BROXBURN ATHLETIC V OAKLEY UNITED

Report

Attendance 185

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Oakley United – 25 February 2023

 Broxburn had their 3^rd home league game in a row this time with 2nd bottom of the table Oakley United as visitors.

Broxburn showed just the 1 change from last week B.Donaldson returning from injury replacing Wright.

Oakley had been showing signs of improvement of late going down 5-3 at Sauchie in midweek.

In the 3^rd minute Brass got into decent position on the left until Goodlad got in a timely interception which broke back to keeper Irvine.

Four minutes later Clark hit a long ball into the box which was back headed for a corner. Henderson took the kick Dawson headed away the ball falling to Bremner whose shot deflected for another corner. Henderson and Bremner worked the ball short Bremner again hitting a shot which this time ran wide left.

Then the visitors had a great chance Stanfield sending Yapoudjian clear but he shot straight at Donoghue who palmed out for a corner. The corner was disappointing going straight out.

The Brox responded Gillen played the ball in from the right Brass controlled well with his volleyed effort blocked for a corner. Orru took the kick from the right With Douglas winning the header which went over from close range.

In 20 minutes Brass crossed from the right Douglas won and back headed the ball to Clark who hit a shot on the turn forcing Irvine to save and concede a corner.

Henderson took the kick from the left DOUGLAS was left with the simplest of tasks to head into the net from a few yards to put the Brox ahead.

Great defending from Sayers prevented Yapoudjian getting in on goal.

Brass put in a great ball from the right with a defender getting a vital touch to deny Douglas and Binnie who were waiting to pounce.

Watson then had a shooting opportunity from 25 yards which was on target but straight at Donoghue.

In 29 minutes Clark sent Brass away down the right he hit a hard and low cross which just was out of reach of Binnie sliding in at the back post.

Three minutes later Orru was fouled 25 yards out to the left, he worked a 1-2 with Henderson which created a chance with Orru cutting the ball back from the left to Henderson who fired a shot on target which Irvine saved at the near post.

The in 34 minutes a let off for the home side Yapoudjian getting in a great cross from the right laying the ball on a plate from 6 yards for McAdam who was denied by Donoghue his save falling into save of the season category.

Orru then hit the top of the bar from a corner.

There was a sting in the tail in first half injury time Penman crossed in from the right and as a few minutes earlier MCADAM was unmarked but this time he applied the finish to draw Oakley level.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 1 Oakley United

Cowan replaced Young at halftime.

In 46 minutes from a Henderson corner the ball was bobbling dangerously in the visitors box near the goal line but they scrambled the ball to safety.

In 52 minutes Dawson brought down Douglas the referee appearing to point to the penalty spot but only a free kick just outside was awarded. Dawson was booked. Brass took the kick being tipped on to the post by Irvine and wide. Henderson took the corner but Douglas headed wide.

The Brox did have the ball in the net in 55 minutes but was chalked off for an infringement.

Gillen put over a tempting cross in which Binnie, Douglas and Brass couldn’t force past Irvine in a goalmouth scramble.

Disaster then struck as Oakley went down the field the ball falling to YAPOUDJIAN at the back post and he fired a fierce shot into the roof of the net past Donoghue at his near post.

In 66 minutes Broxburn tried to respond Orru taking a corner Brass winning at the back post but once again an Oakley defender was there to concede another corner which bore no fruit.

The Brox created another great opportunity a minute later Douglas the provider this time setting up Clark who struck his shot well but Irvine was the equal of it.

From a long ball by Donoghue Binnie did well to fashion a chance and crossed Douglas’s effort again was blocked with the ball breaking to Bremner who blazed his shot well over.

Bremner was booked in 75 minutes. Brass, Clark and Henderson were replaced by Downie, McConnell and Gray.

In 76 minutes Oakley made a change Bruce replaced by MacKinnon.

A minute later and Binnie made great ground down the left but attempted an ambitious shot which went well wide of target.

In 81 minutes Gray threaded a ball through to Binnie but Dawson denied the Brox again.

McAdam was booked for not retreating at a free kick in 83 minutes, Goodlad joined him in the book 2 minutes later.

In the 86^th minute the Brox at last drew level Douglas having a shot saved by Irvine but the rebound fell to BINNIE who smashed the ball into the net.

Sayers had to look lively in 88 minutes to concede a corner with Yapoudjian nearly breaking clear. Stanfield took the kick Douglas cleared.

Binnie was booked in 89 minutes.

In 91 minutes the ball was played in from the left to Bremner who screwed his shot wide.

Gillen played in a ball from the right but it was just too high for Binnie to get to.

The chances continued to be made Bremner played the ball to McConnell but his shot from 22 yards was high over the bar.

Great work from Gray in 95 minutes as he sent Orru away down the left he picked out Bremner with his cutback but once again the midfielders shot was off target.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 2 Oakley United

 REFEREE MR C. NEWMAN   ASSISTANTS  MR A. LAWRANCE , MR S ROBERTSON