BROXBURN ATH V SAUCHIE

Report

Attendance 165

East of Scotland Premier League – Broxburn Athletic v Sauchie Juniors – 14/05/2022

For the final league game of the 2021/2022 season, summer seemed to have arrived with the Albyn bathed in sunshine for the visit of Sauchie Juniors. Broxburn made 2 changes from those who started at Newtongrange Star, Wallace replacing Donoghue in goal and Gillen for Binnie.

Broxburn got off to the perfect start in 3 minutes from a neat build up Barker playing a great ball wide to Ross Nimmo, his cross finding BRASS who fired the ball past Clark into the visitors net.

The home side were passing and moving the ball well and a great through ball from Newall was well defended by Davidson to prevent another chance for Brass.

In 8 minutes Nicol hit a fine shot which was deflected wide for a corner.

With Broxburn in total control they added a second in 9 minutes Dan Nimmo fed the ball to the wide right for Ross Nimmo who beat Tully before cutting the ball back to BARKER who shot the ball home from 10 yards out.

The visitors first threat came in 11 minutes but great defending from Nicol blocked Davidson’s effort.

There were loud claims for a penalty for handball on Newall from a Davidson cross but the referee was not in agreement and allowed the game to continue.

Sauchie were now having a lot more of the ball but Broxburn were defending well as a unit.

A determined run from Docherty in 21 minutes saw him shrug off the attentions of Gillen and Nicol but his shot was off target to the right.

Brass was proving a handful for Sauchie collecting a pass from Barker and setting Ross Nimmo away down the right with his shot being blocked for a corner.

From a corner by Ross Nimmo the ball was hit to the back post where Donaldson won the header but his effort looped just wide.

In 26 minutes from a free kick just inside the Sauchie half Greenhill spotted keeper Clark off his line with his audacious long range effort just clearing the bar.

Sauchie had their best chance in 28 minutes from a defensive error Morgan was clean in on the left but Wallace pulled off a great save from his shot to deny him. Another chance prevented itself from a Ross Nimmo mistake but Dickie’s shot was straight at Wallace.

Broxburn were looking really dangerous breaking forward quickly, Brass and Newall setting up Ross Nimmo who slipped at the critical time and the chance was gone.

In 33 minutes it was three, Brass shooting from 20 yards or so with the ball deflecting off NICOL and deceiving keeper Clark and ending up in the net.

Broxburn continued to carve the visitors open almost at will Barker sending Ross Nimmo away on the right his cut back this time was just out of reach of Brass.

Sauchie responded in 39 minutes Dickie cracking a shot towards goal but Gillen did well to block for a corner, which was floated in dangerously with Collumbine winning but his header went just over the bar.

It was almost four on half time Ross Nimmo finding Newall from a throw in, his cross picking out Barker whose downward header was saved by Clark.

Half Time: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 0 Sauchie Juniors         

The pattern of the first half continued into the start of the second with Brass playing a great ball to Ross Nimmo down the right but his shot was a bit rash and went over the bar.

Newall was booked in 51 minutes. Syme replaced Tully for Sauchie.

The visitors afternoon was summed up when having a free kick in a decent position Smith kicked the ball straight out.

In 54 minutes from another quick break Brass and Ross Nimmo combined but the final pass to Barker found him in an offside position.

Smith and Docherty combined for Sauchie in 55 minutes but the latter’s shot was straight at Wallace. More diligent defending from Broxburn followed, Newall clearing off the line from a corner. When the ball was played back into the back post area Davidson did well to get to the cross but couldn’t control his shot at goal.

In 59 minutes Binnie replaced Newall.

The Ross Nimmo, Brass combination was once more to the fore on the hour Brass doing well to hold off his marker, his volley just going over the bar.

In 62 minutes Sauchie’s best chance of the second half a great ball from the left eluded Donaldson but Morgan headed tamely wide.

From another good Broxburn break in 70 minutes Ross Nimmo beat his man but his shot was blocked breaking to Nicol who shot wide of the right post.

In 74 minutes Sauchie made a couple of changes Greenhorn and Fisher coming on for Dickie and Carroll.

Substitute Binnie did well to force an error from Greenhorn his pass finding Ross Nimmo who shot wide.

More changes from both sides followed: Cowley and Beagley replacing Brass and Greenhill for the home side, Crawford and Kelly for Morgan and Smith for the visitors.

There was no further scoring with Broxburn running out comfortable winners against an in form Sauchie side. The Brox gave one of their best home performances of the season which will give them some confidence going into next Friday’s League Cup quarter final at Whitehill Welfare.

Full Time: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 0 Sauchie Juniors

Referee Mr A. Craven      asisstants ar1  Mr L. Hogarth    , ar2   Mr A Brown