Season: 2022/23
Ross Balmer
BROXBURN ATH V SAUCHIE
ATTENDANCE 151
East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Sauchie Juniors – 3 September 2022
(Photo’s courtesy of Andrew MacPherson )
Douglas congratulated after the first goal Douglas denied by Clark after great ball from Nimmo
Not to be denied Broxburn’s 4th and Douglas’s 2nd to seal the points earning MOM award
Broxburn welcomed Sauchie Juniors to the Albyn getting back to league business following last Saturday’s Scottish Cup success.
There were 3 changes in the home side line up Douglas, Clark and Churchill replacing Brass, Greenhill and Henderson.
For the visitors, who also triumphed in last weeks Scottish Cup ties by 4-2 over St Andrews, there were also 3 changes Balmer, McCaughie and Chris Kelly for Carroll, Docherty and Morgan.
It was the visitors who created the early chances with Connor Kelly turning in the box before crossing across the six yard box where Daniel Smith floated a header on to the top of the bar and over . Samuel Collumbine tried a shot from the edge of the box that went just wide left of the target.
In 7 minutes, Churchill advanced well from midfield beating a couple of defenders before cracking a shot wide to the right.
Sauchie responded in 9 minutes Columbine sending a volley high over the bar from the right.
Broxburn were knocking the ball about well on the left Orru, Binnie and Jeffries manufacturing a chance which required a timely interception with Jeffries in shooting range.
A similar move down the right bears more fruit, R. Nimmo sliding a great pass to set Newall away on the right he cut inside Peacock playing the ball to Churchill whose quick pass went to DOUGLAS who fired the ball under Clark and into the net.
In 17 minutes its not far off being 2-0, R.Nimmo and Newall again combining well to set up Jeffries with his shot just curling wide of the left hand post.
Sauchie served notice that they were a danger forcing a corner which Smith took with Cavanagh getting a free header which crashed off the bar.
In 25 minutes R.Nimmo played a fine ball to the left to pick out Orru who moved forward into the penalty box where he is challenged by Willaghan who mis-times his challenge leading to the referee pointing to the spot.
JEFFRIES dispatched the penalty kick low into the right hand corner of the net just out of the reach of Clark. Time 26 minutes.
The visitors carved out a great opportunity in 29 minutes Smith sliding a ball through to Cavanagh which keeper Blair is alert to and makes a great save from his shot.
On the half hour another free flowing move from Broxburn, R.Nimmo playing a great ball across to Douglas who catches on the half volley and hits keeper Clark somewhat fortuanately on the goal line.
Broxburn carved through the visitors defence in 32 minutes R.Nimmo, Churchill and Douglas combine with the latter’s final pass just out of reach of Binnie.
Sauchie had a free kick 30 yards out after a foul on ex Brox striker C. Kelly, Smith took the kick but its blazed wildly over.
In 40 minutes the Brox’s slick passing continued to cause problems R.Nimmo, Newall and Churchill whose ball just fails to play Nimmo in on goal.
Clark was booked for Broxburn.
In 42 minutes Connor Kelly played a neat pass to Chris Kelly with the Brox defence standing off him he had a clear shot which Blair dealt with comfortably.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 0 Sauchie Juniors
Henderson replaced Churchill at half time.
In 48 minutes Henderson is brought down by Balmer who is booked. Henderson takes the free kick but its just too high and clears the bar.
Against the run of play the visitors get back in the game, Smith playing a great ball over to the back post where DAVIDSON got the better of D.Nimmo and heads past Blair to pull a goal back. D.Nimmo was booked.
Sauchie had their tails up now MCCaughie hitting a fine shot from 25 yards which just drifted wide of the post.
This warning was not heeded and in 56 minutes the scores are tied Connor Kelly laying the ball off to McCAUGHIE whose shot is struck low and hard into the bottom left corner.
Just past the hour R.Nimmo and Jeffries are replaced by B.Donaldson and Greenhill.
