BROXBURN ATHLETIC V KIRKINTILOCH ROB ROY

Report

Pre – Season Friendly: Broxburn Athletic v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy – 23 July 2022

Broxburn’s final warm up game before the official start to the new season next Saturday was against West Of Scotland League Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. The Brox made 5 changes to their starting line up Donoghue, Donaldson, Gray, Jeffries, Douglas being replaced by a trialist keeper, Churchill, Binnie, Orru and a trialist.

Kirkintilloch arrived at the Albyn having lost their midweek friendly 3-1 at Drumchapel United.

The visitors were first to get a sight of goal Baber picking out McNair whose shot was blocked.

Baber was then in action at the other end defending a long ball from Sayers well with Binnie putting the defender under pressure.

In 6 minutes a Henderson corner almost found Harrison’s head at the back post.

Four minutes later a neat build up between Henderson, Gillen and Churchill ended with a disappointing cross from the latter.

Kirkintilloch continued to push forward McNair picking up a loose ball and sending a defence splitting pass through to McNabb who steadied himself but the trialist keeper pulled off a great save with his foot to divert wide.

In 17 minutes Churchill sent Gillen away down the right with his cross being blocked for a corner. From the corner Churchill and Henderson worked well between them, Henderson firing a cross on the money inside the 6 yard box which Duncan did well to clear.

Churchill and Gillen were prominent again down the right but as before Churchill’s cross was easily dealt with by McAllister in the visitors goal.

In 21 minutes Kirkintilloch had the ball in the net through McNabb but he was called for offside.

Hughes won a corner off Gillen in 28 minutes, Woodhouse took the corner which was won by Bell whose header was off target to the right.

Kirkintilloch won a throw in in good position in 35 minutes taken long by Duncan, HUGHES and Sayers challenged for the ball in the air with the striker getting a crucial touch sending it into the left corner of the net.

The visitors continued to dominate Hughes and McNabb combining with the latter getting in a shot which was blocked by Sayers for a corner. From the corner the referee spotted an infringement much to the relief of the home side.

In 41 minutes a Henderson corner found Orru but he headed straight at McAllister.

Kirkintilloch continued to pick their way through the Broxburn side too easily McNabb and Hughes being denied by a great saving tackle from Sayers.

In 43 minutes Woodhouse picked up on a loose ball just outside the Broxburn penalty area but shot well wide.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 0 – 1 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Both teams made changes for the start of the second half.

Broxburn introduced Newall, Downie, Gray, Nimmo, Douglas for Harrison, Henderson, Churchill, Brass and Binnie.

Kirkintilloch made just 1 change Barclay for Scott.

In 47 minutes Downie got a shot on target but hit it down into the ground, it being no problem for keeper McAllister.

The visitors first foray forward in the second half produced another goal, similarly to the first it started from a Duncan long throw which HUGHES controlled well turned Gillen and fired high into the net.

The trialist keeper had to look lively to stop shots from McNabb and Baber as the Brox continued to struggle defensively with now no recognised centre half on the field.

Kirkintilloch made some changes in 51 minutes Bell , Hughes and Woodhouse being withdrawn, Walker, Winton and Young coming on. Then in 57 minutes Daly replaced McNabb followed by Gordon for McNair 3 minutes later.

Broxburn were cut open by a nice pass from substitute Daly YOUNG who applied a great finish for the visitors 3^rd goal of the afternoon.

In 61 minutes more changes for both teams. The trialist keeper came off for Broxburn and trialist number 6, with Donoghue and Jeffries coming on.

The visitors continued to knock the ball about well Young finding Baber whose cross was a fine one but just out of reach of his strikers.

In 64 minutes Douglas did well to win a corner from an Orru throw. Baber was injured and had to go off being replaced by Campbell. Nimmo took the corner with Gray winning a header but his flicked effort went wide. Definitely Broxburn’s closest effort.

From a better Broxburn move Douglas won the ball and fed Downie who put over a great cross to the back post which Campbell did well to get to first to deny Orru.

In 77 minutes Winton advanced well on the left into a shooting position his first effort was blocked and his second was straight at Donoghue.

A minute later it was 0-4 Gray gave the ball away in midfield YOUNG advanced towards goal and fired in a shot which hit the inside of the right post and into the net.

In 80 minutes Daly was booked.

It could have been 5 in 81 minutes Young playing the ball into a colleague but he took a fresh air swipe at the ball.

In 82 minutes a rare Broxburn attack saw Gray play a nice ball through to Douglas who couldn’t get enough on his shot to beat McAllister.

Donoghue had 2 excellent saves from Barclay and Young. From the corner taken by McCormick, Daly was allowed a free header which he placed just over the bar.

Not a good day at the office to end the pre-season for Broxburn. The season begins in earnest with an away trip to Vale Of Leithen next Saturday.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 0 – 4 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy