Season: 2020/21
BROXBURN ATH V GALA FAIRYDEAN
Broxburn were under pressure early doors when Philip Anderson put a great ball into the hosts box but Luke Murray headed clear for a corner with Ross Aitchinson lurking behind him . A minute later a long ball caught the Broxburn defence out and Marc Berry was through on goal but Conor Wallace saved pushing the ball wide right . It was Gala with the chances early and in 7 minutes a free kick into the box was headed wide right of the target .Marc Berry was through again on goals on 10 minutes but shot weakly at Wallace . Broxburn created a chance on 13 minutes when Cammie Ross went down the right but his effort was deflected for a corner . .Broxburn did take the lead on the 20th minute when CAMMIE ROSS received the ball on the edge of the box on the right and despatched the ball into the bottom left hand corner .On 27 minutes Zander Murray was through on the left but shot well over . With ten minutes left of the half Aitchinson got down the left to the by line but his ball across the six yard box found no takers . A minute later Daniel Galbraith tried a shot that deflected of Harrison over the bar for a corner . Murray made a good run down the right and laid the ball of to Berry who shot just wide right . The same player shot wide left from inside the box on the right hand side . Cammie Ross and Liam Ireland saw two attempts at goal blocked and cleared with a couple of minutes left .The last efforts of the first half came when Murray shot shaved the post and bar on its way by .
Two minutes into the second half Luke Murray hit the bar with a cross come shot from the right hand side . Three minutes later Jordan Hopkinson saw an effort saved .On 52 minutes Murray headed over from inside the six yard box from a corner . A minute later ALEXANDER MURRAY got his side on level terms when Callum Hall put him through to score . On the hour mark Conor Kelly shot just wide of the goals . The hosts took the lead on 63 minutes when a ball came out the box twenty five yards out CRAIG TURNBULL let fly with a rocket giving the keeper no chance . The lead was short lived as a ball from the left into the near post got tangled up with Donaldson and ended up coming off SHAUN DONOGHUE the substitute keeper who was not long on the park and bobbled into the goals . The game became a midfield battle half way through the second half Calum Hall saw an effort well saved from Donoghue on 77 minutes as he stretched to push the ball wide right . The last chance of the game came with 2 minutes remaining when Gareth Rodger sent a great ball across the home six yard box but no team mates were there to take advantage . . A good match with more game time to the players with the season starting the following week
BROXBURN ATH V LEITH ATHLETIC
Match Report – Friendly – Broxburn Athletic v Leith Athletic – 26/09/2020
The first home friendly of the 2020/21 season turned out to be a high scoring affair at a pristine looking Albyn Park following all the work done over the summer.
Leith kicked off and were first to threaten in the 2nd minute when a misplaced pass from Nicol was worked into Molloy but his shot flew past the left hand post.
Broxburn’s first chance came in the 6th minute when Brass sent Binnie clear into the penalty box but he delayed in getting a shot off allowing the visitors defence to clear for a corner.
Leith won a free kick around 35 yards from goal in the following minute taken by Sproule and with the home defence static Molloy headed wide when well placed.
Broxburn had a sustained period of possession in the Leith half but couldn’t capitalise Nicol shooting over.
In the 12th minute Leith again looked dangerous, showing why they had already beaten Premier League opponents Newtongrange Star in a friendly, forcing Wallace into two saves in quick successsion from Molloy and Maughan respectively. The second save resulting in a corner.
From the corner played into the near post area, was poorly defended with Kneeshaw getting to the ball first and scoring from close range in 13 minutes.
Five minutes later a great long ball from Harrison found Kelly on the left who cut inside his man into the penalty area his shot hitting the target but saved by Rankin.
Broxburn continued to press with a fine run and shot from Richards which Rankin again saved.
However the increasing pressure paid off when a Greenhill through ball found Brass, he was brought down in the penalty area. Kelly cooly slotted home the resultant penalty kick.
Parity did not last long as Leith took full advantage when the home side lost the ball in 25 minutes Molloy curled his shot beyond Wallace into the net.
Broxburn hit back with Richards firing a shot wide and Binnie lobbing the keeper but his effort drifted to safety.
