Season: 2024/25
Sean Brown
Whitburn v Broxburn Athletic
ATTENDANCE 196
Broxburn Athletic–Watt (GK), Munro, G Page, Bell, Wardell, Downie, Mwangi, Ellis, McRory-Irving, Millar, Locke ©.
SUBS- Rodden, Smith, Turner, Thomson, MacDonald. King .
It was another Saturday cup away trip for Broxburn. This time against Whitburn at Central Park in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup 4th Round.
Whitburn currently lie in fifth position in the East of Scotland Premier Division. Winning seven, drawing three and losing five of their fifteen fixtures so far.
The last meeting between the two sides was on Saturday the 16th of September 2023, in the Challenge Cup Second Round. The game went all the way to penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time. Broxburn won on penalties 4-2. Scorers for Broxburn that day were Nick Locke and Errol Douglas, while Darren Liddell and Mick McGarahan scored for Whitburn.
Players to watch for the hosts on Saturday include, Defender Sammy Watson, attacking midfielder Callum Hambrook and recent Broxburn midfielder Callum Bremner, who as we are all aware of the player Callum is after a very successful season at the Badgers last term.
In the clubs last fixture, Whitburn lost to East of Scotland Premier League pace setters Musselburgh Athletic, 3-2 at home last Saturday. Scorers for Whitburn were Cammy Graham and Ross Crawford.
Whitburn’s Last Four Games
(2/11/24) Haddington Athletic (H) 1-1 (D)
(9/11/24) Dundonald Bluebell (A) 4-2 (L)
(1/12/24) Kirkcaldy & Dysart (N) 1-0 (W)
(14/12/24) Musselburgh Athletic (H) 2-3 (L)
Whitburn are in Claret and Amber strips with claret shorts and socks. Broxburn are in all Navy Blue strips. Broxburn Athletic make two changes from the side that defeated East Stirlingshire 6-1 away in the league last weekend. In comes Darren Downie & Bob Watt who replace Jordan Pettigrew & Gary Brass.
After passing an earlier pitch inspection, this game was in doubt an hour before kick-off. The heavy rain was really affecting the pitch, and you could see it cutting up in the warmup. Referee Andrew Craven decided it was game on.
Broxburn are first to threaten in the 1st minute. A deep cross by Nick Locke is well read by Whitburn keeper Sean Brown, who comes off his line to collect.
Whitburn have a half chance on the 8th minute. A good delivery from Cammy Graham is just beyond onrushing Darren Liddell at the back post.
First booking of the match comes on 15 minutes for Kyle Bell for a pull-on Whitburn’s Steve Clark who is getting away from him.
On 29 minutes, Owen Wardell delivers a teasing cross that is just behind Bryan Mwangi who was sliding in at the back post.
On 31 minutes, Whitburn have the ball in the back of the net. Ross Crawford plays in Cammy Graham who chipped Bob Watt. But Crawford is ruled offside. Lovely finish from Graham who showed great technique. On the 33rd minute, Ross Crawford does well for Whitburn. He collects the ball and holds up play before finding Cammy Graham wide left. But the Whitburn 11 falls over and gifts Broxburn a throw in.
GOAL! Broxburn take the lead! Nick Locke plays in Bryan Mwangi who is in a footrace with ex Badger Andy Gillen. Whitburn keeper Sean Brown comes out and totally misses the ball, leaving Bryan Mwangi with an open goal, he scores! 1-0 Broxburn.
WHITBURN 0
BROXBURN ATHLETIC (Bryan Mwangi-36 Minutes)
Next in the referee’s book is Whitburn’s Andy Gillen for a foul on Bryan Mwangi just outside the box. Nick Locke’s resulting free kick is parried away by Whitburn keeper Sean Brown and Whitburn eventually clear their lines.
On 41 minutes, Bryan Mwangi latches on to a loose ball in the box. He turns the Whitburn defender inside out and his shot is blocked by Whitburn defender Steph Murray.
On 43 minutes, a shot by Ross Crawford is saved down low by Bob Watt.
HALF TIME (1-0 Broxburn)
The players return to the park during a huge downpour. The referee decides after 5 minutes to take the players back into the changing room. So, we have a 5-minute delay.
On 55 minutes, an Owen Wardell cross from the right has Whitburn keeper Sean Brown scrambling as his effort hits the bar.
On 56 minutes, Marcus Miller is booked for a foul on Cammy Graham.
