East Stirlingshire v Broxburn Athletic

Report

ATTENDANCE 180

Broxburn Athletic–Pettigrew (GK), Munro, G Page, Bell, Wardell, Mwangi, Brass, Ellis, McRory Irving, Millar, Locke ©

SUBS- Watt (GK), J Page, Jones, Downie, Smith, Thomson, MacDonald.

Broxburn Athletic were back on the road on Saturday with an away trip to the Falkirk stadium to play East Stirlingshire.

East Stirlingshire currently lie in thirteen position in the Lowland league. Winning five, drawing four and losing nine of their eighteen games so far this season in the Lowland League.

In the last meeting between the two sides, Broxburn defeated Shire 5-0 at Albyn Park back in early October. Gary Brass scored a brace and there were also goals for Owen Wardell, Errol Douglas and Bryan Mwangi.

Players to watch this Saturday include forward Jamie Penker and experienced Greig Spence.  Loanee Ayr United goalkeeper Oliver Ecrepoint has played a lot of football for the club and is highly rated.

I made the trip to the Falkirk Stadium to watch East Stirlingshire’s league fixture against Caledonian Braves on Wednesday night. Playing a very narrow 4-3-3 formation with the forward 3 playing very central. Shire gave away the ball away on numerous occasions and were very slack. They were punished eventually, losing 4-0 and being reduced to ten men with Sam Campbell been shown a red card. They also lost forward Lucas McRoberts with an injury just before half time.

East Stirlingshire’s Last Four Games

(1/11/24) Broomhill (H) 5-0 (W)

(5/11/24) Cumbernauld Colts (A) 2-3 (W)

(9/11/24) Gretna 2008 (A) 0-0 (D)

(12/12/24) Caledonian Braves (H) 0-4 (L)

East Stirlingshire are in black and white shirts and black shorts and socks. Broxburn Athletic are in their traditional kits, red and white shirts, white shorts and red and white socks. Broxburn Athletic make two changes to the team that drew with University of Stirling last weekend. In comes Bryan Mwangi and Marky Munro who replace Joeseph Smith and Alassan Jones.

East Stirlingshire are the first to threaten with not even a minute played. A shot by Chris Inglis is saved by Jordan Pettigrew and he is also quickly back on his feet to save the rebound shot.

The first chance of the match by Broxburn comes in the 3^rd minute. Nick Locke is played in by Owen Wardell whose shot is over the bar. On 7 minutes, a long ball forward by Greg Page is over the East Stirlingshire back line and finds the advanced Gary Brass. Shire keeper Oliver Ecrepoint gets to the ball first, half clearing it as far as Owen Wardell whose shot is over the bar.

On 12 minutes, Shire winger Lewis Latona takes on Marky Munro on the left. He delivers a dangerous low cross, that is eventually cleared by Greg Page.

After a good period of possession by the hosts, they eventually give away the ball and it’s picked by up Bryan Mwangi on the left. He feeds a good ball through for Owen Wardell and the Shire defender puts it out for a corner. The resulting corner is defended well by East Stirlingshire, who clear the danger.

GOAL! Broxburn brake from an East Stirlingshire shot that is blocked by Ruari Ellis. The on-loan Kilmarnock youngster finds Nick Locke, who plays a good pass to Kyle Bell in the middle of the park. The Broxburn midfielder flies up the park before playing in Owen Wardell on the left, the winger cuts inside before finding the right corner. 1-0 to the visitors.

EAST STIRLING 0

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (Owen Wardell-21 Minutes)

On the 23^rd minute, Lewis Latona delivers a dangerous cross from the left that is cleared by Ruari Ellis. On 29 minutes, Latona receives the first booking of the day for a foul on Kyle Bell.

On 30 minutes, Owen Wardell plays a good through ball for Broxburn skipper Nick Locke. But Shire defender Chris Inglis makes an important interception for the home side. On 39 minutes, Gary Brass plays in Owen Wardell on the right. Wardell cuts inside and shoots just wide of the left-hand post. So close from the winger.

On 41 minutes, Ruari Ellis makes another important tackle. This time its Greig Spence who is in for Shire, but the young defender gets to the ball at full stretch to keep it 1-0 Broxburn.

On 43 minutes, Broxburn press East Stirlingshire very well and come away with the ball. Kyle Bell plays in Nick Locke who shoots way over the bar.

HALF TIME (1-0 Broxburn)

GOAL! 2-0 Broxburn! A great lay off by Gary Brass finds Nick Locke, whose thunderbolt on the volley finds the bottom left corner, leaving East Stirlingshire keeper Ecrepont no chance.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 0

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2 (Nick Locke-49 Minutes)

BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (54 Minutes)

ON-Joesph Smith

OFF-Marky Munro

GOAL! Shire pull one back. Ball in from the right finds Jamie Penker whose shot finds the right corner. Game on at the Falkirk Stadium!

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1 (Penker-56 Minutes)

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2

Broxburn shoot up the other end a minute later. Bryan Mwangi crosses from the right that is just beyond the outstretched Gary Brass. On 64 minutes, an Owen Wardell shot is saved by Shire keeper Oliver Ecrepoint.

GOAL! 3-1 Broxburn! Kyle Bell plays through Owen Wardell whose shot from the right finds the left corner, hitting the post on the way in.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 3 (Owen Wardell-66 Minutes)

On 65 minutes, a volley from East Stirlingshire’s Ben Lamont is wide of target.

On 72 minutes, Nick Locke is pulled down on the edge of the box by Shire defender Chris Inglis. Referee MacDonald brandishes a yellow card. GOAL! up steps Greg Page, whose effort deflects of the wall and flies low into the net.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 4 (Greg Page-71 Minutes)

GOAL! 5-1 Broxburn! Nick Locke crosses from the right and finds Gary Brass who scores from close range.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 5 (Gary Brass-76 Minutes)

DOUBLE BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (76 Minutes)

ON-Adam MacDonald & Darren Downie

OFF-Nick Locke & Gary Brass

SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (81 Minutes)

ON- Conor Thomson

OFF-Kyle Bell

GOAL! Broxburn have a sixth! Joesph Smith crosses from the right and finds Darren Downie who takes a touch with his back to goal before turning and scoring low into the net.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 1

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 6 (Darren Downie-84 Minutes)

On 89 Minutes, Owen Wardell has a shot saved by Shire keeper Oliver Ecrepont. Up the other end, Greig Spence has a shot saved by Broxburn keeper Jordan Pettigrew in extra time.

A great way to get back to winning ways. The boys were clinical Infront of goal and could have scored a few more. Great performance by young Ruari Ellis who was solid at the back. The tough games come thick and fast next weekend as we take on East of Scotland Premier Division side Whitburn in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Fourth Round.

FULL TIME

East Stirlingshire 1

Broxburn Athletic 6 (Wardell x2, Downie, Brass, Locke & G Page)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE- Steven J. MacDonald

ASSISTANTS- Steven Adair & Chris Little

East Stirlingshire – Ecrepoint (GK), Docherty, Gomis ©, Brown, Nyamsi, Spence, Penker, O’ Neill, Latona, Lamont, Inglis

Subs- Ure, Coutts, Liddell, Flynn & Scullion.

NEXT GAME

Saturday the 21^st of December

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Fourth Round

Whitburn (Away)

Central Park, Whitburn

1pm