League: Lowland League 26/27
Dunipace V Broxburn Athletic
Rory Smith
Bright Osemudiamen Prince Okosun
Cowdenbeath v Broxburn Athletic
Attendance 288
Broxburn visit Fife for a away game at Cowdenbeath in the Lowland League sitting top of it . Their record against their hosts is incredible going into the game having won four league games previous and not conceded a goal in those previous four league encounters on our way to maximum points . With a gale force wind going from west to east and a bumpy park it was going to be tough conditions to play in .
Cowdenbeath with the wind behind them the first half carved out a an opening when a cross from the left landed on top of the net for a bye kick . Ten minutes in and Cowdenbeath’s main weapon of a long throw was produced and despite efforts of the host’s forwards they could not force the ball over the line and the visitors stood firm and cleared the danger . A couple of minutes later good play by Sam Jones sent a ball into McDonald but was just too high for his team mate and Cowdenbeath cleared out the box . On 24 minutes a Cowdenbeath corner came to nothing and Broxburn broke on the counter attack with A Sam Jones shot going in but desperate defending by Jack Denham cleared the ball of the line for a corner with his keeper beaten .
On the half hour mark a short throw level with the 18 yard box saw Docherty try and curl one but Dion Gear gathered comfortably .Rys Walker made a great run down the right before sending in a cross which Mark Ferrie glanced a header wide left of the upright . Jack Denham should have done better when a second consecutive corner saw the big defender head well over . The hosts were pressing for the lead before half time and were unlucky to see a header goal bound before being deflected for a corner . The last chance of the half fell to the visitors when a long ball out of defence over the top saw Chris O’Kane fire a shot from 18 yards going in to the bottom left hand corner before Dion Gear in goals finger tipped the ball to his defender who cleared .
HALF TIME 0-0
Broxburn came out the traps the second half and found themselves in front on 49 minutes when good play saw a clearance out the box only went as far as QUINN MITCHELL on wide left who took a couple of steps forward before dispatching the ball past Gear into the far bottom corner .
A minute later at the other end Sam Gormley blocked and cleared a effort to keep his side in front . Docherty created a great chance on 52 minutes but his effort was well saved . With the game going end to end Sam Gormley to the rescue again whilst facing his own goal he overhead kicked it clear of the goal line .. A minute later from a long throw Jack Denham saw his header crash of the cross bar .With almost an hour Rhys Walker sent a great ball into the box and found former Broxburn man Bryan Mwangi who’s shot was blocked and cleared .
Broxburn made a double substitution on 61 minutes bringing on Kane Thomson and Morgaro Gomis for Mathew McDonald and Quinn Mitchell . Cowdenbeath introduced Dylan Mauchin for Nathaniel Wedderburn on 67 minutes .
Great play from the visitors saw good pressure pay off when a ball from the left was played in to the box any one of three Broxburn Players could have had a free shott 14 yards out but it was SAM JONES who got the shot away into the bottom right hand corner on 69 minutes .
With 15 minutes remaining Max Williamson and Callen Robb replaced Bryan Mwangi and Mark Ferrie for the hosts . Four minutes later Liam Hoggan replaced Jack Allan as the hosts tried desperately to get back in the game .
Errol Douglas came on for the last ten minutes replacing Christopher O’Kane .
The Broxburn clean sheet record so far this season led a charmed life on 83 minutes when a scrambled effort bounced everywhere but in the goals for the hosts but bounced of Gallagher Lennon straight into the save hands of his thankful keeper Kyle King .