On the half hour Leith who were playing a high pressing game almost increased their lead after the ball was lost in midfield Wallace was forced into a double save from Maughan.
Broxburn levelled for the second time in 34 minutes after a great cross from Richards, Kelly headed the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Rankin’s net.
In 39 minutes the pace of the Leith strikers saw Wright forced into a last ditch challenge just outside the box. From the resultant free kick Sproule hit his shot in to the home wall the ball breaking to Maughan whose shot forced Wallace into a great save.
The action continued to go from end to end Binnie hitting the bar from close range after Rankin dropped a cross from the left.
Wright was booked in 43 minutes.
Half Time Broxburn Athletic 2– 2 Leith Athletic
Broxburn made three changes at half time Ross, Hopkinson and Ireland replacing Greenhill, Kelly and Brass. Leith also made changes Mein and Shaw for Bathgate and Molloy.
Broxburn should have taken the lead in 47 minutes after a defensive mistake from the visitors Binnie was left with a great chance which he didn’t connect with cleanly and the ball spun away to the right.
In 52 minutes fine combination play between Donaldson, Hopkinson and Ireland who slipped the ball to Ross who shot the Brox in front for the first time.
Broxburn continued to assert themsleves, Ireland firing a shot over the bar and Ross forcing a save from Rankin after a good move down the right.
In 54 minutes Leith replaced Mayer with Williamson and McKenzie for Veitch.
In 59 minutes Broxburn should have increased their advantage Harrison missing his kick when well placed and Donaldson hitting the side netting when the ball broke to him.
Leith had their first attack of the second half on the hour with Redpath taking a free kick which forced Wallace to save.
Further changes for Broxburn in 62 minutes, Donoghue, Redmond and Turnbull for Wallace, Richards and Nicol. Leith also made a change Garvey for Dempster.
With Broxburn causing the Leith defence problems Binnie cut the ball back to Hopkinson who back healed the ball brilliantly to Ireland who shot against the inside of the post.
The same player went close again in 68 minutes after good work from Binnie and Donaldson, he headed wide when well positioned.
The wave of home attacks continued Hopkinson being sent clear by Binnie but an excellent tackle from Kerr stopped the home player getting his shot in.
Kneeshaw was booked in 70 minutes for bringing down Turnbull.
In 78 minutes great work from Ireland found Hopkinson who got round the keper on the left with his cut back finding Binnie who couldn’t apply the finish.
Ireland was set up nicely by Ross in the following minute but Rankin did well to save.
Broxburn were made to pay for not taking the numerous chances they had created when Leith hit 2 goals in 2 minutes to take the lead 4-3. Shaw did well down the left to get in a great cross which Garvey got on the end of and shot the ball past Donoghue. Then Mein fired the visitors ahead once more.
In a crazy finish to the game Hopkinson got to the bye line and cut back for Ross who calmly slotted the ball home at the back post in 88 minutes. In the last minute of normal time the Brox were back ahead again Hopkinson doing the damage down the left his cross headed high into the net by Binnie.
The drama wasn’t over however Leith going down the other end of the park with Mein’s header hitting the bar.
Binnie was booked for Broxburn in 92 minutes to bring an eventful game to an end. Credit to both teams for serving up an entertaining encounter in the autumnal sunshine.
Full Time Broxburn Athletic 5– 4 Leith Athletic
Teams:
Broxburn Athletic: Wallace; Gillan, Donaldson, Harrison, Wright; Richards, Nicol, Greenhill; Binnie, Brass, Kelly
Subs: Donoghue, Hopkinson, Ross, Ireland, Murray (Unused), Redmond, Turnbull, Grant (Unused). Cowley (Unused)
Leith Athletic: Rankin; Bathgate, Mayer, Sproule, Kerr, Veitch, Molloy, Maughan, Redpath, Dempster, Kneeshaw
Subs: McKenzie, Smith (Unused), Allan (Unused), Mein, Garvey, Cairns (Unused), Williamson, Shaw
Craig Turnbull
Greg Redmond
Luke Murray
Craigroyston v Broxburn Athletic
A competitive workout for both teams on a fine sunny afternoon with a slight breeze at St Mark’s Park.
