Penicuik Athletic v Broxburn Athletic

Report

Match Report

East of Scotland Premier League – Penicuik Athletic v Broxburn Athletic– 10/10/2020

Broxburn saw their first taste of league action for the 2020/21 season at Penicuik Park, never a happy hunting ground for the Brox and sadly that record was to continue.

Penicuik kicked off on a perfect afternoon for football with only the committee’s from each team in attendance.

In the opening exchanges both teams struggled to find their passing range. The home side were first to threaten Tansey getting to the bye line and getting his cross in which was well defended by Harrison.

Penicuik were first to have a shot at the goal in 7 minutes after good work from Stewart and Kateleza, Lamb’s effort cleared the cross bar.

In the 9th minute a long ball from Stevenson caught the Broxburn trying to play offside but KATELEZA timed his run perfectly to latch on to the throughball took a couple of touches before shooting the ball past Wallace to give Penicuik an early lead.

Broxburn were struggling to get a foothold in the game but after Nicol was fouled 30 yards out Greenhill sent a great free kick into the penalty box but there were no one in a black shirt could get on the end of it.

In 16 minutes Tansey put over another good ball which was collected by Stewart on the Penicuik right where he was fouled by Donaldson just outside the area which saw the visiting player yellow carded. Nothing came of the free kick.

Ross picked up Broxburn’s second booking 5 minutes later.

After good work by Nicol down the left side he was fouled with Greenhill again taking the free kick which needed home keeper Tait to punch clear but he was adjudged to have been fouled.

Tansey got clear down the left for Penicuik on 27 minutes but he elected to shoot wastefully wide.

Wallace was called into action in the Broxburn goal in 38 minutes when he dived full length to palm away a well struck Lamb shot.

Penicuik continued to look dangerous Connolly seeing his shot get an important touch from Wallace as the shot narrowly missed the left hand post.

Cowley replaced Richards just before half time for Broxburn.

Half Time Penicuik Athletic 1– 0 Broxburn Athletic

Broxburn looked much more purposeful from kick off at the start of the second half, Greenhill winning the ball well to set up Ireland who curled a shot which home keeper Tait saved easily.

Better was to come for the visitors after a fine team passing move Donaldson was brought down on the left hand side of the penalty box by Forbes. KELLY stepped up confidently to convert the spot kick.

Penicuik were stung into action just as it seemed Broxburn were starting to get the upper hand, Kateleza shooting well wide in 51 minutes which was his last action in the game being replaced by Devlin.

The home side re-established their lead in 55 minutes as CONNOLLY was given far much time to hit a cracking shot into the right hand corner of Wallace’s net.

Stewart was booked a minute later for a foul on Cowley.

After neat work from Ross, Ireland’s shot was blocked by the home defenders. Ireland was then replaced by Hopkinson.

Then in 63 minutes from a foul by Wright, Stevenson sent a free kick into the Broxburn box, with no claims from the home team, the referee awarded a penalty for what may have been an alleged push by Harrison but it was impossible to tell the exact reason. STEVENSON sent Wallace the wrong way from the spot kick to put the home side 3-1 ahead.

Kelly was booked for airing his feelings on the penalty award.

In 67 minutes Broxburn made further changes Redmond for the injured Donaldson and Turnbull for Greenhill.

Viola then replaced Tansey for Penicuik.

The substitute was to have an immdiate impact when Cowley failed to clear in 76 minutes, Viola nipped in to set up CONNOLLY who fired a low shot past Wallace into the net.

Broxburn tried to hit back when Ross was fouled 25 yards from goal he took the free kick which crashed into the home wall.

Penicuik then made further substitutions O’Donnell and Somerville replacing Baptie and Stewart.

In 79 minutes Cowley sent Redmond away with a pass down the left but when attempting to cross it was mis timed and floated harmlessly over the bar.

In the final minute after a Harrison foul on Devlin, Stevenson’s free kick drifted wide of Wallace’s left hand post.

Not the best start to the season for Broxburn but an early chance to right matters comes at home at the Albyn on Tuesday night when Camelon visit.

Full Time Penicuik Athletic 4– 1 Broxburn Athletic

Teams:

Broxburn Athletic: Wallace; Gillan, Donaldson, Harrison (c), Wright; Richards, Nicol, Greenhill; Ireland, Kelly, Ross

Subs: Donoghue (Unused), Hopkinson, Murray (Unused), Redmond, Turnbull, Grant (Unused) Cowley

Penicuik Athletic: Tait, Baptie, Young, Connolly (c), Kateleza, Tansey, Lamb, Stewart, Thomson, Stevenson, Forbes

Subs: Watt (Unused), O’Donnell, Page (Unused), Devlin, Somerville, Reid (Unused), Viola