Pre Season Friendly: Tranent Juniors v Broxburn Athletic – 12 July 2022
Broxburn made the trip down to East Lothian to face last season’s East of Scotland champions Tranent Juniors. The Brox made 6 changes to the starting line up from last Saturday against Dundee North End, Donaldson, Jeffries, Newall, Churchill, Brass and Douglas replacing Nimmo, Sayers, Clark, McConnell, Downie and Binnie.
Both sides took time to settle into their passing on a glorious night for football at Foresters Park.
In 7 minutes Donaldson floated a nice free kick down the right with Anderson forcing a corner off Broxburn’s Donaldson. Harrison headed strongly clear from the corner.
Broxburn responded in 9 minutes Douglas laying the ball off to Churchill who’s run forward was blocked the ball breaking to the right and hitting off Newall and safely through to Scott in the home goal.
In 11 minutes a let off for the visitors with Currie finding Maughan down the right and his cross was caught on the volley by Docherty 25 yards out and his effort crashed off the bar.
The left was proving a good area to attack for the home side Greig sending in a cross which Maughan got to but diverted the ball wide of the left post.
The Brox responded well creating a chance from an Orru cross which Newall did well to strike a good shot which the Scott parried away and was cleared by the defence.
Good combination play from Douglas, Churchill and Brass resulted in Brass’s shot being blocked. The ball was switched wide to Douglas who sent over a great cross but they were no takers in red to convert.
In 17 minutes Anderson was fouled 25 yards out, Simpson took the free kick but was too high and cleared the bar.
Tranent continued to make ground down their left Docherty this time cutting inside to fire off a great shot which Wallace had to dive full length to save.
The chances continued to fall for the home side Maughan being sent in on goal but a heavy touch allowed Wallace to smother at his feet.
In a very open game in 24 minutes McConnell played a nice pass to Churchill who advanced and cracked a great shot from 25 yards which Scott tipped over the bar when it seemed destined for the top corner.
Neat play again in midfield saw Anderson play a pass to Docherty on the left , he once again advanced and hit a shot which just went past the right hand post.
It was no surprise when the opening goal arrived from the left hand side Greig’s cross was met by MAUGHAN whose shot went into the net past Wallace.
It was Docherty again who created another chance for the home side this time cutting inside past Newall but his shot was straight at Wallace.
In 43 minutes Simpson hit a great drive from 25 yards but once again Wallace pulled off another great save.
HALF TIME: Tranent Juniors 1 – 0 Broxburn Athletic
Changes for the start of the second half Broxburn replaced Jeffries with Clark.
Tranent introduced Stevenson and Sommerville for Bauld and Murphy. Carter replaced Scott in the home goal.
In 48 minutes Broxburn were close to an equaliser Newall clipping in a nice ball for Brass to get his head to which Carter did well to tip over. From the resulting corner Harrison headed wide.
There were shouts for a penalty in 51 minutes as Douglas tried to get past Barr but the referee wasn’t impressed and allowed the game to continue.
In 57 minutes Sommerville did well to cut out an Orru cross with Brass ready to apply a finish.
On the hour the Brox made 7 changes, Gillen, Donaldson, McConnell, Churchill, Newall, Brass and Douglas going off. Sayers, Downie, Binnie, Murray, Henderson, Greenhill and Gray.
Tranent made 2 changes in 63 minutes Miller and Archibald coming on Currie and Simpson going off.
The Brox changes had a positive impact Gray showing great persistence in battling to get a ball through to DOWNIE who slotted the ball into the net in 65 minutes.
In 69 minutes Sayers played a nice ball down the right to Downie who gathered and put over an excellent ball into the home penalty box but it didn’t drop to a red shirt and the danger was cleared.
With the visitors in the ascendancy things suddenly fell apart in a 3 minute period, from a throw in on the right in 71 minutes no one picked up Anderson who rolled the ball across the Broxburn box where MAUGHAN had the simple task to tap the ball into the net from 3 yards.
Worse was to follow Clark had to be withdrawn after picking up a knock, Tranent agreed to Broxburn being allowed to bring back on Gillen but a foul by Murray on Stevenson in the penalty box gave MAUGHAN a chance to complete his hat trick from the penalty spot which he duly did.
In 80 minutes Orru advanced down the left and passed inside to Gray who beat his man neatly and fired a shot just wide of the right hand post.
In 83 minutes Sayers was caught in possession by Greig who cut the ball back for Docherty but the winger fluffed his shot straight to Wallace.
Greenhill fed Gray with a couple of minutes left who collected the ball , advanced and struck another shot this time just wide of the left hand post. Tranent broke up the other end of the park Docherty dispossessing Sayers and got to the bye line but Wallace saved well smothering the wingers effort.
Another decent work out for Broxburn with lots of positives to be taken against a very sharp Tranent side who on this showing will acquit themselves well in the Lowland League.
Broxburn continue their pre-season build up when Bo’ness United come calling on Saturday to the Albyn.