Craigroyston kicked off facing into the breeze. Both sides cancelled themselves out in the opening exchanges as they tried to find their passing range. Nicol was prominent for the Brox, breaking up Craigroyston forward forays and starting a few Broxburn moves.
There was a let off in 5 minutes for the home side when keeper Mack sliced a clearance fortuanately around Ireland and to safety.
In 8 minutes a great Nicol pass released Ross on the right but he was unable to take advantage and was crowded out by the home defenders.
Broxburn continued to assert and Ross having switched to the left wing got to the bye line and his cross was met by Ireland whose effort just crept by Mack’s left hand post.
Craigroyston had their first effort at goal a minute later but Smith fired over the bar.
Ross was causing the Craigroyston defence some anxious moments with his direct running and he went close to opening the scoring cutting inside beating a defender and getting a shot off which just went past the right hand post.
The visitors pressure paid off when Donaldson was brought down in the penalty area Ross despatched the resulting penalty into the keeper’s right hand corner of the net.
Craigroyston responded well and were level in 28 minutesafter a fine move down their left the cross was latched on to by Smith who flicked the ball to to the left hand corner of the net despite Donaldson’s best efforts to keep the ball out.
Broxburn were forced into making a substitution at this point when Andy Grant picked up a knock he was replaced by Luke Murray.
The Brox substitute managed to get a shot on target in 36 minutes which didn’t trouble Mack.
Broxburn should have gone back in front in 40 minutes Ross missing with a header and couldn’t connect when there was a chance of a follow up effort.
Hopkinson broke clear a minute later got round the keeper but had been forced wide his shot was blocked from a tight angle but the ball broke to Greenhill who blazed his shot over the bar.
Half Time Craigroyston 1– 1 Broxburn Athletic
Broxburn made two changes at half time Brass and Kelly for Hopkinson and Ireland. Craigroyston made a change too McFadden replacing Robertson.
Their was a lively start to the second half substitute McFadden being thwarted by Wallace who was forced to make a save. Broxburn in their next attack strung some nice passes together between Cowley, Donaldson and Ross which ended with Ross shooting just past the right hand post.
Broxburn were forced into another substitution on 49 minutes Gillen having picked up a knock replaced by Greg Redmond. Craigroyston made two changes in 54 minutes Swanson and Pettigrew for Raiker and Moore.
In 56 minutes Wallace had to look lively to come outside his box to beat McFadden as he tried to latch on to a through ball.
Scott Richards replaced Greenhill on 57 minutes for Broxburn.
Brass managed to get off a strong right foot shot which Mack did well to parry, Ross was on to the rebound and his shot just eluded the left hand post.
Kelly got his first shot of the game in 59 minutes but it was high over the bar.
Further substitutions for Broxburn followed Craig Turnbull for Cowley and Shaun Donoghue for Wallace.
Richards was next to have an attempt at the Craigroyston goal having been set up by Brass which forced a save from Mack who pushed the ball round the post for a corner.
In 67 minutes the visitors increasing pressure paid off when Kelly picked up the ball just inside the Craigroyston half on the left and advanced to the penalty area, he cut inside the home defender and shot expertly into the far left hand corner of the net.
Craigroyston tried to respond and from a free kick from Swanson, Donoghue made a comfortable save.
Murray was booked for Broxburn in 71 minutes.
Craigroyston made further changes in 73 minutes Mackintosh, McLennan and Scholtes replacing Dunlop, Smith and Horribine.
Broxburn added to their tally in 87 minutes after a great through ball from Murray beating the home sides offside trap, Brass strode forward and fired a shot into the net from the edge of the penalty box to complete the scoring.
Full Time Craigroyston 1– 3 Broxburn Athletic
Teams:
Craigroyston: Mack; Raiker, Dunlop, Robertson, Allan, Currie, Smith , Moore, Nisbet, Robertson, Horribine
Subs: Mackintosh, McLennan, Swanson, McFadden, Scholtes, Pettigrew
Broxburn Athletic: Wallace; Gillan, Donaldson, Grant, Wright; Cowley, Nicol, Greenhill, Ross; Hopkinson, Ireland
Subs: Donoghue, Kelly, Richards, Brass, Murray, Redmond, Turnbull
