BROXBURN ATHLETIC V JEANFIELD SWIFTS

Report

Attendance 155

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Jeanfield Swifts – 15 April 2023

Broxburn welcomed Jeanfield Swifts to the Albyn for another vital game in the clubs goal to retain their Premier League status.
The Brox made 3 changes from the side that drew at Dundonald Bluebell B.Donaldson replaced the injured Wright, Hickey-Fugaccia for Gillen and Sayers for McConnell.
Jeanfield Swifts who lost at Dundonald Bluebell in midweek by 2-1 kept an unchanged team.
In the 2nd minute a long ball forward found Douglas who flicked the ball on with his head to Brass who set Heath away but the winger hurried his shot when in good position and was well off target.
The visitors got their first sight of goal in the 5th minute Simpson playing the ball into Aloulou who steadied himself and shot just wide of the left post with the aid of a deflection. Broxburn cleared the corner to Simpson on the left but his cross was over hit and wide.
Jeanfield continued to press Simpson again prominent hitting a 25 yard volley just over the bar.
A huge blow for Broxburn in the 8th minute D.Nimmo having to go off injured. Downie replaced him with Douglas moving to centre half.
An Orru cross from the left caused issues for the visitors but they scrambled the ball past the post for a corner.
Bremner’s corner was deep to the back post and only half cleared up in the air the ball falling to Brass who volleyed wide left of the goal.
In the 17th minute the Brox squandered a golden chance Brass beating the offside trap and squared the ball to Downie in the middle of the penalty box but he hit his shot straight at keeper Mitchell.
Broxburn were in on goal again in the 20th minute Brass feeding Heath this time but his finish was poor and wide left of goal.
In the 27th minute C.Scott clipped in a ball to Fergus who fired his shot over the bar.
Hickey-Fugaccia cut in from the right and curled a left foot shot which took a deflection just wide of goal. Bremner took the corner from the left deep to the back post where B.Donaldson headed back across the 6 yard box but there were no takers in red to apply a finishing touch.
In 35 minutes a nice run from Simpson down the left hit a nice shot which was collected high by Blair.
Heath did well down the left beating 2 defenders but couldn’t fashion a shot on target his effort being wide left again.
Then the visitors had their best chances of the half, Aloulou played a great ball through to Fergus but Blair pulled off a brilliant save to deny him. The ball was played back in from the right where McLaren headed strongly for goal but Blair once again did fantastically well to deny the Swifts player.
Right on half time Hickey-Fugaccia cut in from the right and played in a cross which Bremner anticipated well but could direct his header toward goal.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 0 – 0 Jeanfield Swifts
Downie was booked for a poor challenge on Stewart in 48 minutes.
In 49 minutes Hickey – Fugaccia played a ball down the right which Gray did well to catch but his cross with his left foot went straight to Mitchell.
The Brox’s next attack was more fruitful Brass playing a great ball to HICKEY-FUGACCIA who hit a shot across Mitchell and into the net for a vital home lead

From a Sayers long throw in 56 minutes Brass tried an acrobatic overhead kick which was on target but straight to Mitchell.
The game was opening up a bit now C. Scott firing in a great cross but no Swifts player was able to get on the end of it.
In 59 minutes from a Gray free kick he played a ball deep to the back post where Brass won and headed across goal with Douglas connecting with his head but couldn’t direct on target.
On the hour Blair once again came up with another big save when C.Scott fired in a strong shot which the young keeper did well to parry away from goal.
In 61 minutes Wolecki replaced Aloulou.
In 70 minutes Fergus went off Logan replaced him.
Two minutes later from a corner McLaren hit a first time shot which Blair got a hand to deflecting the ball on to the post.
Another dangerous cross from the left from Jeanfield in 73 minutes from Smith got a touch from Simpson at the back post but he couldn’t direct towards goal.
In 73 minutes Henderson replaced Hickey-Fugaccia.
Stewart was booked for Jeanfield in 76 minutes.
Two minutes later a Gray free kick was won by B.Donaldson with his head but he couldn’t get enough on the header to beat Mitchell.
C.Scott went close with a shot from 25 yards but it crept wide of the post on the right.
Further Jeanfield changes followed in 80 minutes Simpson and Smith making way for Dodd and Ramsay.
In 88 minutes Logan got free but Blair did enough to put the substitute off with his effort going wide of target.
Brass was replaced by Turnbull in 90 minutes as the Brox held out for a vital win.
FULL TIME: : Broxburn Athletic 1 – 0 Jeanfield Swifts

REFEREE MR C. STIRLING     ASSISTANTS  MR S. ROSS  , MR D BURNS