BROXBURN ATHLETIC V INVERKEITHING SWIFTS

Report

Attendance 151

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts – 28 September 2022

Broxburn welcomed Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts for a game under the floodlights at the Albyn.

There were 4 changes in the Brox line up from the disappointing loss at Linlithgow last Saturday Douglas, Harrison, Gillen and Gray replacing Clark, Henderson, D.Nimmo and Newall.

Inverkeithing came into the game on the back of 4 straight losses the last one being a reverse in a Fife derby with Dundonald Bluebell by 2-1.

In 3 minutes Liddell was brought down for the visitors 30 yards from goal but the free kick was wasted going straight out.

The Brox responded in 5 minutes Orru being pulled down on the left. Gray took the free kick in line with the penalty box but his effort drifted just wide to the right.

Broxburn continued to move forward with purpose Orru playing a nice pass to Jeffries who laid the ball off for McConnell to run on to but his effort went high over the bar.

In 8 minutes the first real chance of the game fell to the Swifts when Spence was played through but he delayed his shot long enough for Sayers to make a brilliant saving tackle.

Broxburn forced a free kick and corners in a good spell of pressure with good deliveries from Gray and Jeffries but the visitors defended these diligently.

In 13 minutes Douglas slipped the ball to Gray on the right who curled a great shot towards goal which Mitchell in the Swifts goal palmed away.

In a very open game the visitors Trialist, Liddell and Simpson created a great chance which the latter just shot wide.

Broxburn were having a difficult spell, in an attempt to move forward quickly they took a short free kick deep in their own half which Murray was alive to and got into shooting position but his effort was just wide and no more.

The warnings weren’t heeded with the Swifts Liddell feeding a great through ball to MURRAY who slid the ball past Blair and into the bottom right hand corner to put the visitors ahead. Time 18 minutes.

In 26 minutes after good work by Gray he appeared to be pulled back as he shoots with the shot running easily through to Mitchell.

A minute later and the hosts had their equaliser with a great passing move McConnell played a great ball into the box to GILLEN who tucked his shot past Mitchell into the keepers bottom right corner of the net.

Sayers then had a go for Broxburn from 35 yards out with his effort going past the right hand post.

In the 33^rd minute another excellent Broxburn move sees them ahead Orru doing well down the left the ball finding GRAY who cut inside his man before shooting high into the net from 12 yards.

In 38 minutes the Brox had another presentable opportunity Gray and Orru working a nice move down the left which was stopped by a handball. Brass took the free kick but it was well off target high over the bar.

From a Donaldson error Spence went chasing down the left, Donaldson doing well to recover to concede a corner. From the kick the Trialist headed over the bar.

The Brox capped a great half by increasing their lead in 44 minutes a Douglas shot parried by Mitchell with MCCONNELL following in to shoot home.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 1 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

The Swifts came out positively in the 2^nd half Trialist flicking the ball on to Spence who was brilliantly tackled by Sayers to prevent a goal scoring chance.

In 51 minutes with claims for offside Spence chased a long ball to the bye line and put over a great cross which SIMPSON applied a finishing to, to pull a goal back.

Three minutes later Jeffries played in a great ball which Douglas won in the air but he could only pick out keeper Mitchell who saved.

Brough went off to be replaced by Kelly for the Swifts. Time 58 minutes.

In 63 minutes a pass back from Harrison to Blair sees him delay a fraction in clearing which Spence blocked taking a deflection off Blair for a corner. From the resulting corner Scullion headed back across goal from the back post the TRIALIST does brilliantly to control and turn and fire low into the net to equalise.

In the following minute Henderson replaced Jeffries. Six minutes later Binnie replaced Gray.

The visitors were in the ascendancy and a neat move saw Liddell play the ball in to Kelly who turned Donaldson, with his shot well saved by Blair.

Sayers was booked in 74 minutes.

The Brox had their best move of the 2^nd half Gillen forcing a corner, Henderson taking the kick to the back post, Donaldson wins the header but the player on the goal line cleared.

The Swifts broke out and Spence hit a fine shot which brings out a good save from Blair at his near post.

In 79 minutes the clearest chance for the Brox in the 2^nd half Henderson is sent clear but Mitchell is very alert off his line and does brilliantly to block Henderson’s shot.

In 85 minutes from a Henderson free kick Harrison wins a header but he can’t direct on to the target.

Brass sends Henderson scampering down the right wing he put over a great cross which Mitchell has to dive to intercept.

In the last minute Kelly hits a fantastic curling shot which hits the inside of the post and comes out to Spence who volleyed home smartly, only to see the flag up for offside.

Three other bookings in the game McConnell for Broxburn and Liddell and Scullion for Inverkeithing.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 3 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

REFEREE MR. C. WHYTE    ASSISTANTS MR C. ASHLEY, MR K. CHARLES