BROXBURN ATH V DUNDONALD BLUEBELL

Report

Attendance 185

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell – 12 November 2022

 Broxburn were looking to get back on track at the Albyn after last week’s league loss to Lothian Thistle with Dundonald Bluebell as visitors.

There were 5 changes in the starting line up R.Nimmo, Sayers, Clark,Jeffries and Gray replacing Newall, Douglas, Greenhill, Henderson and McConnell.

Dundonald have had a solid start to their league campaign sitting 6^th in the league 3 points ahead of the Brox after a 1-1 draw in the Fife Derby with Crossgates Primrose last weekend.

The Brox launched a quick offensive from kick off down the left with R. Nimmo playing in a decent cross which Swinton gathered well.

In the 2^nd minute the ball was played about sharply by the Brox and into Binnie with his effort being blocked for a corner. R.Nimmo took the kick which was right on the money for B.Donaldson to get a header on target which Swinton saved.

In the 6^th minute great play on the right by Clark flicking the ball to Gillen whose cross was perfect with Binnie in great position he inexplicably missed the ball completely.

The Brox were completely dominant and knocking the ball around well Gillen once again supplied a pinpoint cross Jeffries with the ball behind him tried an acrobatic effort which was heading for the top corner until Swinton intervened to save.

In 10 minutes Swinton went up to take a high ball and was challenged by Binnie which looked fair but the referee thought otherwise and awarded a foul.

Dundonald went down the other end on the right with the ball sitting up nicely for McKenzie who volleyed well wide left.

In 15 minutes another gilt edge chance fell the way of Binnie after a mix up between Brown and Hendrie for the visitors but with only Swinton to beat the striker dragged his shot to the left and wide of the post.

Dundonald were awarded a free kick a minute later 25 yards out in a central position Lumsden’s kick was on target which Blair saved but dropped the ball it broke to McKenzie whose shot was blocked and cleared by Harrison.

In 19 minutes Sayers played a neat ball into Sayers at the edge of the box, the midfielder got off a good shot which Swinton had to look smart to save at his near post.

Gray is once again at the centre of things cutting in from the left beating 2 defenders and getting in a shot which just went wide.

The 22^nd minute brought the first goal of the game and it was against the run of play Drummond cracked in a great shot which Blair dived full length to save Healy retrieved from the right and his cross eventually broke to MCKENZIE who fired the ball into the net.

In 27 minutes from a long throw into the home box Rogerson controlled and hit a volleyed effort from just outside the box just over the bar.

The visitors made another defensive error in 28 minutes allowing BINNIE in on goal again and this time the striker made no mistake firing the ball past Swinton and into the bottom left corner of the net.

The visitors defensive wobbles continued on the half hour Binnie almost freeing himself again but Hendrie did well to prevent a chance and conceded a corner.

R.Nimmo took the corner on the left deep to the back post B.DONALDSON rose well to powerfully head high into the net. Time 31 minutes.

The Brox were gaining the ascendancy again Gray and Gillen combining well on the left, Gillen’s cross was into the penalty box finding the stretching Jeffries who was denied by good defending.

In 36 minutes Lumsden’s corner allowed Healy a free header which he headed over the bar.

In a real ding dong battle the visitors were only denied by brilliant defending from Orru then Clark committed a foul on the edge of the penalty box when danger was threatening. SIBANDA took the kick and smacked it toward the right hand corner Blair got a hand to his effort but couldn’t keep the ball out which tied the game again. Time 39 minutes.

This stung the Brox into action Gillen sending a good pass to R.Nimmo on the left and with 4 arriving in the middle the winger hit his cross straight out.

In 41 minutes wiith the Broxburn defence claiming offside HEALY was sent through with a neat pass and lobbed the ball over the advancing Blair to put the visitors in front for a second time.

Things seemed to get worse for the home side in first half injury time from a long throw again Dundonald mange to scramble the ball into the net but the linesman had spotted an infringement and the goal was chopped off.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2– 3 Dundonald Bluebell

In 50 minutes R.Nimmo beat Cennerazzo all ends up and appeared to foul him but the referee saw nothing amiss.

Binnie got into the box on the left side with his effort blocked the ball broke to R.Nimmo whose shot was also blocked.

In 52 minutes Clark was booked for a foul on McKenzie.

In the following minute Rogerson took a free kick on the right Lumsden won the header which found Wilson on his own in front of goal but his shot hit Blair.

In 55 minutes Clark was replaced by Greenhill.

In 56 minutes a ball was swung in from the right R.Nimmo once again appeared to be wiped out by Cennerazzo but the referee was not impressed and play raged on.

Two minutes on and it was Sibanda going into the book for an elbow on Harrison.

In 61 minutes R.Nimmo beat Cennerazzo again his cross was blocked and broke back but not in the wingers favour.

The equaliser duly followed BINNIE cutting in from the left and lashing an unstoppable shot off the underside of the bar and into the net to tie the game at 3. Time 62 minutes.

In 67 minutes Greenhill was booked.

Another long throw from Hendrie caused the Brox defensive issues again but this time they hacked the ball up field.

In 69 minutes Gray went off to be replaced by Henderson.

In 70 minutes Orru slipped leaving McKenzie clean in on Blair but he did as Binnie had done in the first half dragging his shot wide to the left.

In an end to end game the Brox had a chance from a corner Jeffries cross was a good one but this time B.Donaldson headed at keeper Swinton.

Henderson then played in a deep ball to the back post R.Nimmo was there for Broxburn but again appeared to be brought down by Cennerazzo but as before no penalty awarded.

In 73 minutes Lumsden was replaced by Mansouri.

In 75 minutes from a throw in on the right JEFFRIES controlled well and curled a shot past Swinton into the left hand corner of the net to put the Brox ahead for the second time!

Two minutes later Douglas replaced R.Nimmo.

In 78 minutes Hendrie beat Sayers on the right but his cross was blocked by Harrison for a corner. The corner was swung into the back post where Dundonald were mob handed with WILSON forcing the ball over the line to tie the game once more.

Quite incredibly, indecision in the home defence saw DRUMMOND get clean in on Blair who he lobbed the ball bouncing and despite the best efforts of a defender the ball can’t be kept out to give the visitors the lead again by 5-4. Time 80 minutes.

Orru was booked for a foul and abusive language in 83 minutes.

In 85 minutes Jeffries sent over another great corner which Harrison won at the back post but he couldn’t direct on target.

In 87 minutes the visitors conceded a corner after neat play between Binnie and Gillen. Henderson intelligently picked out Jeffries at the edge of the box from his corner kick but the midfielders shot was blocked.

In 89 minutes Drummond was replaced by Mackie.

Healy was booked for a foul on B.Donaldson in injury time. B.Donaldson then took a long free kick which was heading for 2 Dundonald defenders but neither cleared the ball and through sheer persistence BINNIE hooked in an incredible equaliser to end a crazy game.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 5 – 5 Dundonald Bluebell

REFEREE MR C. BUCHAN   ASSISTANTS MR E. DUNN , MR L. HARRISON