BROXBURN ATHLETIC V GALA FAIRYDEAN

Report

Attendance 139

Pre – Season Friendly: Broxburn Athletic v Gala Fairydean Rovers 11 July 2023 

Broxburn’s third pre-season friendly saw Lowland League Gala Fairydean Rovers make a trip to the Albyn. Broxburn made 5 changes to the starting side from Saturday’s 2-1 win v Dundee North End, Donoghue, Downie, Heath, Gillen and a trialist replaced Watt, Page, Douglas, Brass and Gray.

Gala Fairydean got their pre-season friendlies started last Saturday drawing 1-1 at home with Kilsyth Rangers.

Broxburn took the lead on 10 minutes when a lobbed pass back to the keeper saw him with a heavey touch that broke to HEATH who kept his composure to round the keeper and slot the ball home .

Gala tried to respond to going a goal down in 16 minutes Drammeh went on a good run down the right which was stopped illegally by Millar just outside the box on the right. Reid took the kick but his effort hit the Brox wall.

Two minutes later Heath fashioned a chance for himself on 18 minutes hitting a shot which crashed off the corner of bar and post and scrambled away, the danger wasn’t over with Downie getting on the end of a cross which Dick was fortunate to save with his feet when knowing little about it.

In 23 minutes a long ball forward from keeper Dick caught out Millar, Drammeh was quick to capitalise advancing into the Brox box but Millar recovered well to win a goal kick off the forward.

Gala were having a decent spell Boyle advancing down the right and sending over a dangerous cross which Munro did brilliantly to head flick away from trouble.

In 26 minutes Watt threaded a ball through to Drammeh but Donoghue made a fantastic save at the Gala players feet to thwart the danger.

The Brox forced 3 corners in quick succession Campbell almost squeezing in a header at the back post but Dick tipped over. Davidson hit a shot from the edge of the box from the second one which deflected for another corner. It was 3^rd time lucky from Heath’s pin point delivery BREMNER with a glancing header, the ball flying into the left hand corner of the net. Time 32 minutes.

A great Brox passing move in 36 minutes ended with Gillen firing over a great cross which the Gala defence just prevented from going to Downie.

In the 43^rd minute Semple forced his way into the box and slipped the ball to Watt whose shot was blocked for a corner. The corner was played short and a cross fired in to the box where Donoghue was adjudged to have been fouled.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 0 Gala Fairydean Rovers

In 50 minutes Watson replaced Boyle for Gala.

Drammeh was penalised for a foul on the right, Heath took the free kick but Dick claimed well.

In 55 minutes Drammeh won a corner off Campbell. Watt took the corner but Downie rose well to clear.

There was more urgency about the Gala play now and this paid off when substitute Watson got to the bye line with his cross deadly accurate for REID to head into the left side of the net.

Gillen had to leave the field with an injury and was replaced by Wilson in 59 minutes.

The right side was proving a focal point of the visitors attack Watson again crossing well to find Ostel whose shot was well blocked and cleared.

In 62 minutes Douglas and Brass replaced Downie and Heath.

Three minutes later and another home change D.Nimmo replaced Millar.

In 66 minutes Turner took a corner on the right BRASS pealed off his marker and stooped to head the ball into the left corner of the net to restore the Brox’s 2 goal lead.

A minute later and Wilson worked his way into the box on the left and curled a fine cross to the back post which just eluded Douglas.

Watson was once again a danger on the right his cross this time flicked away from danger by Page who also dealt with the cross that followed from the left clearing his lines well.

In 71 minutes Turner also left the field injured Gray replaced him.

A trialist No.7 came on for Broxburn to replace Bremner in 75 minutes.

A minute later Douglas controlled the ball well outside the box and passed to Brass who cracked his shot over the bar.

Gala worked a nice opportunity for Reid whose shot was good but Donoghue did well to save at the expense of a corner. Nothing came of the corner.

Scott was then booked for Gala for a poor challenge on Davidson who had to go off injured leaving the Brox with only 10 men.

Gray lost the ball in midfield in 84 minutes with Ostel played in and hitting a strong shot which Donoghue was the equal of as he parried and collected.

From a corner in 86 minutes Gray sent over a great ball which had the visiting defence struggling to clear which they were fortuitous to do so.

Gala forced a corner in 88 minutes which Watt took but Page rose imperiously to clear with his head.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3– 1 Gala Fairydean Rovers

Referee  Mr F. Bushell  Assistants  Miss N. Westwood , Mr C. McFeat