FINAL SCORE 0-2
A break from league business next Saturday as we head back to Fife for a Qualifying cup tie at Lochgelly Albert . Please note this game is scheduled for a 2-30pm kick off
Cowdenbeath 1. Dion Gear , 2 . Finlay Ness , 3. Samuel Newman ,4. Jack Denham , 5. Harvey Petrie , 6. Nathaniel Wedderburn ( 16.Dylan Mauchin 67m) , 7.Rhys Walker , 8. Jack Allan ( 15. Stuart McDowell 79m), 9. Mark Ferrie (18. Callen Robb 75m), 10. Lewis Milne , 11. Bryan Mwangi ( 17. Max Williamson ) . SUBS NOT USED . 21. Blair Gallacher , 12. Conley Anderson , 14. Liam Hoggan
Referee Mr C. Foreman , Assistants Mr K. Brown ,Mr Kris Linejs
BROXBURN ATHLETIC V LOCHEE UNITED
Attendance 212
Lochee United visit the Albyn for the first time in the Lowland League this season after their promotion from the Midland league after other clubs abstained from accepting promotion .They arrive here unbeaten with a draw at home to Berwick Rangers then an away win at Dunipace giving them the confidence coming into this match .
Broxburn took the game to the visitors and it was no surprise when the good football being played was rewarded with the opener . Kane Thomson started the move from his defence where he passed to Sam Jones just inside the penalty box . He in turn laid a ball off to the debut making Morgaro Gomis who set off down the left before laying off a perfectly waited pass to Kane Thomson who had went past him . Kane squared the ball along the edge of the box where JAMIE DOCHERTY ran on to a excellent pass to fire into the bottom right hand corner on eleven minutes.
Quinn Mitchell blocked an attempt from Callum Moore in a rare opportunity for the CHEE .
Haldane in the Lochee goals done well to scramble away a deflected cross to keep his side in the game at half time despite the home sides dominance .
HALF TIME 1-0 Docherty
Broxburn started the second half on the front foot and doubled their lead on 52 minutes . After a spell of sustained pressure by the hosts a Docherty shot was blocked on the edge of the box it broke out to Gomis who passed left to Irving in turn passing even wider to Mitchell . Mitchell quickly returned the ball to SCOTT IRVING who took a touch before firing a rocket past the bewildered Haldane giving him no chance from 23 yards out .
Morgaro Gomis was substituted on 64 minutes and left the field to a rousing applause . He was replaced by Christopher O’Kane on 64 minutes . Ross Fraser was brought on in 68 minutes for the visitors to see if he can repeat his two goals he scored after coming on as substitute against Dunipace .
Unfortunately for the visitors it was Broxburn who increased their lead almost immediately when again after some pressure the Lochee defence cleared the ball out their box through Paul Scobie but it only went to Irving in the middle of the park who sent a ball out on the right to Jamie Docherty who flighted a ball deep into the box where QUINN MITCHELL ghosted in at the back post to score his second of the season from a tight angle .
A flurry of substitutions took place on 73 minutes with Broxburn putting on Alasdair Shrive and Robbie Hamilton for Samuel Jones and Lochee swapping Josh Holt for Paul Scobie and on 81 minutes Mathew Shaw replaced Quinn Mitchell and Lochee made a double substitution with Jamie Cord and Alex Balfour replacing Harry Welsh and Callum Moore .
With the pattern of the game Lochee United can take some credit for keeping the scoring down to three goals and we wish them well going forward into the season .
We move on and look forward to a visit to Fife to play Cowdenbeath in the Lowland League on Saturday the 8th of August with a 3pm kick off .
Man of the Match Scott McCrory Irving
Lochee United 1, Lewis Haldane, 2,Louis Joyce, 3, Ewan Murray , 7, Callum Lamb , 8, Ruari Henry ( 10 Ross Fraser 68m), 9, Finlay Allan , 11, Callum Moore (Alex Balfour 81m) , 17, Harry Welsh ( Jamie Cord 81m ) , 18, Bruce Hearn , 20, Michael McArthur , 21, Paul Scobie ( Josh Holt 73m)
sub not used 13 Calum Brodie
Referee Mr D Gallagher , assistants Mr P. Higgins , Mr C Doyle
Lucas McConaghy
BROXBURN ATHLETIC v GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS
Attendance 130