The visitors continued their best spell of the game forcing 2 corners in quick succession which Blair punched clear.
In 65 minutes Binnie does brilliantly to flick the ball through to HENDERSON on the left who drills the ball hard and low which Clark can’t get enough on to stop going into his net.
A minute later Orru makes great ground down the left and gets to the edge of the penalty area before shooting but Clark gathers his effort.
In 71 minutes Columbine and Chis Kelly are replaced by Hutchison and Connor.
In 75 minutes Connor Kelly was booked.
There is then a sending off for Willaghan for a late challenge on Binnie.
Its Broxburn’s turn to force 2 corners in succession after great work from Orru, Henderson and Binnie but nothing comes of them.
Sauchie made further changes in 84 minutes Ross Balmer and David McCaughie off for Jack Fisher and Jon Tully. This was followed by Gillen for Binnie for Broxburn in the following minute.
In 87 minutes Broxburn make the game safe Orru again providing a great cross picking out Newall at the back post whose shot is blocked off to DOUGLAS who does brilliantly to divert the ball into the net.
There’s a further Sauchie booking in injury time Tully for appearing to catch D.Nimmo in the face.
G.Donaldson was also booked for Broxburn in the game.
A resolute performance from Broxburn having stormed into a 2 goal lead and losing that advantage they showed great resilience to battle back to get an all important 3 points. Back to cup action next week and a trip to Whitburn.
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 4 – 2 Sauchie Juniors
REFEREE MR M. HARRIS
Craig Baillie
Adam Forrest
Danny Campbell
Fraser Cormack
John Binnie
Jakuba Welna
BROXBURN ATHLETIC V BLACKBURN UNITED
ATTENDANCE 313
Scottish Cup Preliminary Round : Broxburn Athletic v Blackburn United – 27 August 2022
(photo’s courtesy of Andrew McPherson )
The first all West Lothian Scottish Cup tie since 1926 saw a great turnout of supporters from both clubs on a fine late summers day.
Broxburn showed 3 changes from last weeks win at Oakley, D.Nimmo replacing Sayers, Greenhill replacing Clark and Binnie for Gillen.
Visitors Blackburn made 7 changes from last weeks win at Hawick Royal Albert, Welna for Saunders in goal and J. Binnie, McLung, Heath, D.Meikle, Richards and Hutton replacing Forrest, Osbourne, Howe, Thomas, L. Meikle and Gould.
The first attempt at goal came in three minutes when Craig Henderson fired over the bar from twenty yards .A minute later Richard Hutton opened up a chance but his shot was saved comfortably by Josh Blair. Henderson made a good move down the left but his ball across the 18 yard box was just to far in front of Ross Nimmo and it went harmlessly behind for a goal kick .
Ross Nimmo engineered a chance moving into the box from the right but was shut down by the visitors defense on ten minutes. A good move involving Gary Brass and Jordan Orru set up Josh Jeffries who’s shot was deflected just wide of the target. Jeffries saw a shot blocked on 15 minutes as the hosts turned up the heat on their visitors
In 18 minutes Brass was fouled by J. Binnie, Jeffries took the free kick with a glorious delivery which saw BRASS rise and plant a firm header on the ball which flew into the top left hand corner of the net to give the home side an early advantage.
Blackburn responded 2 minutes later with ex Brox player Richards making a good run down the left but his cross was headed clear by G. Donaldson.
Henderson then advanced through midfield and was inches away from finding R.Nimmo with his through ball.
Broxburn had claims for a penalty waved away in 27 minutes when Miller appeared to handle the ball after good lead up work from Brass and Henderson.
In 28 minutes a scare for the home side when Blair misjudged a cross from Hutton, Heath clipped the ball back across goal where Meikle got off a good shot which Blair was the equal of.
Henderson was looking lively in midfield this time hitting a great shot from 30 yards which was well tipped over the bar by Welna.
