BROXBURN ATH V NEWTONGRANGE STAR

Report

Attendance 148

East of Scotland Premier League – Broxburn Athletic v Newtongrange Star
– 31/07/2021
On a dreich afternoon at the Albyn Broxburn welcomed Newtongrange Star. With neither side in
great form it was a crucial game for both teams to try and kick start their seasons.
Broxburn showed 3 changes from the side who were beaten by Tranent in midweek Purves for
Melvin, Greenhill for Barker and Binnie for Tait. Newtongrange also made changes from their
midweek loss to Crossgates, McIntosh, Trialist 14 and McBay for Tait, Davies and Rixon.
The visitors got off to a great start in 2 minutes from a corner with the home side static
FERGUSON hit a great shot into the net from 16 yards.
This set back seemed to affect Broxburn as they struggled to string passes together whilst the
visitors seemed far more comfortable and sharper in their play.
Broxburn forced Brennan into a save but only a tame back header from Binnie.
Things got even worse for the Brox in13 minutes when Wallace let a speculative PEDEN shot go
under him and into the corner of the net.
Broxburn were left with a mountain to climb in 19 minutes when from a free kick just inside the
Brox half Nelson's kick drifted to the back post which was won by the head of Hamilton whose
header picked out SMITH who had the simplest of tasks to prod the ball into the net.
A shell shocked Brox tried to pull a goal back in 22 minutes Binnie being fouled 20 yards out,
Nimmo taking the free kick but saved by visiting keeper Brennan.
Nelson dispossesed Nicol in midfield and cracked an ambitious shot goalwards from 35 yards
which Wallace saved.
Good work from Binnie on the half hour forced a corner which Ross took, Grant winning the
header at the back post but not able to direct to a red shirt.
In 32 minutes a lifeline for the Brox after determined play from Nicol, the visitors failed to clear
the ball, which went to NIMMO who drilled in a shot which beat Brennan all ends up.
In a very open game chances at both ends in 36 minutes, a good run from Binnie saw him play in
Ross but his shot was blocked. The visitors went straight down field with more defensive
indecision allowing Bremner to knock the ball past Wallace but thankfully Grant was on hand to
stop the ball going into the net.

In 42 minutes Greenhill won a corner, although the ball did appear to come off him however
and the Brox made the award count Ross taking the kick PURVES rising above the Nitten
defence to head into the net.
Broxburn had the bit between their teeth now as a great move down the left saw Greenhill get a
shot off which was blocked for a corner.
In a Jeckyl and Hyde type performance from the home side a fairly harmless cross from
McIntosh was dropped by Wallace and scrambled clear.
Half Time Broxburn Athletic 2 – 3 Newtongrange Star
Broxburn made 2 half time changes, Newall for the injured Hutchison and Brass for Binnie.
Brass was quickly into the thick of the action forcing Brennan into a save.
In 53 minutes Ross cut in from the left and fired in a shot which took a deflection for a corner.
Ross's corner found Brass at the back post whose header was blocked for another corner. In a
good spell of home pressure the ball fell to Nicol who fired wide and over the bar.
The game continued to be wide open Newtongrange winning a corner in 56 minutes cleared by
Brass with McIntosh firing in a shot from the clearance which was blocked. Straight down the
other end and a Ross effort suffered a similar fate.
The Brox should have drawn level in 58 minutes a Brass cross picking out Wright in splendid
isolation with the goal gaping he headed over.
On the hour Newtongrange had a real chance Peden's cross from the left finding the trialist
unmarked at the back post but he made a hash of his shot mistiming completely. The visitors
went closer a minute later after a good move down the left McIntosh fired the ball into the net
but the linesman had flagged for offside.
Grant was booked for Broxburn in 61 minutes and then replaced for Barker. Brass was also
booked in the game for the home side.
Peden was then booked for a foul on Nimmo and Newtongrange had a further 3 player booked
in the game Webb, Nelson and McIntosh.
In 67 minutes the come back was complete Ross played the ball to Gillen whose cross was
touched back by Barker to GREENHILL who smashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the
net, Brennan having no chance of saving.
The Nitten defence was now looking very frail and Brass was giving them a torrid time he broke
free but fired into the side netting.

In 68 minutes Nimmo did brilliantly to beat Peden to the ball and his cross picked out an
unmarked Ross who hit his shot straight at Brennan when a goal seemed likely.
Trialist 12 replaced Trialist 14 for Newtongrange in 70 minutes. The trialist made an immediate
impact getting his head to a Nelson corner but just too high and over the bar.
In 77 minutes Allum and Tait replaced Nimmo and Greenhill. The visitors replaced McIntosh
with Rixon moments later.
In 81 minutes a quickly taken free kick caught Broxburn napping Wallace denying Bremner a
goal.
Brass and Gillen both had decent efforts at goal before a real let off for Broxburn, Nelson
steadying himeself nicely to curl a shot which hit the home bar.
With 2 minutes remaining after a foul on Tait, Ross took the free kick which found Brass at the
back post but he headed over.
Into stoppage time with Broxburn pressing for a winner a Ross shot took a delection for a
corner. From the resultant corner Ross's cross found Wright whose header hit the head of
keeper Brennan and out for yet another corner.
Albyn Park erupted when Ross clipped in another great ball which a Nitten defender headed
straight up in the air, Nicol won the ball with his head directing the ball to an unmarked Allum
who volleyed the ball into the net for a 93rd minute winner!
A quite amazing game with every emotion gone through over the 90 minutes. The defensive
frailties were again cruelly exposed but what a great show of team resilience to get back in the

game and pull off the most unlikely of wins . The return of Gary Brass was hugely instrumental

in turning the game around . Tynecastle away next for the Brox .

NEWTONGRANGE STAR  BRENNAN , PEDEN , WEBB , FERGUSON , NELSON , McINTOSH ( RIXON 78m) , DOUGAL ( NETO 70m) , McBAY ,HAMILTON , BREMNER ,SMITH .

SUBS McCATHIE , TURNER , CONLON ,DAVIES

Referee Mr G. Calder .  Assistants Mr  T..Martin , Mr D. Robertson