyn under the lights as Broxburn welcomed high flying Sauchie Juniors in the 2nd Round of the League Cup.
Broxburn made 6 changes from the loss against Inverkeithing Hickey-Fugaccia making his debut, Brass, Gray, Henderson, Sayers and Williamson replacing B.Donaldson, Wright, Downie, Orru, Clark and Gillen.
Sauchie came into the game off the back of a 4-1 defeat at home to Drumchapel making 2 changes Hutchison and Kavanagh replaced Tully and Kelly.
The visitors were fast out of the traps Davidson getting clear on the right and playing a ball back to the edge of the penalty area where Kavanagh struck a shot which was straight to Blair in the home goal.
Broxburn responded in the 3rd minute Douglas forcing a corner off Morgan. Gray took the kick from the right Docherty conceded another corner which Gray again sent in, right on the money but Sauchie again scrambled clear for another corner. This time the ball was cleared as far as Henderson, his shot was blocked it broke to Douglas who couldn’t quite get the ball under control and the chance was lost.
Columbine was fouled by Gray in 6 minutes, the free kick was quickly taken, Smith played a great ball across goal in the 6 yard box but there were no takers in blue to apply a finish.
In the 8th minute the Brox passed up a glorious chance Gray chipping the ball over the defence for Brass who slipped before shooting with his effort going well wide.
Another neat move down the right saw Brass play the ball into Williamson who curled a great effort just over the bar.
In the 14th minute Broxburn were guilty of a glaring miss, Gray the architect again playing over the Sauchie defence setting Williamson in on goal, he slid the ball to the left with the keeper now beaten but Douglas somehow screwed his shot wide of goal.
That proved critical as Sauchie broke forward down the left, the ball played in to the box by Docherty found DAVIDSON who smacked the ball into the roof of the net. Time 15 minutes.
The visitors had their tails up Docherty again prominent with another great cross Davidson cutting the ball back to Kavanagh whose shot was deflected wide for a corner.
Sauchie were having a great spell Morgan chasing the ball down on the left and playing into Kavanagh who couldn’t get enough on his shot to beat Blair.
In 24 minutes the Brox drew level Gray once again beating the Sauchie defences high line with a chipped pass which DOUGLAS advanced on to and lobbed over the advancing Clark and into the net.
The home side almost took the lead in the following minute Brass getting in on the right he cut back to Bremner who played across to Douglas but his effort was blocked when well placed.
In the 32nd minute Kavanagh was booked for applauding the referee.
From a corner on the left in 37 minutes Henderson swung in, Clark punched clear Gray intelligently played the ball back in to Douglas whose shot was blocked and cleared.
Carroll was then booked for a bad challenge on Gray.
In 42nd minute a let off for Broxburn Docherty played in a great ball where Kavanagh with the goal at his mercy shot the ball past the post.
In first half injury time Sayers swung in a cross which Douglas won with his head but he couldn’t direct on target.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 1 Sauchie Juniors
Sauchie started the 2nd half brightly Morgan’s shot from the right taking a deflection for a corner. Smith curled the corner kick in but it just cleared the bar.
In 49 minutes Williamson lost the ball to Morgan from a clear shooting position to the right in the penalty box he dragged his shot wide.
Smith was next to have a shot but he pulled his shot wide of the left hand post.
In 54 minutes only the linesman’s flag prevented the Brox from taking the lead Henderson going on a great run and clipping a ball through to Williamson who slotted the ball beyond Clark.
Sauchie were pressing hard around the hour mark Balmer getting on the end of a ball crossed in from the left and his effort rattled off the left hand post.
A great Broxburn move in 69 minutes Henderson picking up the ball in his own half and running deep into Sauchie territory and playing the ball wide to Williamson whose cross was deep to Brass at the back post but his cut back just eluded Douglas.
In 71 minutes Henderson was booked.
Five minutes later and the Albyn was set alight great play between WILLIAMSON who found Bremner who picked out the youngster with a return pass and he slotted the ball past Clark for a fine first goal for the club.
In 80 minutes former Brox strikers Kelly and Anderson replaced Davidson and Williamson.
Two minutes later a great deep cross in from the left found Kavanagh but his header went narrowly past the right post.
In 82 minutes Morgan struck a strong shot from 35 yards which Blair dived to save the ball broke away from him but McConnell did well to complete the clearance.
Then another deep cross in from the left found KAVANAGH with this time the striker diverting his header over Blair and into the net.
Late heartbreak for the Brox in the last minute, a corner was taken short by Smith to an unmarked Collumbine in the box with his effort finding KAVANAGH who got to the ball first and slotted the ball into the home net.
Carroll and Morgan were also booked in the game for Sauchie.
FULL TIME: : Broxburn Athletic 2 – 3 Sauchie Juniors
Referee Mr T Kerr , Assistants Mr K.Spalony,Mr A. Simmonds
