BROXBURN ATH V NEWTONGRANGE STAR

Report

Match Report

East of Scotland Premier League – Broxburn Athletic v Newtongrange Star – 17/10/2020

On a dry autumnal afternoon at the Albyn, Broxburn kept an unchanged starting line up for the visit of Newtongrange Star.

Newtongrange kicked off for their first away league game of their season having started with a draw and defeat at home. They were first to threaten in the 3rd minute McIntosh firing a shot past Wallace’s left hand post.

The Brox responded a minute later after a great run from Redmond he sent Kelly away down the left with his attempted cross blocked for a corner. From the corner Kelly headed over the bar.

The first real chance fell to the home side in 7 minutes after good work from Brass, Ross’s cross found Kelly but his shot just goes past Brennan’s right hand post.

Another excellent Broxburn move in 11 minutes as Kelly turns provider as he sends in an excellent cross with Ross’s diving header going wide of Brennan’s left hand post.

Nitten went down their right hand side a minute later with Gillan sending over a good cross which Wallace watched closely as it drifted to safety.

Wright then received the ball deep in his own half and starts a great run beating opponents till 30 yards from the Newtongramge goal eventually outnumbered by the visitors when attempting to find Cowley on the left wing.

Newtongrange then had a couple of set plays from a corner and a free kick one resulting in a header from Imlah over the bar and another header staight into Wallace’s arms.

Good play from Redmond as he played a nice pass to Ross who got past his man and into the penalty box appearing to have his heal clipped but no penalty was awarded.

Ross continued to be in the thick of the action heading over the bar from a Greenhill cross.

With pressure increasing on the visitors defence Broxburn made the breakthrough in 38 minutes, a Ross cross from the left was blocked for a corner. From the resultant kick Greenhill took short to Ross with his cross flicked on by Kelly to BRASS who fired the ball into the net from close range.

In 41 minutes another short corner routine sees a deep cross from Ross which Wright is on the end of and his volley goes wide of Brennan’s left hand post.

Half Time Broxburn Athletic 1– 0 Newtongrange Star

Newtongrange were first to threaten in the second half in 48 minutes working an opportunity for McBay to get in a shot which is on target but a comfortable save for Wallace.

The visitors continued their good start to the second half but having made good progress down the right a very poor final ball is played which Wallace collected easily.

This stung the home side into action with a Greenhill pass sending Kelly down the left wing he cut inside his man but his shot was blocked by the Newtongrange defence.

Broxburn were back on the attack in 54 minutes, breaking up a Newtongrange attack, Redmond found Cowley who slipped a brilliant ball through to Ross who seemed to have timed his run perfectly but was judged offside by the referee as he took the ball round Brennan.

The visitors were far from out of things, Porteous getting his head to a cross which went narrowly past Wallace’s left hand post.

In 58 minutes Broxburn made their first change Ireland replacing Cowley.

Just past the hour Broxburn have a spell in and around the Newtongrange penalty area with Ross getting to the bye line on the right finding Kelly who gets his head on the cross but his effort drifts just wide.

In 63 minutes Newtongrange made 3 changes McIntosh, Mitchell and O’Reilly replaced by Murray, Tait and Davies.

Broxburn continued to play some nice passing football Brass playing a great ball to Ireland whose shot went over the bar. Ireland was then booked in 66 minutes and Kelly was replaced by Hopkinson.

In 67 minutes Newtongrange work the ball well to Murray on the edge of the box which he drills low to Wallace’s right which he gathers at the second attempt.

A huge let off for Broxburn in 69 minutes, when McBay’s shot at goal clatters off the home bar. Moments later from a free kick Murray heads just wide.

Broxburn heed these warnings in 72 minutes Hopkinson playing a great ball to ROSS sending him clear on the left he draws keeper Brennan and fires the ball into the net.

In 75 minutes Newtongrange introduce Conlon for Porteous.

Newtongrange then went close again Wallace’s foot deflects Murray’s shot wide for a corner.

In 83 minutes Ross is sent clear down the right by Nicol, who takes the ball in his stride and fires a shot at keeper Brennan’s top right hand corner which goes over the bar.

Newtongrange’s captain Nelson was booked in 84 minutes and they also replace Mungall with Apicella.

Broxburn put the game to bed in 86 minutes Gillen playing a pass to Ross down the right wing, his cross finds Ireland in the centre of the penalty box, his shot is brilliantly saved by Brennan but he can only parry the ball as far as HOPKINSON who shoots the ball into the net from the left side.

Broxburn make a couple of late changes in 88 minutes Murray and Turnbull replacing Gillen and Greenhill.

A good performance from Broxburn and well earned three points with real signs that the team is starting to gel well.

Full Time Broxburn Athletic 3– 0 Newtongrange Star

Teams:

Broxburn Athletic: Wallace; Gillan, Redmond, Harrison (c), Wright; Cowley, Nicol, Greenhill; Brass, Kelly, Ross

Subs: Donoghue (Unused), Hopkinson, Murray, Grant (Unused) Ireland, Beesley (unused), Turnbull

Newtongrange Star: Brennan; Nelson (c), Porteous, Mungall, Mcintosh, Gillan, Ferguson, Mitchell, McBay, Imlah, O’Reilly

Subs: McCathie (Unused), Larner (Unused), Apicella, Murray, Conlon, Tait, Davies