BROXBURN ATH V MUSSELBURGH ATH

Report

Attendance 185

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Musselburgh Athletic – 2 August 2022

Broxburn’s first home game of the new league season, after a solid start to the new campaign down at Vale of Leithen on Saturday, saw Musselburgh travel over from East Lothian to the Albyn.

Broxburn made 4 changes from Saturday’s starting line up, Donoghue replacing the trialist in goal, a trialist No 4, Greenhill and Douglas in for Donaldson, Churchill and Brass.

Musselburgh also made 4 changes from the side who lost 4-2 at home to Crossgates, Laing, Smith, Jones and Murrell replacing McRae, Knox, Barker and Jordan Smith.

The visitors made a lively start in 3 minutes, they could have gone ahead when L. Smith made good ground down the left and cut the ball back to Jones who fired a shot across the goal and just wide.

The Brox responded in 6 minutes Orru, Downie and Henderson combining well but the wee wingers cross was behind those in red.

Musselburgh’s bright start continued Morrell being given too much time to come forward sliding a great ball through to Cairns who scuffed his shot completely.

In 15 minutes Jeffries played a neat pass to Greenhill who lashed a 30 yarder towards goal but it tailed off just to the right of Laing’s right post.

From a Broxburn attack in the following minute where Downie’s shot was blocked, Musselburgh went down the other end, O’Kane played the ball wide left to Jones whose cross found the head of MURRELL who headed the ball into the net to give Musselburgh the lead. Time 17 minutes.

A real let off for the home side in the following minute L.Smith again playing a ball in from the left, Murrell showing great close control with his shot hitting the right hand post.

Broxburn’s best move of the game so far came in 23 minutes Gillen swinging in a great ball which Douglas got his head to strongly, Laing pulling off a great save in the visitors goal to prevent a leveller.

Laing was at it again in 25 minutes denying the Brox an equaliser Greenhill sending in a fine ball down the left to Douglas his cross deflecting to Gillen whose shot from 10 yards was kept out brilliantly.

Musselburgh’s quick breaks were dangerous down the left Jones beating Sayers and his cross was just out of reach of Thomson.

Sayers was booked on the half hour.

Broxburn were knocking the ball about well with no end product until the trialist No 4 played in a great ball which Douglas met full on with his head but his effort just cleared the bar.

In 39 minutes an enterprising run from Sayers saw him beat Black and create a chance he seemed caught in 2 minds whether to shoot or cross and his effort goes wide to the left.

In 42 minutes after Downie is brought down 25 yards out, Henderson takes the free kick and his effort is punched over by Laing.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 0 – 1 Musselburgh Athletic

In 46 minutes Jones gathered the ball in midfield and strides forward but his shot is tame and is wide left of target.

Orru played a nice ball out to Henderson on the right but he crosses poorly and straight to Laing.

In 51 minutes Broxburn’s trialist No 4 was booked.

A minute later a deep Sayers cross has Laing scrambling to tip away with Downie on the premises if any error was made.

In 55 minutes with the Brox having their best spell they find an equaliser Gillen played a great ball wide to Henderson whose cross at first seems poor Douglas forces an error which DOWNIE capitlises on and fires the ball into the net.

Broxburn continued to come forward Henderson moving the ball from right to left and sending Gillen running down the left , the cross is a good one and well defended by Black.

In 59 minutes the visitors almost catch Broxburn sleeping Jones’s shot deflecting just over the bar off the Trialist No 4.

In 64 minutes sheer persistence from Broxburn pays off Greenhill playing a great ball to Henderson on the right, this time the wingers cross is on the money with DOUGLAS slamming the ball into the net.

In a real end to end game now Musselburgh were almost level in 68 minutes Cairns pass eluding D. Nimmo, Murrell created a shooting opportunity which he puts just over.

In 71 minutes Jeffries and Downie were replaced by Brass and Churchill.

Churchill got a shot off in 73 minutes having received a pass from Brass but his shot was too high.

In 74 minutes the game is tied once again O’Kane playing a defence splitting pass to Stevenson who prodded the ball past Donoghue with CAIRNS having the simple task of applying the final touch.

In 75 minutes J. Smith replaced Murrell.

A brilliant ball from Brass played Henderson away down the right who slips a great pass to Douglas who from the angle he takes on the shot which Laing saved at his near post.

In 80 minutes R.Nimmo replaced Henderson.

In 88 minutes J.Smith comes within a whisker of sealing an away win but his shot hits the left post.

Broxburn got themselves into decent positions to set up winning chances but R.Nimmo couldn’t provide a telling cross or finish.

Brass was booked for Broxburn in the last minute.

Both sides served up an entertaining game with honours even probably just about right. Derby day on Saturday when Blackburn visit the Albyn.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 2 Musselburgh Athletic

REFEREE MR A.GRIEVE     ASSISTANTS MR D. ROBERTSON , MR S. MAINDS