BROXBURN ATHLETIC V PENICUIK ATHLETIC

Report

Attendance 162

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Penicuik Athletic 22 August 2023 

Broxburn returned to league action to face what has historically been their bogey team Penicuik Athletic. Having maintained their 100% start to the season by beating Peebles Rovers in the cup last Saturday the Brox made only 1 change to Saturdays line up Turner replaced Campbell. Penicuik have had a strange start to the season with 2 poor results losing 6-0 at promoted Glenrothes and 9-0 at Tynecastle. Things got back on track last Saturday edging out Luncarty by 3-2. The Cuikie also made 1 change to their starting line up Melvin replaced Baptie.

In the 3^rd minute Penicuik made an opportunity for themselves McManus playing in a ball to Dawson with his back to goal but he couldn’t play on to a team mate to get a shot off.

The same combination were at it again in the 8^th minute as the visitors positive start continued Dawson’s strike for goal was was straight to Watt who collected well.

In the 10^th minute Broxburn were seen for the first time in an offensive situation when Davidson was fouled by Furness, the ball was played to the left to Turner who swung in a deep cross to the back post where D.Nimmo put in a strong challenge but was adjudged to have fouled Leiper in the Cuikie goal.

Broxburn were starting to hit their stride now Locke played a great defence splitting pass down the right wing to Munro who swung over a pinpoint cross where Leiper did superbly well to get a hand on it with Downie on hand to finish if the keeper had made an error.

In a similar incident at the other end McManus played in a cross which Dawson battled strongly for with Watt with the keeper doing well to punch clear.

Against the run of play to that point the Brox took the lead Brass controlled the ball in midfield moved forward and slid the ball to DOWNIE who controlled the ball and fired the ball into the bottom left corner of the net past Leiper. Time 16 minutes.

Turner was fouled by Taylor-McKenzie, took the free kick himself which was well met by Leiper who punched clear.

Great play from Locke in 25 minutes, he turned his man brilliantly and played in a cross which was well defended by Young with plenty red shirts on hand to pick up on any error.

Broxburn were nearly 2 to the good a minute later Munro again providing a fine cross which Downie won at the back post but his header went just wide.

A mistake by Millar on halfway allowed Penicuik a 2 on 2 situation but the visitors didn’t get it right Watt doing a great job to usher Dawson wide with his cross then unable to find Wardlaw. Time 36 minutes.

A nice free flowing Brox move was ended by captain Locke blazing high over the bar.

In 39 minutes Munro fouled Wardlaw about 20 yards out slightly left of centre. Taylor-McKenzie took the free kick which he struck well curling from left to right and just clearing the cross bar.

Penicuik went even closer to an equaliser in 43 minutes McManus forcing a corner off Millar. Young won the header from the corner which Watt did well to parry Dawson got to the rebound but his header looped over the bar.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 0 Penicuik Athletic      

(Photos Courtesy of Andrew MacPherson)

Penicuik made a bright start to the 2^nd half Melvin’s long throw was well won by Page over Dawson, Brass was then fouled with Watt completing the clearance.

In 52 minutes the Cuikie continued to press Taylor-Mackenzie cutting in from the left and unleashing a great shot which Watt did brilliantly to save at full stretch.

Broxburn forced an error in the Penicuik defence with Turner playing a ball into the penalty area but Thomson came away with the ball, Downie retrieved for Broxburn got to the bye line but he couldn’t pick out a red shirt.

In 55 minutes a long ball was played forward which Locke chased and challenged keeper Leiper who had come off his line but Locke caught the ball with his hand when trying to knock the ball past the keeper and was promptly booked by the referee.

Then a touch of class by the Brox skipper Brass’s persistence down the right saw him cross for LOCKE who audaciously back heeled the ball into the left corner of the net.

The Brox had their tails up and from a Turner corner Brass won the header which went just over the bar.

Penicuik made a change in 66 minutes Buckle went off to be replaced by Roue.

Two minutes later Locke played in a ball from the right Young conceding a corner. Turner took the kick the ball was part cleared but fell to Page whose header was cleared from inside the 6 yard box.

Locke went off for Broxburn to be replaced by Thomson.

In 77 minutes the visitors squandered a chance on the break Wardlaw laid the ball off to Dawson but his shot was high and right.

A minute later Downie came off for Wilson.

Taylor-Mackenzie was booked for a foul on Bremner. Time 81 minutes.

Two minutes later the pacy Wardlaw fashioned a shooting chance on the left which he fired wide.

In 84 minutes Taylor-Mackenzie and Dawson were substituted for Fraser and Philp.

Davidson came very close to his first Broxburn goal cutting inside on the left and curling a shot which hit the cross bar, the fall up falling to Brass who was also out of luck.

A chance fell to Wilson in 89 minutes but he shot well over.

In a high energy finish to the game a misunderstanding between D.Nimmo and Page allowed Wardlaw clean in but he shot straight at Watt who did real well to save.

Wilson and Bremner were booked in injury time for the Brox.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 0 Penicuik Athletic

Referee  Mr R. Donaldson ,   Assistants Mr A. Simmonds , Mr D. Robertson