On 59 minutes, Darren Downie plays in Bryan Mwangi. The winger takes on the Whitburn full back and his cross is diverted for a corner. The resulting corner finds Greg Page who heads over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (69 Minutes)
ON-Joseph Smith
OFF-Marky Munro
On 73 minutes, Darren Downie plays in Scott McRory Irving whose shot is saved by Whitburn keeper Sean Brown.
On 81 minutes, a long ball finds Owen Wardell in on the left. He uses his pace to get away from the right back and his shot is saved by the outstretched Whitburn keeper Sean Brown.
DOUBLE BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (82 Minutes)
ON- Lewis Turner & Andy Rodden
OFF-Bryan Mwangi & Darren Downie
Greg Page is booked on 83 minutes for a foul and is followed by Whitburn substitute Ali Croall who is booked for a foul on Owen Wardell on 86 minutes. From the resulting free kick. Andy Rodden’s whipped ball in has too much on it.
On 93 minutes, from a Whitburn corner, Broxburn only clear as far as Cammy Graham whose effort is saved by Bob Watt.
Broxburn progressed to the Quarter Finals of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. It will be Thornton Hibs at home next. Fair play to the boys today, they rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in against a good team, in very tricky conditions.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and see you all at Albyn Park for Tranent next Saturday.
FULL TIME
Whitburn 0
Broxburn Athletic 1 (Mwangi)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE- Andrew Craven
ASSISTANTS- Richard MacCartney & Andrew Strang
Whitburn – Brown (GK), Gillen, Watson, Kerr, Murray, Thomson ©, Clark, Bremner, Graham, Liddell, Crawford.
Subs- Johnstone (GK), McGarahan, Croall, Henderson, Gerrad, Hambrook & Edwards
East Stirlingshire v Broxburn Athletic
ATTENDANCE 180
Broxburn Athletic–Pettigrew (GK), Munro, G Page, Bell, Wardell, Mwangi, Brass, Ellis, McRory Irving, Millar, Locke ©
SUBS- Watt (GK), J Page, Jones, Downie, Smith, Thomson, MacDonald.
Broxburn Athletic were back on the road on Saturday with an away trip to the Falkirk stadium to play East Stirlingshire.
East Stirlingshire currently lie in thirteen position in the Lowland league. Winning five, drawing four and losing nine of their eighteen games so far this season in the Lowland League.
In the last meeting between the two sides, Broxburn defeated Shire 5-0 at Albyn Park back in early October. Gary Brass scored a brace and there were also goals for Owen Wardell, Errol Douglas and Bryan Mwangi.
Players to watch this Saturday include forward Jamie Penker and experienced Greig Spence. Loanee Ayr United goalkeeper Oliver Ecrepoint has played a lot of football for the club and is highly rated.
I made the trip to the Falkirk Stadium to watch East Stirlingshire’s league fixture against Caledonian Braves on Wednesday night. Playing a very narrow 4-3-3 formation with the forward 3 playing very central. Shire gave away the ball away on numerous occasions and were very slack. They were punished eventually, losing 4-0 and being reduced to ten men with Sam Campbell been shown a red card. They also lost forward Lucas McRoberts with an injury just before half time.
East Stirlingshire’s Last Four Games
(1/11/24) Broomhill (H) 5-0 (W)
(5/11/24) Cumbernauld Colts (A) 2-3 (W)
(9/11/24) Gretna 2008 (A) 0-0 (D)
(12/12/24) Caledonian Braves (H) 0-4 (L)
East Stirlingshire are in black and white shirts and black shorts and socks. Broxburn Athletic are in their traditional kits, red and white shirts, white shorts and red and white socks. Broxburn Athletic make two changes to the team that drew with University of Stirling last weekend. In comes Bryan Mwangi and Marky Munro who replace Joeseph Smith and Alassan Jones.
East Stirlingshire are the first to threaten with not even a minute played. A shot by Chris Inglis is saved by Jordan Pettigrew and he is also quickly back on his feet to save the rebound shot.
The first chance of the match by Broxburn comes in the 3rd minute. Nick Locke is played in by Owen Wardell whose shot is over the bar. On 7 minutes, a long ball forward by Greg Page is over the East Stirlingshire back line and finds the advanced Gary Brass. Shire keeper Oliver Ecrepoint gets to the ball first, half clearing it as far as Owen Wardell whose shot is over the bar.
On 12 minutes, Shire winger Lewis Latona takes on Marky Munro on the left. He delivers a dangerous low cross, that is eventually cleared by Greg Page.
