BROXBURN ATH V CROSSGATES

Report

Attendance 153

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Crossgates Primrose – 27 October 2022

Broxburn welcomed Crossgates Primrose to the Albyn getting back to league business following back to back cup wins, on a dreich Broxburn afternoon.

There were 2 changes in the home side line up from the 5-0 win at Oakley United, Harrison and Clark for Jeffries and Newall.

Crossgates who had won their league game at Blackburn by 3-2 last week made 3 changes, McKenzie, Reid and Ward replacing Brown, Muirhead and McDonald.

The visitors were first to threaten in the 3^rd minute Campbell creating something from nothing just outside the box turning neatly and curling an effort just wide of the right hand post.

Broxburn forced their first corner in the 5^th minute after good work from Henderson his cross had been blocked by Ward. Greenhill took the kick from the right but Cross cleared his lines for Crossgates.

A neat move from Broxburn a minute later saw Henderson feed Binnie on the left, he cut inside from there and curled an effort on target but its straight at Robertson.

In the 9^th minute a good free kick from Campbell is well defended by Harrison.

The Brox’s best move so far came in 11 minutes Henderson feeding McConnell who picked a great pass to Orru who had made a great run, the cross found Brass but the striker flicked his header just wide of the left post.

Orru was having a good game down the left he played a fine ball to Binnie whose cross was a deep one to the back post and it was just out of reach of the onrushing Clark.

In 22 minutes Ritchie was booked for a foul on Orru.

Graham and Ritchie made good ground down the right and the cross was a good one but well defended by Sayers.

In the 28^th minute a long ball forward was well collected by Binnie he picked out Henderson who had a clear sight of goal at an angle on the right, his effort was well struck but hit the side netting.

Henderson was again prominent in 38 minutes his cross took a deflection off Ward which Robertson prevented from being an own goal at his near post.

In 41 minutes Clark picked a great ball to Henderson who had a number of options for a cross or a cut back but took on the shot which deflected off Ward for a corner. Greenhill took the kick but the visitors scrambled the ball away.

Right on half time there was an incident in midfield McConnell and McKenzie had a coming together which escalated to include a number of players, McKenzie and Graham were those shown yellow cards by the referee.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 0 – 0 Crossgates Primrose

Jeffries replaced Clark at half time for Broxburn.

The second half got off to the worst possible start for the home side Campbell played a great ball in from the right which found RITCHIE 12 yards out and he fired high into the net past Blair.

The Brox tried to respond quickly Sayers fizzed in a cross from the right which Binnie just couldn’t reach on the stretch at the back post.

In 51 minutes Binnie went on a run down the left but his cut back can’t find Brass.

A strong run from Dow almost saw him get in on goal but B.Donaldson cleared well.

In the 53^rd minute a Ward challenge appeared to be over the top and caught Greenhill badly for which he saw red.

Pollock was then booked for foul on Orru.

The game was levelled in 56 minutes Henderson sent in a free kick which fell for B.DONALDSON at the back post and he fired the ball into the net for his first Brox goal.

On the hour Brass was set free down the left and won a corner. Henderson took the kick Harrison did well to win with his head but his effort just drifted wide of the right hand post.

In 62 minutes Newall replaced Sayers. Henderson was booked a minute later.

The visitors despite being down to 10 men were still dangerous on the break McKenzie getting in behind the Brox defence to get a shot in which the advancing Blair palmed away and he can’t capitalise on the rebound which B.Donaldson cleared.

Brass went close from the edge of the box he turned neatly but his shot just went past the post.

In 67 minutes Douglas replaced Binnie and Brown for McKenzie for Crossgates.

Greenhill then picked out a great pass to find Brass but for once the strikers control let him down and the chance was lost.

In 70 minutes Henderson got over a deep cross which Orru retrieved and he cut inside and got in a curling shot which went over the bar.

The Brox went very close two minutes later Brass winning a corner off Cross , Henderson took the kick Brass then had his header blocked on the line and cleared.

In 81 minutes Henderson played in Newall who took a bad touch but got in a strong cross which Douglas did well to get a head on but he couldn’t divert his effort on target.

Paterson then replaced Dow for the visitors and Sinclair for Henderson in the home ranks.

McGuire had a great chance to send Campbell in on goal but he gave the ball away with a poor pass.

In 86 minutes in a very tight offside call a Graham pass appeared to be a good one to Campbell but the linesman raised his flag!

McConnell played a ball into Brass who showed great strength to get in a shot which was saved by Robertson on his line.

In 89 minutes Orru played in a ball from the left to Sinclair who went for goal with a volleyed effort which went past the right hand post.

In injury time a long ball forward from B.Donaldson found the head of Douglas but his effort went wide left.

Paterson was booked for Crossgates and Greenhill for Broxburn during the game.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 1 Crossgates Primrose

REFEREE MR. K. GIBSON     ASSISTANTS   MR S. ROSS, MR K. BOYD