Another good Broxburn move down the left followed, Henderson playing to Binnie whose cross was well cut out by J.Binnie for Blackburn with Brass waiting to take advantage of any mistake.
Blackburn then had a succession of corners which came to a disappointing end when Heath’s delivery went straight out of play.
Broxburn were playing some lovely stuff, in 41 minutes R.Nimmo and Brass created an opportunity for Henderson who steadied himself before hitting a great shot which was matched by an equally good save from Welna.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 0 Blackburn United
Blackburn made a change at half time Campbell replacing Heath.
The Brox started on the front foot in the second half Brass making good ground down the left his pass finding Binnie who got off a shot but straight at Welna.
Broxburn continued to push forward down the right side this time Newall feeding Nimmo but his cross was well over hit.
In 53 minutes great pressure from Campbell forced G.Donaldson to concede a corner Hutton took the kick J.Binnie wins but can’t direct his effort towards goal.
In the following minute Hutton was booked for Blackburn.
The home side continued to look dangerous Brass flicking the ball on from a long ball which found R.Nimmo but he can’t get enough on his shot to beat Welna.
In 57 minutes from a Blackburn corner on the left it was taken short Hutton’s cross deflected off Greenhill and ran across the face of the goal but there was no one to apply any sort of touch.
It was end to end stuff now Newall finding Henderson who shot with his left foot but straight at Welna.
Campbell then came close at the back post getting off a strong shot which deflected off G.Donaldson with the corner cleared.
A real let off for the visitors just past the hour mark Henderson leaving Miller trailing in his wake and hit a cracking drive which beats Welna but cracked the left hand post.
In 65 minutes Jeffries strides forward from centre field and Feeds R.Nimmo on the left who cuts inside and got in a great curling shot which once again Welna is the match of.
Blackburn then forced Blair into a save at the other end after good work from Hutton and Meikle.
Then a moment of controversy in 68 minutes a long ball sees a bit of hesitation in the home defence with loud claims from Blackburn Blair had handled outside his area in the ensuing scramble Blair did brilliantly to deny Campbell.
The visitors then created a glorious chance from a Kane free kick the ball was played across the goal but just out of reach of Hutton with any touch set to be a scoring one.
Broxburn responded in 74 minutes Newall with a fine run and cross down the right Binnie gets in a fine header which just flashed wide of the left post.
Another great save from Welna then denies the Brox R.Nimmo playing in a great cross well met by G.Donaldson.
In 76 minutes Blackburn brought on Cormack and Gould for Kane and Richards. With Churchill coming on for Broxburn a minute later for Henderson.
The Brox sub almost made an immediate impact firing in a great shot which once again produced a great save from Welna with Binnie close to getting to the rebound.
Mildren was then booked for a foul on Orru.
In 83 minutes Broxburn got their reward with the all important second goal from a throw in on the left by Orru which sits up well for CHURCHILL to strike on the half volley from 25 yards and the ball flies into the net just inside the right hand post with Welna unable to reach it.
In 85 minutes it was almost 3 Jeffries and Binnie combined to set up Brass but his shot flies wide. B.Donaldson was introduced to replace Jeffries.
Blackburn then make changes Thomas and Baillie replacing McLung and Hutton.
In 87 minutes its game over Orru plays a neat ball into Brass who chests the ball off to BINNIE who smashes the ball into the net.
Gray then replaced Binnie.
In 89 minutes Newall makes a great run down the right and cut infield his pass finding Gray who nearly makes a scoring first touch curling a great effort to the right but once again Welna pulls off a fantastic diving save.
R.Nimmo was booked in the final minute. Miller was also booked for Blackburn during the game.
A great team performance from Broxburn deserving to move forward to the first round proper of the Scottish Cup. Back to league business next Saturday when Sauchie are the visitors.
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 0 Blackburn United
REFEREE MR R. CLARK ASSISTANTS MR R. DONALDSON , MS N.WESTWOOD