After a good period of possession by the hosts, they eventually give away the ball and it’s picked by up Bryan Mwangi on the left. He feeds a good ball through for Owen Wardell and the Shire defender puts it out for a corner. The resulting corner is defended well by East Stirlingshire, who clear the danger.
GOAL! Broxburn brake from an East Stirlingshire shot that is blocked by Ruari Ellis. The on-loan Kilmarnock youngster finds Nick Locke, who plays a good pass to Kyle Bell in the middle of the park. The Broxburn midfielder flies up the park before playing in Owen Wardell on the left, the winger cuts inside before finding the right corner. 1-0 to the visitors.
EAST STIRLING 0
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (Owen Wardell-21 Minutes)
On the 23rd minute, Lewis Latona delivers a dangerous cross from the left that is cleared by Ruari Ellis. On 29 minutes, Latona receives the first booking of the day for a foul on Kyle Bell.
On 30 minutes, Owen Wardell plays a good through ball for Broxburn skipper Nick Locke. But Shire defender Chris Inglis makes an important interception for the home side. On 39 minutes, Gary Brass plays in Owen Wardell on the right. Wardell cuts inside and shoots just wide of the left-hand post. So close from the winger.
On 41 minutes, Ruari Ellis makes another important tackle. This time its Greig Spence who is in for Shire, but the young defender gets to the ball at full stretch to keep it 1-0 Broxburn.
On 43 minutes, Broxburn press East Stirlingshire very well and come away with the ball. Kyle Bell plays in Nick Locke who shoots way over the bar.
HALF TIME (1-0 Broxburn)
GOAL! 2-0 Broxburn! A great lay off by Gary Brass finds Nick Locke, whose thunderbolt on the volley finds the bottom left corner, leaving East Stirlingshire keeper Ecrepont no chance.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 0
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2 (Nick Locke-49 Minutes)
BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (54 Minutes)
ON-Joesph Smith
OFF-Marky Munro
GOAL! Shire pull one back. Ball in from the right finds Jamie Penker whose shot finds the right corner. Game on at the Falkirk Stadium!
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1 (Penker-56 Minutes)
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2
Broxburn shoot up the other end a minute later. Bryan Mwangi crosses from the right that is just beyond the outstretched Gary Brass. On 64 minutes, an Owen Wardell shot is saved by Shire keeper Oliver Ecrepoint.
GOAL! 3-1 Broxburn! Kyle Bell plays through Owen Wardell whose shot from the right finds the left corner, hitting the post on the way in.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 3 (Owen Wardell-66 Minutes)
On 65 minutes, a volley from East Stirlingshire’s Ben Lamont is wide of target.
On 72 minutes, Nick Locke is pulled down on the edge of the box by Shire defender Chris Inglis. Referee MacDonald brandishes a yellow card. GOAL! up steps Greg Page, whose effort deflects of the wall and flies low into the net.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 4 (Greg Page-71 Minutes)
GOAL! 5-1 Broxburn! Nick Locke crosses from the right and finds Gary Brass who scores from close range.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 5 (Gary Brass-76 Minutes)
DOUBLE BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (76 Minutes)
ON-Adam MacDonald & Darren Downie
OFF-Nick Locke & Gary Brass
SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (81 Minutes)
ON- Conor Thomson
OFF-Kyle Bell
GOAL! Broxburn have a sixth! Joesph Smith crosses from the right and finds Darren Downie who takes a touch with his back to goal before turning and scoring low into the net.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 6 (Darren Downie-84 Minutes)
On 89 Minutes, Owen Wardell has a shot saved by Shire keeper Oliver Ecrepont. Up the other end, Greig Spence has a shot saved by Broxburn keeper Jordan Pettigrew in extra time.
A great way to get back to winning ways. The boys were clinical Infront of goal and could have scored a few more. Great performance by young Ruari Ellis who was solid at the back. The tough games come thick and fast next weekend as we take on East of Scotland Premier Division side Whitburn in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Fourth Round.
FULL TIME
East Stirlingshire 1
Broxburn Athletic 6 (Wardell x2, Downie, Brass, Locke & G Page)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE- Steven J. MacDonald
ASSISTANTS- Steven Adair & Chris Little
East Stirlingshire – Ecrepoint (GK), Docherty, Gomis ©, Brown, Nyamsi, Spence, Penker, O’ Neill, Latona, Lamont, Inglis
Subs- Ure, Coutts, Liddell, Flynn & Scullion.
NEXT GAME
Saturday the 21st of December
East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Fourth Round
Whitburn (Away)
Central Park, Whitburn
1pm