Match Report- (Whitburn-20/12/25)
By Stuart McLellan
This week, we took on local rivals Whitburn in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Quarter Final at Albyn Park.
Broxburn Athletic are in their traditional home kits, red and white strips, white shorts with red and white socks. Visitors Whitburn are in their traditional Claret and amber shirts with claret shorts and socks.
Broxburn make three changes to the team that defeated Berwick Rangers 5-0 at Shielfield Park last Saturday. In comes, Bob Watt, Jon Robertson and Jamie Docherty, who replace Matty McDonald, Alisdair Shrive and Jack McConnell. Whitburn make four changes to last weeks 5-4 win over Camelon at Central Park. In comes Frankie Aitchison, Darren Liddell, Andrew Thomson and Paul Gillespie. They replace Ethan Kerr, Andy Black, Harry McMartin & Sam Nicolson in the starting eleven.
After Broxburn dominated early possession, on six minutes, Whitburn get the ball up the park to Ross Crawford, but Marcus Lavery gets his foot in and the ball flies towards his own goal, with Bob Watt making a good save, with the ball falling to Aiden McAvoy whose shot is blocked by Sam Gormley.
On fourteen minutes, Broxburn should be ahead. A cross from Robbie McGale finds Errol Douglas who puts his effort over the bar from close range.
Whitburn come close on twenty minutes, Darren Liddell nods it on for Ross Crawford, whose shot is well saved by Bob Watt, who comes of his line and makes a good block.
On twenty-five minutes, a long ball forward by Greg Page finds Jamie Docherty, who finds Chris O’ Kane in space. Kano’s shot is well saved by Whitburn keeper Danny Farrell, who pushed it wide for a corner. GOAL! Broxburn open the scoring on twenty six minutes, a corner from the left by Robbie McGale is headed home by Jon Robertson.
On twenty-nine minutes, Jamie Docherty finds Kyle Bell in space, whose low powerful shot is well saved by Whitburn keeper Danny Farrell.
GOAL! Broxburn have a second on thirty one minutes. Robbie McGale does well to get to the byline. He cuts it back for Errol Douglas who picks out Chris O’ Kane. Kano scores high into the net.
A shot by Robbie McGale from distance is over the bar on thirty-three minutes. On thirty-five minutes, Jamie Docherty’s dangerous cross from the left is cleared as far as Chris O’ Kane whose effort is over the bar.
On thirty-seven minutes, Chris O’ Kane is booked for a foul on Lennon Watson.
Next in the referee’s book is Whitburn’s Alex Webb for a foul on Kyle Bell on forty-two minutes.
A minute later, a deep cross by Greg Page finds Errol Douglas whose header hit the bar.
HALF TIME (2-0 Broxburn Athletic)
On forty-eight minutes, Aiden McAvoy’s shot is palmed away by Broxburn keeper Bob Watt, with Darren Liddell scoring the rebound but his goal was quickly chopped off for offside. Looked onside at the time and the VEO confirmed it was onside! On fifty-two minutes, Whitburn’s Andy Thomson makes a great sliding tackle on Robbie McGale, putting Aiden McAvoy through on goal. His shot is well saved by Bob Watt and on the rebound McAvoy goes down under a Greg Page challenge, but referee Spalony waves play on.
Up the other end a minute later, an Errol Douglas shot is saved by the feet of Whitburn keeper Danny Farrell. On fifty-five minutes, Errol Douglas uses his strength to get away from Whitburn centre back Zac McGoldrick and is through on goal with just keeper Farrell to beat, but his effort kisses the outside of the post and goes wide.
Whitburn make the first change of the day on fifty-five minutes. Ethan Kerr replaced Lennon Watson.
Good one touch football by the visitors on fifty-nine minutes. Liddell does well to create space, playing a good one-two with Aiden McAvoy, whose shot is pushed wide by Bob Watt for a corner. On sixty-one minutes, a long Whitburn free kick from the right finds Zac McGoldrick whose header rattles the bar. On sixty-four minutes, Kyle Bell is fouled and stays down. Unfortunately, Kyle can’t continue. He has been vital for the club since joining and let’s hope it isn’t as serious as it looked, Whitburn’s Callum Bremner is booked for the foul.
Broxburn make a double change on sixty five minutes. Scott McRory Irving and Matty McDonald replace the injured Kyle Bell and Chris O’ Kane
Substitution for Whitburn on seventy-eight minutes, Callum Hambrook replaces Andy Thomson
Another double change on seventy nine minutes for Broxburn. Luke Watkins and Nick Locke replace Robbie Hamilton and Jamie Docherty.
On eighty-nine minutes, Scott McRory Irving’s shot is over the bar for Broxburn. Deep into injury time, a Nick Locke shot is wide of target.
Broxburn Athletic progress into the semi final of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. Good first half, not the best second. All the best to Whitburn for the rest of the season.
FULL TIME
Broxburn Athletic 2 (O’ Kane & Robertson)
Whitburn 0
VIEW FROM THE ALBYN MAN OF THE MATCH
With 73% of votes, this week’s winner was keeper Bob Watt who made some vital saves for Broxburn today.
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE– Konrad Spalony
ASSISTANT REFEREE’S– Evan Cairns & Paul Hanlon
Next Game:
Saturday the 27th of December
East Stirlingshire (Away)
Lowland League
Ochilview Park
3pm
