Season: 2022/23
Mathew Knox
Nathan Evans
Alasdair Adams
Jack McLean
Musselburgh Athletic
Attendance 545
East Of Scotland Premier League: Musselburgh Athletic v Broxburn Athletic – 18 March 2023
On groundhopping weekend Broxburn headed for the Olivebank for a Saturday night game under the lights against Musselburgh Athletic.
Broxburn made 3 changes from the side which lost at home to Linlithgow Rose in midweek in the East Of Scotland Cup, Blair, Orru and Brass replacing Donoghue, Sayers and Henderson.
Musselburgh are having a good league season sitting fourth and off the back of a thumping 6-1 win at Blackburn last Saturday. They were unsurprisingly unchanged.
Broxburn started on the front foot Orru taking a throw in which was flicked on but claimed by keeper Laing.
In the 5th minute a neat Brox move Douglas flicked the ball to Brass who played the ball back to Orru who rolled the ball to Bremner on the edge of the box but he blazed his shot high wide and left.
From a poor Laing kick out Brass collected the ball inside the centre circle advanced but rushed his effort which went wildly wide to the right.
Gillen slung in a cross in 10 minutes from the right which Laing unconvincingly palmed out for a corner. Gray took the kick right into the mixer and in an incredible scramble Broxburn couldn’t force the ball home Wright shooting over in the end.
Broxburn continued to dominate Gray playing a brilliant through ball to Bremner down the right, his hard and low cross was volleyed at the near post by Brass but volleyed wide of the right post.
Musselburgh’s Stevenson made a run down the left but his cross was poor and straight out.
Khan did much better a minute later striking a good shot from 25 yards which went past the left post.
In 17 minutes Douglas did well to force a corner off Stevenson. Gray took the kick high and deep to the back post area where WRIGHT got his head powerfully to it and the ball flew into the top right hand corner to put the Brox deservedly ahead. Time 18 minutes.
Another poor kick out from Laing found Gray just inside the Musselburgh half and he audaciously tried to beat the keeper but Laing redeemed himself by getting back on his line to save.
The home side created a chance in 31 minutes McConnell missing a tackle on half way the ball threaded through to Hunter who slid the ball past Blair but also the right hand post.
Barker was booked in 35 minutes.
In 40 minutes the Brox almost doubled their lead Gray again with a deep hanging corner won by Wright at the back post back heading across the goal Laing palming the ball away from goal just before Brass applied a finish.
The Brox ended the half getting the second goal their play merited, DOUGLAS collecting the ball 22 yards from goal taking a touch and drilling a shot low into the bottom left corner with Laing unable to reach the well placed shot.
HALF TIME: Musselburgh Athletic 0 – 2 Broxburn Athletic
Half time subs for Musselburgh Wilson and Barker being replaced by Reid and Renton.
In 48 minutes a mix up in the Musselburgh defence allowed Brass in on the right but his cross was too near Laing.
In 50 minutes McConnell went on a run cutting in from the left he tried to back heel to a team mate but no one could take advantage in a gold shirt.
Bremner picked up a loose ball in midfield slid a neat ball through to Brass whose shot was saved by Laing to his left.
In 56 minutes Stevenson played in a free kick from the left which Blair claimed easily.
In the following minute Blair was called into serious action for the first time Hunter striking a great shot which the young keeper tipped over the bar.
On the hour Douglas was booked for kicking the ball away.
In 61 minutes Fiddler was replaced by O’Kane.
The Brox then struck again with a brilliant team goal Orru’s clearance finding Bremner whose pass sent DOUGLAS away down the left, he held off Reid’s challenge and shot across Laing into the bottom right corner of the net.
In 69 minutes the Brox continued to torment the home defence forcing an error which Gray capitalised on and was brought down in the penalty box. BRASS took the resulting penalty sending the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, Laing going the opposite way.
The home side made more changes in 73 minutes Smith and Hunter being replaced by Knox and Weekes.
Clark did well down the right in 75 minutes slipping the ball to Bremner who struck a great shot which Laing dived full length to his right to keep out.
D.Nimmo was booked for dissent in 76 minutes. Evans was also booked 7 minutes later.
In 84 minutes Henderson came on McConnell coming off. A minute later Downie replaced Brass.
Downie was booked in 89 minutes.
There was one last chance for a home consolation Evans getting in a shot which went over.
FULL TIME: : Musselburgh Athletic 0– 4 Broxburn Athletic
REFEREE MR. B.Falconer Assistants MR. B.White , MR. L.Quinton
BROXBURN ATH V LINLITHGOW ROSE
Attendance 256
Linlithgow were on top early doors and pressured the home defence from the kick off but they stood firm . In 2 minutes a cross ball from right to left was turned behind for a corner as Heaver shot goalward . The opening goal did come early doors on 8 minutes when another cross field ball opened up Broxburn and the ball into the box was knocked out to DALE BAXTER who fired home from 20 yards .
Mark Stowe tried his luck from 30 yards on 12 minutes but was way over the target . Linlithgow had another chance on 17 minutes when they hit the woodwork . Two minutes later on 18 minutes a long ball down the left was met by ERROL DOUGLAS who ran through and cut inside the box before firing past Binnie in the visitors goal . Calum Bremner had a golden opportunity to score against his former club when he won the ball on the edge of the box but pulled his shot wide left of the target . Just after the half hour mark a determined run down the right by Jack Sayers , he got to the bye line before sending the ball into the box and Douglas headed the ball back across the six yard box but Steve Clark couldn’t turn the ball in from four yards and inexplicably he put the ball over the bar . Mark Stowe made Shaun Donoghue make a great save on 37 minutes . With the first half coming to an end just prior to this another good left to right ball set up a cross into the box where Sean Heaver fired over the bar from 16 yards under no pressure .
The second half saw Linlithgow step up the pace and on 54 minutes Cunningham was unlucky to see his shot go over the bar as he snatched at it . Linlithgow regained the lead on 56 minutes when a ball into the box found DALE BAXTER who made no mistake to fire past Donoghue . Broxburn almost equalised a couple of minutes later when a corner in from the left found Dan Nimmo who’s header went over the bar . A minute later the visitors doubled their advantage from the spot after a foul by Nimmo just inside the box . Up stepped DALE BAXTER to smash home for his hat trick . It was almost 4 on 68 minutes when the visitors hit the post for the second time in the match . Mark Stowe was set up on 76 minutes but couldn’t find the target . Linlithgow put the tie beyond doubt with ten minutes to go when a corner to the back post was miskicked and trundled in to the net from CONOR McKenzie . Broxburn pulled one back on 86 minutes when Gary Brass went on a great run before firing home from just inside the box .
With no more scoring it was Linlithgow who go through . A better performance of late from the home side and could have been so different had chances been converted . We now move on to important league business next Saturday when as part of the groundhop weekend we kick off at Musselburgh Athletic at
7-45pm .
Referee Mr A. Shepherd Assistants Mr B.Allan , Mr C.Doyle