BROXBURN ATH V WHITEHILL WELFARE

Report

East of Scotland Premier League – Broxburn Athletic v Whitehill Welfare – 31/10/2020

With a strong wind blowing around Albyn Park both teams deserve great credit for serving up an entertaining encounter in difficult condItions. Broxburn showed 5 changes from last Saturday’s cup success against Creetown. Gillen, Harrison, Greenhill, Cowley and Ross for Murray, Wright, Ireland, Turnbull and Beesley.

Broxburn kicked off with the elements in their favour and were first to threaten in 4 minutes Ross playing a great through ball to Kelly whose shot was blocked by Connell.

From a Greenhill corner in the 5th minute Kelly’s shot once again was blocked this time by Murray.

Whitehill continued to defend well blocking shots from Brass and Cowley.

In 7 minutes a great cross from Kelly was played to the back post where Ross did well to stretch and get something on the ball but he couldn’t direct his shot on target going wide of the post.

Then a blow for Broxburn in 10 minutes, captain Harrison picking up a knock and not able to continue, Wright being his replacement.

With the wind assisting, Broxburn had a spell of 3 successive corners played into the Whitehill penalty box by Greenhill all dangerous with keeper Gilpin coming up with a good save from Brass.

From another Greenhill corner in 23 minutes Grant got a header on target which was easily collected by Gilpin.

Ross who had been switched to the left wing, cut inside to get a shot in on goal which went past the left hand post.

Whitehill had rarely been seen as an attacking force in the first half hour but from a long throw in on the right Lough flicked the ball on with his head and the TRIALIST swept the ball past Wallace.

This stung Broxburn into action in 32 minutes, Ross firing a shot on target which Gilpin held.

From a short corner in the following minute Greenhill’s cross come shot had Gilpin diving to his right to push to safety.

The Brox continued to dominate and from another good passing move Nicol fired in a shot wide of the post.

In 38 minutes Broxburn went even closer when a corner was cleared out to Ross he cracked a great shot at goal from 20 yards from which, Gilpin pulled off an amazing save to keep his side in front.

Half Time Broxburn Athletic 0– 1 Whitehill Welfare

In the second half Broxburn went straight on the offensive from kick off Gillen playing a great through ball to Brass sending him through with only Gilpin to beat but the keeper came up with another big save for the visitors.

Whitehill responded in 47 minutes with conditions now in their favour Barfoot taking on an ambitious shot from 25 yards which was always heading wide of goal.

With Broxburn upping their tempo another chance presented itself in 49 minutes Brass heading down a cross into Greenhill’s path but his effort cleared the bar.

In the following minute Wilson took a free kick for Whitehill which he curled into the penalty box the ball bouncing off Grant and going safely through to Wallace.

As the home side continued to be in the ascendancy Wright played a great ball out to Ross on the left he got a great cross into the box which Greenhill headed over.

The same two players reversed roles in 55 minutes Ross forcing a save from Gilpin.

Whitehill were still a danger when breaking with Smith getting a shot in blocked by Gillen for a corner.

Broxburn made their second change in 60 minutes Kelly being replaced by Ireland.

In 61 minutes the home pressure eventually paid Wright sending Ross on a run down the left his cross was met by BRASS who fired past Gilpin into the net.

Some great interplay between Cowley and Ross in 64 minutes saw Ross shoot just wide of the left post.

In 65 minutes Whitehill were forced into a change Janczyk replacing the injured Murray.

Then a let off for Whitehill in 68 minutes Ross once again getting in a good cross which Brass gor on the end of his shot striking the left hand post, Greenhill’s follow up being saved by Gilpin.

In 71 minutes Cowley’s cross from the left was blocked by a Whitehill defenders hand . ROSS took the resultant penalty which he struck firmly into the bottom left hand corner of the net to put Broxburn ahead.

In 73 minutes a good croos by Ireland waswell defended by Connell as Brass was on hand to pick up on any mistake.

The visitors had their best move of the second half in 74 minutes nice passing between Janczyk and Lough who played the ball wide to O’Neill whose crossed found Smith on the penalty spot but he fired over the bar.

In 78 minutes Whitehill replaced O’Neill with Scobie. Shortly afterwards Broxburn also made a change Hopkinson replacing Cowley.

In 81 minutes Greenhill played a ball through expertly which held up in the wind which ROSS was first to react to he flicked the ball round Gilpin and fired the ball into the empty net.

Ross had a great chance for his hat trick two minutes later when he was in the clear again but he was too deliberate in his shot placement with Gilpin diving to his left to save.

In 85 minutes Barfoot shot wide left from 22 yards out as the visitors looked for a way back into the game.

In 90 minutes another excellent Broxburn move between Ross and Hopkinson saw the latter back heel the ball into the path of Brass whose shot was blocked by McCormack.

An excellent 3 points for Broxburn in really difficult conditions as the team continues to develop and gel. David Greenhill’s performance was deserving of man of the match.

Full Time Broxburn Athletic 3– 1 Whitehill Welfare

Teams:

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

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

Whitehill Welfare: Gilpin; Murray, Wilson, McCormack, Connell, Barfoot, Hand, Trialist, O’Neill, Smith, Lough

Subs: Twaddle (Unused), Keane (Unused), Connor (Unused), Scobie, Janczyk, Coats (GK) (Unused)