FULL TIME: Tranent Juniors 3 – 1 Broxburn Athletic
v Dundee North End – 9 July 2022
Broxburn’s first friendly of the season in the glorious sunshine and heat at the Albyn with Midland League opponents Dundee North End the visitors. Six of the new signings featured in the starting line up for the Brox, Sayers, Clark, Henderson, McConnell, Downie and Orru.
North End had already played 2 friendlies against Kirrie Thistle and Dundee FC Under 18s, in the lead up to their league season opener on 23rd July against Lochee Harp.
Broxburn kicked off with the breeze at their backs.
The home side were first to have an attempt at goal in 2 minutes from an Orru throw on the left Downie controlled and shot but his effort was high over the bar.
A minute later captain Shaun Harrison, in an aerial challenge, was caught accidently with a flailing arm which resulted in a bloodied nose and him having to leave the park for 3 minutes for the injury to be attended to.
In 6 minutes a nice break down the left saw Rice get in a cross which was half cleared falling nicely to Devine who curled in a shot to the right which Donoghue dived to his left to save at full stretch.
The visitors continued to look dangerous and should have taken the lead in 11 minutes after a bad mistake from Gillen, Devine was clean in on goal but the striker hurried his shot when there was no need to and he miscued his effort completely.
Broxburn started to grow in to the game and from their best move to that point in 19 minutes Binnie and Downie combined well resulting in Downie having a clear shooting opportunity inside the penalty box but Ferrie saved his effort well with the clearance completed by a defender.
Both sides continued to try and pass the ball about probing for an opening which North End managed to achieve on the half hour MacLeod adjudged to have been brought down by Orru.
DEVINE stepped up confidently to convert the resultant penalty to put the Dokens one goal ahead on the half hour.
This seemed to sting the home side into action with Orru doing well down the left his cross being blocked by Rice for a corner. From the corner Henderson and Orru worked a nice short corner routine with the latter’s cross being won by Nimmo at the back post with his header being smothered by keeper Ferrie on the line.
In 38 minutes Orru was again prominent cutting in from the left and being brought down just outside the box. Harrison touched the free kick to the right to McConnell whose well struck shot took a deflection for a corner. Henderson took the corner Harrison rose well to win the header which was well defended by the defender covering the post.
With Broxburn now having their best spell in the game Gillen hit an amazing drive from 35 yards which cracked the cross bar and bounced to safety.
From another short corner in 43 minutes Orru played the ball inside to Henderson who struck a great shot from the left which Ferrie did well to fist away.
In first half injury time after 4 successive corners Broxburn finally got on the score sheet, Henderson’s deep corner was well retrieved by Nimmo with his head this set up Harrison for a shot which was blocked with MCCONNELL reacting quickly to the loose ball with his overhead kick eluding the visitors defence and into the right hand corner of the net.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 1 Dundee North End
Broxburn made 6 changes at half time Newall, Brass, Douglas, Churchill, Murray and Greenhill replacing Sayers, Nimmo, Clark, McConnell, Downie and Binnie.
Ballantyne replaced Jamieson for North End.
The home side started the second half with some purpose Newall beating 2 North End defenders down the right and forcing a corner. Orru’s corner was on the money Ferrie forced into punching clear.
In 53 minutes from another Orru corner HARRISON headed high into the top corner of the net to edge the hosts ahead.
Greenhill and Churchill were working well in midfield with the latter sending a nice through ball which was cut off by Wighton with Douglas ready to pounce.
In 61 minutes North End’s Devine hit a shot which deflected for a corner. He took the kick himself which found Law whose shot was blocked with strong claims for handball which the referee waved away.
A minute later and the Dokens went close again Rice sending in a good free kick from the left which Lunan met strongly with his head with the ball flying just over the bar.
Rice went off for North End to be replaced by Bell.
In 65 minutes after good work by Henderson whose pass found Brass who got to the bye line but his cross was blocked with Douglas well placed.
In 69 minutes Devine was replaced by Brown.
North End continued to look for an equaliser MacLeod finding Montgomery 30 yards out who unleashed a shot which Donoghue had to look lively to tip over the bar.
In 74 minutes a real let off for the Brox, Ballantyne being 1 on 1 with Donoghue but the home keeper did well again to save his chipped effort.
In 77 minutes Harrison played a neat ball down the left for Orru who drove into the penalty box and appeared to be brought down not once but twice but the referee showed no interest in the home appeals and played on.
Henderson could have sealed the game 2 minutes later creating a chance for himself but the ball sat up and his lob went over Ferrie but also the bar.
With 8 minutes remaining Greenhill sent Orru away down the left but this time his cross was too near Ferrie who smothered the ball well at his near post.
In 84 minutes Harrison picked up another knock which forced him to go off leaving Broxburn to complete the game with 10 men as all substitutes had been used.
North End made some changes in injury time, O. Lunan, McConnachie and Herd replacing MacLeod, Law and Wighton.
An excellent work out for Broxburn against a very spirited North End side who contributed hugely to an entertaining encounter. The Brox continue their season build up at Lowland League Tranent on Tuesday night.
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 1 Dundee North End
