BROXBURN ATH V DUNBAR UTD

Report

ATTENDANCE 172

East of Scotland Premier League –Broxburn Athletic V Dunbar United – 09/04/2022

Broxburn welcomed Dunbar United to the Albyn for a resumption of the league campaign. Broxburn showed just 1 change from last week’s win at Leith Athletic in the League Cup Gillen replacing Nicol.

For Dunbar, fighting for their Premier League lives, 1 change was also made from the team who drew with Whitehill Welfare in the League Cup last week Jones replacing Balde.

The opening exchanges in the game were very even as both teams tried to come to terms with the strong breeze which Broxburn had to their advantage in the first half.

Dunbar created the first real chance in 12 minutes Fleming and Jones combining down the left with Jones getting a shot in which Wallace did well to beat away.

Broxburn tried to respond with Brass gathering the ball in nicely and sending a great pass down the wing for Mair but the wind took the ball out of the wingers reach.

In 16 minutes the same two players were prominent for Broxburn but once again the final ball was just lacking.

Jones was causing issues for the Brox down the left with his pass finding Neave who was given time to control and measure his shot which just went over the bar from 25 yards.

Broxburn continued to weave nice passing moves Newall, Brass, Barker and Donaldson involved with the latter’s deep cross to the back post just out of reach of the onrushing Newall.

The visitors also were working some neat moves S. Thomson and Jones winning a corner off Newall. From the corner the ball broke to Neave but his shot was well off target.

In 26 minutes Berry was booked for a high challenge on Brass. Greenhill took the free kick which was right on the money and well claimed under pressure by keeper Laing.

Two minutes later and Fleming was booked for a high challenge on Newall. Gillen was booked for Broxburn for a foul on Smith.

Broxburn’s first real opportunity was created in 30 minutes Mair playing the ball inside to Brass who turned and hit a cracking shot heading for the top corner bringing a brilliant diving save from Laing.

In 36 minutes Fleming went off injured for Dunbar, McFarlane being the replacement.

In 38 minutes Greenhill held off a couple of challenges before playing an incisive pass to Newall whose cross cum shot just cleared the bar and no more.

A real chance for the visitors in 40 minutes a Smith corner was swung in dangerously Broxburn didn’t deal with it leaving McFarlane to scoop the ball over from 6 yards out.

With half time approaching Gillen played a long ball to Brass who showed great control and cross to Mair whose header was collected by Greenhill but the ball wouldn’t sit for him and his shot was well off target.

Half Time: Broxburn Athletic 0 – 0 Dunbar United

Dunbar came out of the traps strongly in the second half with the wind at their backs. Neave fired in a free kick finding Berry whose shot was blocked for a corner. From the corner Smith found McFarlane who had a free header with Newall saving on the line for Broxburn.

In 50 minutes Broxburn got into their stride Donaldson making good ground on the left and passing to Mair whose shot was well off target. Greenhill was booked in the following minute.

The breakthrough came in 52 minutes Laing advanced to the edge of the penalty box to clear but only succeeded in playing the ball to MAIR who steadied himself before hitting an exquisite shot into the top left hand corner of the net.

The game had burst into life now and from a ball over the top with the Brox defence slow to react DEVLIN gathered the ball and shot past Wallace.

The visitors almost had the lead in the following minute a ball floated in nicely to the Broxburn box hit off a defender’s head which Wallace did well to save on his line.

Broxburn responded positively and Tait rode a couple of challenges down the left before sending over a pinpoint cross to the near post finding BRASS who neatly flicked the ball into the net. Time 60 minutes.

Mair fashioned another chance for himself in 64 minutes but didn’t have enough power on the effort to beat Laing.

In 68 minutes Nicol replaced Greenhill.

Dunbar thought they had an equaliser in 71 minutes after a mistake from Harrison, Jones slid the ball forward to Devlin who scored but was ruled offside.

In 75 minutes Dunbar made a change Neave went off for Bathgate.

Five minutes later they made another change Jones off and Balde on.

The substitute almost had an immediate impact playing the ball to Smith who hit a shot from 30 yards but wide of target.

In 89 minutes Thomson was booked for dissent for the visitors.

Harrison played a great long ball forward picking out Mair in 90 minutes who turned his man inside out on the bye line before shooting from what seemed an impossible angle hitting the inside of post luckily for the visitors breaking to safety.

In the 92^nd minute a long throw from MacFarlane was not dealt with by the the Brox defence, the ball breaking to substitute BALDE who had time to take a touch and drill the ball into the left corner of the net to grab Dunbar a precious equalising goal.

Broxburn still had time to mount another offensive move Tait taking a corner from the left which Laing did well to tip away for the visitors.

A real sickener for Broxburn to lose a goal so late against a battling Dunbar side who maintain their unbeaten season against us. Derby action comes to the Albyn next Saturday with Blackburn United visiting.

Full Time: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 2 Dunbar United 

DUNBAR UNITED   LAING , G.THOMSON , DEVLIN , BERRY , S.THOMSON , HANDLING , JONES (SANEBALDE 80m) , NEAVE (BATHGATE  75m) , FLEMING (McFARLANE 36m) , SMITH , WHITSON ,  SUBS  MACK , HAY

REFEREE  MR K. BROWN    ASSISTANTS  MR S. ROSS , MR  R. GORDON