League: South Challenge Cup

Attendance 220

Challenge Cup 2^nd Round: Broxburn Athletic v Whitburn Juniors 16 September 2023 

Broxburn welcomed high flying Whitburn to the Albyn for a 2^nd round Challenge Cup tie.

Broxburn made one change to last Saturday’s starting line up that triumphed 7-3 against Inverkeithing,   D.Nimmo replaced Moyles.

Whitburn arrived in great form having won the Centenary Cup against Linlithgow Rose last Sunday by 3-2 and are undefeated in the First Division. They made 5 changes Russell, Tomaszewski, Edwards, Johnston and new signing from Bo’ness Athletic McInnes replaced McGarahan, Condie, McGuire, Laidlaw and Edwards.

Broxburn had the first real chance in 8 minutes R.Nimmo played a ball down the right wing which Boyle misjudged allowing Munro to cut inside him and curl a shot with his left foot towards goal which keeper Farrell saved at his near post.

Ross Nimmo was booked on 13 minutes .

Whitburn had their first clear sight of goal in 14 minutes Edwards firing a shot over the bar from the edge of the penalty box.

Good play down the right from Munro and R.Nimmo saw the latter cross into the box but Farrell collected the ball confidently.

In 19 minutes Page was booked for a foul on Crawford about 25 yards from goal left of centre. Crawford took the kick himself but curled his effort over the bar to the right.

From a long ball forward by Page Munro forced a corner off a Whitburn defender in 22 minutes. Heath took the kick which was cleared as far as R.Nimmo who played back into the box with another corner conceded. Heath took again Turner challenged keeper Farrell for the ball with the keeper palming away only as far as D.Nimmo who controlled and turned to get off a shot and appeared to be brought down with the referee waving away home claims for a penalty. The ball broke to Heath who curled a shot straight to Farrell.

In 28 minutes Bremner was fouled by McInnes. Heath took the free kick and played the ball to Bremner who floated a ball into the box with Thomson taking no chances and conceded another corner. Heath took the corner deep to the back post where Brass had to stretch to win but his effort looped over the bar.

A slick move saw R.Nimmo play a ball into Locke whose first time pass set Munro in behind the visitors defence, the full back made inroads along the bye line before drilling in a cross which Boyle blocked for a corner. Heath’s corner brought nothing.

In 37 minutes great play from R.Nimmo as he drove forward into the box and played to Bremner who hit his shot first time which Farrell was equal to, the ball broke loose with Bremner getting the ball in a challenge with a Whitburn defender but the midfielder couldn’t get enough on his touch to trouble the keeper a second time.

Bremner received treatment as had picked up a knock when going for the rebound. He couldn’t continue and had to be replaced by Davidson in 41 minutes.

Locke was booked for dissent in 45 minutes.

HALF TIME: : Broxburn Athletic 0 v 0 Whitburn Juniors

In 55 minutes the visitors made a change McInnes was replaced by Taylor.

A minute later Brass head flicked the ball on which R.Nimmo had anticipated he scampered down the right wing with his cross blocked for a corner. Heath took the corner which he curled over the bar.

Then the Brox were caught out in 58 minutes down the left side due to indecision in dealing with a ball forward, Crawford did well for Whitburn getting to the bye line, Watt who had left his line to try and cut the striker off then could only watch as the striker played a ball across the 6 yard box for LIDDELL to apply a finish into an empty net.

Douglas replaced Heath in 59 minutes.

Three minutes later Johnston was booked for a foul on Campbell.

In 64 minutes more changes for Whitburn, Johnston and Tomaszewski were replaced by McGarahan and Condie.

Crawford was booked for a foul on Munro.

In 68 minutes Campbell did well down the left and his cross was met by the boot of McGarahan who conceded a corner.

R.Nimmo took the kick from the left Page played back across goal from the right where LOCKE applied a finish at the back post from 6 yards. Time 68 minutes.

The fight back was completed in a total turnaround in fortunes Douglas slung over a great cross which R.Nimmo controlled and was brought down in the penalty area by McGarahan. DOUGLAS applied a cool finish from the spot to put the Brox ahead. Time 71 minutes.

Turner was booked for dissent in 73 minutes.

Liddell was then booked for a foul on Davidson in 76 minutes followed by Brass in the following minute. Davidson was then booked in 78 minutes.

The visitors forced a corner on the left in 79 minutes which caused a bit of a scramble in the penalty box which ended when D.Nimmo was fouled.

In 83 minutes a long crossfield ball saw Campbell play the ball which hit his arm and was booked by the referee. From the free kick which didn’t appear to be taken from the right spot Edwards took the kick with MCGARAHAN rising the highest to head the ball into the bottom left corner of the net past Watt to tie the score at 2-2. Turner was then sent off for dissent.

In 86 minutes a fantastic effort from Locke brought out the best in keeper Farrell who made a great save. R. Nimmo played the ball back in with D.Nimmo winning in the air but his header looped over the bar.

In injury time Black came on for Russell as the game moved to extra time.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 v 2 Whitburn Juniors

Campbell from about 40 yards from goal on the left played in a strong cross which Farrell had to watch closely as it drifted wide right.

The Brox had the ball in the net on 97 minutes, Brass slamming the ball into the roof of the net from an offside position after an R.Nimmo shot was blocked.

In 99 minutes Thomson replaced R.Nimmo.

Davidson set up Douglas 25 yards from goal the strikers shot forcing a save from Farrell.

D.Nimmo was booked in 101 minutes.

Into the second period of extra time and Campbell made an error which conceded a corner. Edwards took the kick with Liddell winning a header but his effort was wide left of target.

Downie came on for Brass in 121 minutes.

Crawford drilled in a low cross from the left but there was no Whitburn player in the vicinity to apply a finish.

Munro won a corner in 124 minutes, which produced a great chance at the back post for Downie who had to stretch to reach the ball but diverted his effort over the bar.

FULL TIME EXTRA TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 v 2 Whitburn Juniors

Penalties

Whitburn were first to go Crawford confidently scoring and captain Locke doing likewise for Broxburn.

Liddell hit the bar for Whitburn with Douglas converting for the Brox to put them ahead.

Thomson and Downie were successful with their kicks before Boyle’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Bob Watt

Thomson hit his kick high into the roof of the net to seal the victory for Broxburn.

PENALTIES : Broxburn Athletic 4 v 2 Whitburn Juniors

Referee Mr C. Newman