Musselburgh Athletic

Report

Attendance 545
East Of Scotland Premier League: Musselburgh Athletic v Broxburn Athletic – 18 March 2023

On groundhopping weekend Broxburn headed for the Olivebank for a Saturday night game under the lights against Musselburgh Athletic.
Broxburn made 3 changes from the side which lost at home to Linlithgow Rose in midweek in the East Of Scotland Cup, Blair, Orru and Brass replacing Donoghue, Sayers and Henderson.
Musselburgh are having a good league season sitting fourth and off the back of a thumping 6-1 win at Blackburn last Saturday. They were unsurprisingly unchanged.
Broxburn started on the front foot Orru taking a throw in which was flicked on but claimed by keeper Laing.
In the 5th minute a neat Brox move Douglas flicked the ball to Brass who played the ball back to Orru who rolled the ball to Bremner on the edge of the box but he blazed his shot high wide and left.
From a poor Laing kick out Brass collected the ball inside the centre circle advanced but rushed his effort which went wildly wide to the right.
Gillen slung in a cross in 10 minutes from the right which Laing unconvincingly palmed out for a corner. Gray took the kick right into the mixer and in an incredible scramble Broxburn couldn’t force the ball home Wright shooting over in the end.
Broxburn continued to dominate Gray playing a brilliant through ball to Bremner down the right, his hard and low cross was volleyed at the near post by Brass but volleyed wide of the right post.
Musselburgh’s Stevenson made a run down the left but his cross was poor and straight out.
Khan did much better a minute later striking a good shot from 25 yards which went past the left post.
In 17 minutes Douglas did well to force a corner off Stevenson. Gray took the kick high and deep to the back post area where WRIGHT got his head powerfully to it and the ball flew into the top right hand corner to put the Brox deservedly ahead. Time 18 minutes.
Another poor kick out from Laing found Gray just inside the Musselburgh half and he audaciously tried to beat the keeper but Laing redeemed himself by getting back on his line to save.
The home side created a chance in 31 minutes McConnell missing a tackle on half way the ball threaded through to Hunter who slid the ball past Blair but also the right hand post.
Barker was booked in 35 minutes.
In 40 minutes the Brox almost doubled their lead Gray again with a deep hanging corner won by Wright at the back post back heading across the goal Laing palming the ball away from goal just before Brass applied a finish.
The Brox ended the half getting the second goal their play merited, DOUGLAS collecting the ball 22 yards from goal taking a touch and drilling a shot low into the bottom left corner with Laing unable to reach the well placed shot.
HALF TIME: Musselburgh Athletic 0 – 2 Broxburn Athletic
Half time subs for Musselburgh Wilson and Barker being replaced by Reid and Renton.
In 48 minutes a mix up in the Musselburgh defence allowed Brass in on the right but his cross was too near Laing.
In 50 minutes McConnell went on a run cutting in from the left he tried to back heel to a team mate but no one could take advantage in a gold shirt.
Bremner picked up a loose ball in midfield slid a neat ball through to Brass whose shot was saved by Laing to his left.
In 56 minutes Stevenson played in a free kick from the left which Blair claimed easily.
In the following minute Blair was called into serious action for the first time Hunter striking a great shot which the young keeper tipped over the bar.
On the hour Douglas was booked for kicking the ball away.
In 61 minutes Fiddler was replaced by O’Kane.
The Brox then struck again with a brilliant team goal Orru’s clearance finding Bremner whose pass sent DOUGLAS away down the left, he held off Reid’s challenge and shot across Laing into the bottom right corner of the net.
In 69 minutes the Brox continued to torment the home defence forcing an error which Gray capitalised on and was brought down in the penalty box. BRASS took the resulting penalty sending the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, Laing going the opposite way.
The home side made more changes in 73 minutes Smith and Hunter being replaced by Knox and Weekes.
Clark did well down the right in 75 minutes slipping the ball to Bremner who struck a great shot which Laing dived full length to his right to keep out.
D.Nimmo was booked for dissent in 76 minutes. Evans was also booked 7 minutes later.
In 84 minutes Henderson came on McConnell coming off. A minute later Downie replaced Brass.
Downie was booked in 89 minutes.
There was one last chance for a home consolation Evans getting in a shot which went over.
FULL TIME: : Musselburgh Athletic 0– 4 Broxburn Athletic

REFEREE MR. B.Falconer Assistants MR. B.White , MR. L.Quinton