Musselburgh Ath v Broxburn Athletic

Report

300 approx

East Of Scotland Premier League: Musselburgh Athletic v Broxburn Athletic 1 August 2023

The first away game of the new season took Broxburn down to East Lothian to face one of the favourites for promotion this season, Musselburgh Athletic.

Broxburn made 1 change from Saturday’s 2-1 win against Glenrothes Millar replaced Dryden.

The hosts had also got off to a winning start at the weekend a first half Jordan Smith goal being the deciding factor against newly promoted Luncarty. Musselburgh made 2 changes to their starting line up Myles and Nisbet replaced by L.Smith and O’Connor.

In the 3^rd minute Brass was fouled 30 yards out by O’Connor. Turner took the free kick but it was too close to keeper Laing who claimed the ball confidently.

The first shot of the game came on 7 minutes Hope took a throw in on the left, J.Smith controlled and worked a position to shoot low which Donoghue took at his near post.

Davidson and Millar combined neatly on the left with Millar getting in a cross which was too deep and went out of play.

In the 10^th minute L.Smith made a good break down the right got the bye line but his cutback was poor and nowhere near a blue shirt.

In a nice Musselburgh build up Renton found Hope on the left but the full backs cross was overhit and went out of play.

From a deep cross by O’Connor J.Smith just failed to get a telling touch on the ball at the back post.

In the 20^th minute a moment of controversy, Knox took a corner from the right Renton winning the initial header which Wilson got a head to at the back post, the ball falling to a Musselburgh player who appeared to miss the ball and fall too the ground with Page the nearest Broxburn player to challenge. The referee saw it as a foul and awarded the home side a penalty. STEVENSON took the kick sending Donoghue the wrong way and into the left hand corner of the net to put the home side 1 to the good. Time 22 minutes.

Davidson was booked for Broxburn.

Brass then played a poor ball to Turner who was dispossesed, the ball transferred wide to Khan who beat Munro but fired wide of the left hand post.

Broxburn tried to respond from a Turner corner Millar won a header but Laing watched carefully and tipped the ball over the bar. Turner took the following corner but this time Stevenson cleared.

In the 28^th minute Broxburn had a real chance to draw level, Brass pressured Wilson into a mistake and got into the penalty box at an angle on the left but the strikers shot was straight at Laing who saved.

Brass was again involved in the 34^th and 35^th his shots being blocked then just off target.

Douglas was next to get a chance beating the offside trap but under pressure from Wilson couldn’t get enough purchase on his effort to beat Laing.

The Brox went a bit closer in 40 minutes Millar laying the ball off to Bremner whose shot from 25 yards clipped the top of the bar.

Khan won a corner after good defensive work from D.Nimmo. From the corner L.Smith went down but this time the referee wasn’t impressed and nothing was awarded.

In 1^st half injury time brilliant play from Locke who played an incisive pass to Munro down the wing he got to the bye line put over a cross hard and low which Laing did well to gather diving to save.

HALF TIME: Musselburgh Athletic 1 – 0 Broxburn Athletic

Broxburn made a very positive start to the 2^nd half Turner taking a free kick which was headed clear then back to him and he hit a shot from 22 yards out which Laing beat away to his right, Davidson retrieved and his cross found Locke whose looping header beat Laing but hit the bar and went over.

The home side responded in 48 minutes Renton crossing from the right with Munro back heading the ball clear.

Turner was booked in 54 minutes.

A minute later and Khan dispossessed Munro and got off a good shot which was straight at Donoghue.

A poor clearance from D.Nimmo fell to Knox who curled his shot just wide of the left hand post.

Davidson sent Locke on a run down the left where he won a corner off Stevenson.

Before the corner could be taken Broxburn made 2 changes Downie and Heath coming on for Brass and Davidson. Time 64 minutes.

Turner took the corner from the left deep to the back post which Page just couldn’t control but did well to get any touch to the ball.

Then a real turning point in 69 minutes Todd was red carded for what was adjudged a two footed challenge on Munro 20 yards out.

Page took the free kick which he curled over the wall but hit a defender and out for a corner. Heath took the corner which was cleared by the home defence.

In 72 minutes J.Smith was booked for a foul on Heath.

A minute later ex Brox player Barker came on for J.Smith.

Heath then took the free kick from the left which DOUGLAS won with his head sending the ball looping over Laing and into the net to tie the game. Time 73 minutes.

Barker was booked before he had touched the ball!

Heath was having a big impact and once again he played in a great ball from the left Downie got to it laid the ball back which appeared to hit a Musselburgh player’s hand but despite Brox appeals nothing was given.

Trialist No 12 then came on for Musselburgh replacing L.Smith. Time 77 minutes.

In 81 minutes from a mis control of the ball by Stevenson, Heath fired in a great cross which DOUGLAS met first time with his shot beating Laing and into the net to complete the Brox comeback.

Musselburgh hit back with Khan going on a run down the left and winning a corner off D.Nimmo. The corner was won by the head of Wilson but the Brox defence cleared to relieve the pressure.

In 83 minutes Trialist No.24 replaced Hope.

D.Nimmo then took a free kick in 85 minutes from the half way line area a Musselburgh defender headed clear only as far as Turner who cracked a great shot just over the bar.

LOCKE was to go one step better in 87 minutes picking up the ball and advancing 30 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable shot which found the roof of the net past Laing to seal the win for the Brox.

Turner was replaced by Campbell in 88 minutes.

(photos Andrew MacPherson)

FULL TIME: Musselburgh Athletic 1– 3 Broxburn Athletic

Referee Mr L. Hogarth    Assistants Mr D. Dickson  , Mr S. Simpson