BROXBURN ATHLETIC V LINLITHGOW ROSE

Report

ATTENDANCE 595

East of Scotland Premier League Broxburn Athletic ast of Scotland Premier League ________________________________________________________________________________________________ v Linlithgow Rose – 31 December 2022

For the final league game of 2022 Broxburn welcomed their table topping neighbours Linlithgow Rose to Albyn Park.

Broxburn made 5 changes from their last league game on 3 December against Tynecastle B.Donaldson, Douglas, Jeffries, Sayers and Brass for Harrison, Binnie, Gray, Newall and Clark.

Linlithgow made changes from their last league game at Lothian Thistle on 3 December, Webb, Heaver and Stowe replacing Allison, McPherson and Cunningham.

With four minutes on the clock Mark Stowe made a run down the right before crossing into the box where Jack Sayers cleared the danger .A couple of minutes later the same player made another run getting to the bye line before the home defence grouped to block the cross for a corner. The corner went to the back post where Jordan Wright cleared for another corner which came to nothing after being over hit .

The hosts had a chance on 11 minutes when a corner in from the left found Wright at the back post but he went narrowly past the upright hitting the side stauntion with a header .

At the other end Stowe gathered the ball on edge of the box but his shot was saved comfortably by Josh Blair in the home goal .

In 18 minutes after good work down the left by Webb the ball was crossed to the penalty spot where STOWE was unmarked and he cracked the ball into the top left corner of the Broxburn net.

Broxburn responded positively 5 minutes later Sayers made ground down the right sending over an inch perfect cross for DOUGLAS to connect with a diving header which beat Binnie in the visitors goal.

In 28 minutes Heaver got to the bye line and fired over a cross which Blair fumbled, Wright was on hand to help his keeper scrambling out for a corner. The Brox cleared their lines from the corner.

On the half hour Heaver scuffed a shot which hit a defender and broke to Sneddon who shot past the post.

In the following minute a real let off for Broxburn Bremner sent Stowe in the clear who lobbed the ball over the advancing Blair only to see his effort bounce off the bar and fall to safety.

In 33 minutes Brass sent Gillen away down the right his cross was blocked off with Douglas waiting to pounce.

Gillen passed the ball to Brass 30 yards out the striker lined up a shot which he didn’t catch right and he dragged his effort wide left.

In 39 minutes from a long Sayers throw Brass won the header which went wide right.

Linlithgow began to assert with half time looming the ball being played to Sneddon 25 yards out with his well struck shot well held by Blair.

The visitors did even better with the last kick of the first half BREMNER cutting inside from the right and curled a great shot into the top left hand corner of the Broxburn net.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 2 Linlithgow Rose

Things got worse for the home side early in the 2^nd half in 49 minutes McMullan beating B Donaldson  and crossed inside the 6 yard box with HEAVER all alone to tap the ball into the net from a couple of yards.

In 57 minutes Henderson replaced Downie.

A minute later Wright was booked for a foul on McMullan.

From the free kick Stowe took the kick from 25 yards out which rattled the Broxburn bar.

In 62 minutes Heaver was replaced by Docherty.

A minute later and the visitors fashioned another goal DAVIDSON picking up a loose ball and hitting a shot from 22 yards into the net just out of reach of the despairing Blair.

In 67 minutes another slick visitors move down the right saw Sneddon feed Stowe whose effort was brilliantly blocked by B.Donaldson for a corner.

In 69 minutes McConnell replaced Jeffries. For Linlithgow Allan and Cunningham came on for McMullan and Sneddon.

A minute later Webb was booked for a foul on Henderson.

In 75 minutes in a rare Broxburn attack Gillen got in the clear but he couldn’t get enough on his effort to beat Binnie.

Brass was then booked for a foul on Webb.

In 84 minutes later Orru was fouled by Davidson 25 yards out left of centre, Henderson took the free kick but his effort was well overhit.

Docherty beat Sayers on the left and sent over a great cross which Cunningham through himself at but just couldn’t connect with.

McConnell was booked for a foul on Cunningham. From the free kick Stowe hit the defensive wall.

In 89 minutes from a Stowe corner CUNNINGHAM bulleted a header into the Broxburn net to complete a miserable afternoon.

There was still time for another Linlithgow chance Cunningham finding Docherty who cracked a great shot against the home bar, the third time the visitors had hit the woodwork.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 5 Linlithgow Rose

REFEREE  MR R. LEE   ASSISTANTS  MR A. SIMMONDS, MR S. KING