Sauchie v Broxburn Athletic

Report

Match Report

East of Scotland Premier League – Sauchie Juniors v Broxburn Athletic – 28/11/2020

Broxburn made just one change for the game against Sauchie Juniors at Beechwood Park from the side which won at Dunbar, Grant replacing the unavailable Harrison.

Sauchie went into the game on a good run of form in the league unbeaten in 5 games.

Broxburn kicked off on a bright crisp afternoon on a very heavy playing surface. The home side had the first chance in the 2nd minute Houston took a long throw which bounced and sat up nicely for Crawford to attempt an overhead kick which went high over the bar.

In Broxburn’s first attack Redmond put in a good ball from the left which Binnie tried to get to but a Sauchie defender made contact first to knock out for a corner. From the corner Ross’s cross was cleared by the home defence.

In a very positive start by both teams Sauchie were next to threaten after good work down the right Crawford’s cross found Gary Carroll who just fired wide of the left hand post.

Some nice build up play from Broxburn in 7 minutes saw Gillen cross into the box, Binnie won the header but was pulled up for a foul which seemed very soft.

Sauchie went down the right hand side with Houston playing the ball to Collumbine whose cross was missed by Gillen falling to Crawford who got a good shot off which was well saved by Wallace.

Broxburn were being allowed a lot of room down the right side and a nice pass from Cowley found Gillen who put in a decent cross forcing Tully to concede a corner. Nothing came from the corner nor from a Ross cross a minute later easily claimed by keeper Clark.

In 17 minutes good work by Brass sent Ross away down the left his cross was on the money but well dealt with by the home defence.

Sauchie were once again dangerous down their right side Collumbine crossing in for Gary Carroll whose shot was delected wide by Grant. The corner was worked short by by Smith and Collumbine which Broxburn switched off to, with the cross being headed wide.

There was another warning for Broxburn from a corner Tully rising to head just over the bar in 20 minutes.

Broxburn had their first clear opportunity in 24 minutes from a Ross cross to the back post Wright won the ball and got his header on target but straight at Clark.

Clark had to look sharp off his line in 27 minutes as a Redmond through ball almost found Binnie with the home keeper winning the race to the ball.

The visitors continued to be in the ascendancy Ross getting clear of the home defence on the left but on the sticky surface he took a touch which took him wide which allowed Calrk to come from his line and smother the ball.

The home side then had a good spell Morgan and Collumbine getting in shots but wide of target.

In 36 minutes good combination play from Smith , Crawford and Gary Carroll needed an intervention from Grant to concede a corner which nothing came from.

Good defending from Wright in 42 minutes blocking a Smith shot which broke back to Wallace.

Half Time: Sauchie Juniors 0– 0 Broxburn Athletic

Sauchie started the second half on the front foot Smith given far too much room to get a shot in which went straight through to Wallace.

Broxburn responded well a nice passing move between Gillen and Brass saw him play in Cowley who advanced on goal but was well tackled by Morgan just when a shot looked imminent.

The home side had upped their game noticeably and when in 52 minutes Collumbine played a nice pass to Gary Carroll he was tackled heavily by Wright who was booked. From 20 yards out the free kick was taken by Morgan whose shot hit the bar the rebound was headed over by Brown.

Turnbull replaced Cowley for Broxburn in 53 minutes.

In 55 minutes a Ross run was halted at the expense of a corner by Finlayson. From the corner Greenhill picked out Turnbull and he struck his shot well but was blocked by the home defence.

Sauchie made a change in 57 minutes McCaughie for Brown.

The home side were now having a lot of possession in the Broxburn half but couldn’t fashion any clear chances right back Houston firing well wide on the hour.

Greenhill and Redmond combined on the left for Broxburn with the cross being dropped by Clark but he recovered well before any Brox player could take advantage.

In 64 minutes a great run from Smith saw him get into good shooting position 22 yards out but with Greenhill in close attendance he missed his kick completely despite strong home protests for a foul.

In 68 minutes Binnie and Ross were replaced by Ireland and Kelly.

With the game looking as though it would be goal less a long hopeful ball by Houston in 70 minutes was half cleared by Wright, unfortuanately Wallace had come off his line when the ball had been played forward, so when the clearance broke to SMITH 40 yards out he chipped the ball goal wards and it eluded Wallace trying to back track to his goal line and into the net.

In 75 minutes from a corner Gillen cleared the ball from the line as Sauchie seeked to double their advantage.

In 78 minutes Crawford was replaced by Donaldson and Kelly was booked for a foul for the visitors.

Gary Carroll then went into the referee’s notebook in 82 minutes.

The home side continued to look most likely to add to the scoring Morgan getting off a good shot which Wallace saved.

In 86 minutes Sauchie made another 2 changes Turnbull and McTaggart for Smith and Gary Carroll.

A minute later a long clearance from Wallace was won by Brass in the air his header found Ireland who fired a shot toward goal but it was always going right of target.

Into injury time and the game was won, a long ball forward by Sauchie was back headed by Wright which found TURNBULL, he got clear and fired the ball into the right corner of the net.

Sauchie almost added to their tally Collumbine hitting the post and McCaughie thwarted by a good save from Wallace.

Sauchie’s increased work rate in the second half was enough to give them the edge and the win with Broxburn having a lot of good possession especially in the first half but not able to create much in the way of goal scoring opportunities. Another away game follows at Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale on Wednesday 2 December.

Full Time: Sauchie Juniors 2 – 0 Broxburn Athletic

Teams:

Sauchie Juniors: Clark; Houston, Finlayson, D. Carroll, Tully (c); Morgan, Collumbine, Smith, Brown; Crawford, G. Carroll

Subs: Gold (unused), Syme (unused), McTaggart, McCaughie, Donaldson, Turnbull, Cummings (unused)

Broxburn Athletic: Wallace (c); Gillen, Redmond, Grant, Wright, Cowley, Nicol, Greenhill; Brass, Binnie, Ross

Subs: Donoghue (Unused), Beesley (unused), Kelly, Turnbull , Ireland, Murray (unused), Townsley (unused)