BROXBURN ATHLETIC V JEANFIELD SWIFTS

Report

Attendance 265

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Jeanfield Swifts 5 September 2023 

Broxburn returned to league action after Saturday’s Scottish Cup success v Lochee United with league leaders, on goal difference only, Jeanfield Swifts making the journey from Perth. Not surprisingly perhaps the Brox had an unchanged starting line up.

Jeanfield also had success in the Scottish Cup on Saturday defeating amateur side Cupar Hearts 3-0. Like Broxburn in the league only 2 points had been dropped all season.

In the 5^th minute R.Nimmo sent in a great ball from the right which Reid seemed to get a touch on but the referee didn’t agree.

Jeanfield responded 3 minutes later Simpson skipped inside his man on the right and curled a left foot  shot just wide to the left.

A nice ball over the top by Page sent R.Nimmo scurrying down the wing where he reached the ball and played in a great cross which Whithead and Mollison dealt with to clear any danger.

Jeanfield tried something similiar in 13 minutes Reid playing a long ball forward to Simpson, his cross didn’t beat Page who cleared.

Then 2 minutes later a real piece of opportunism from R.Nimmo picking up a loose ball in midfield he took a couple of strides toward goal and smacked the ball goalwards from 25 yards only to see his effort beat Mitchell in the visitors goal but crash back off the cross bar.

In 19 minutes great work from Bremner on the right saw the midfielder get in a deep cross to the back post where Heath did well to retrieve the ball heading back across goal but a free kick was awarded for an infringement on a Jeanfield player by Brass.

With pressure mounting from the home side the break through came in the 21^st minute R.Nimmo doing a great job to clip in a cross from the right, Brass head flicked the ball on and HEATH with a glancing header into the left corner of the net saw the Brox in front.

Locke made a great burst forward in 26 minutes with Reid doing well to stop him with a timely tackle. From the throw in a corner was forced which Bremner took but no one could a get a vital touch and the chance was gone.

In 31 minutes Mollison was booked.

A minute later and Moyles floated the ball forward which found Brass who flicked on to R.Nimmo who cracked another great shot towards goal but this time wide of the left hand post.

The Brox were knocking the ball about confidently which freed Locke on the right whose shot was saved by the feet of Mitchell, Jeanfield not without difficulty scrambled the ball clear with Broxburn players shouting for a penalty for handball as they did so but the referee waved play on.

Broxburn carved their way through the visitors defence once again in 39 minutes Page playing a fantastic long ball which picked out R.Nimmo who brilliantly flicked the ball over the advancing Mitchell with Reid just managing to get to the ball on the line and hack the ball clear.

In 45 minutes great battling for the ball in midfield saw Locke play the ball out to Heath who struck his shot but was off balance with the ball going left of goal.

Then in 1^st half injury time Locke went on one of his trademark runs leaving defenders in his wake, he did brilliantly to float a ball towards goal which Mollison did well to clear off the line with R.NIMMO on hand to blast the ball home to give the Brox a deserved 2 goal lead.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 0 Jeanfield Swifts

S.Smith came on for Mollison for Jeanfield.

In 48 minutes R.Nimmo won a corner off S.Smith. The ball in from the corner caused havoc in the Jeanfield defence with a real old fashioned goal mouth scramble with Broxburn unable to force the ball into the net.

Three minutes later and R.Nimmo was tormenting the visitors defence again winning another corner this time off Reid. He took the corner kick himself the ball was headed back across goal which found Locke who didn’t quite catch his shot correctly with Mitchell making the save.

In the 53^rd minute Page fouled McLeish 35 yards out. Scott took the free kick but Heath took control for Broxburn and cleared.

Whithead was booked for a foul on Brass in 56 minutes.

In 59 minutes Locke played in a great ball to Heath in the penalty area on the left with the winger cracking a shot which Mitchell did well to palm onto the post.

On the hour Campbell was booked.

Jeanfield made 2 changes F.Smith and Robertson coming on for Fergus and Northcott.

In 71 minutes R.Nimmo fouled Northcott. The free kick was passed down the left to Northcott who got in a cross which Watt dived to save easily.

In the 73^rd minute the Brox struck again from a corner on the right taken by Heath, the ball was swung over deep to the back post with PAGE rising majestically to head the ball back across goal and into the right hand corner.

A minute later McLeish went off to be replaced by Struthers. Time 74 minutes.

Three minutes later the Brox made changes R.Nimmo, who had picked up a knock and Heath replaced by Thomson and Davidson.

In 81 minutes D.Nimmo replaced Moyles.

The referee produced a red card for substitute Struthers for what looked like dissent.

From a rare Brox error on the night ROBERTSON took full advantage for Jeanfield getting into the penalty box on the right hand side and rifled in a shot which Watt couldn’t keep out to give the visitors a consolation goal.

Downie came on for Locke in 87 minutes.

A minute into injury time and Downie did well to set up Bremner on the left side in the penalty box his shot cracking off the outside of the left post.

Munro was booked for Broxburn.

7 minutes into stoppage time D.Nimmo was also booked.

A deserved victory for Broxburn taking them to the top of the league.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 1 Jeanfield Swifts

Referee  Mr. T. Kerr  Assistants Mr. C. McFeat, Mr. S,Robertson