League: East Premier League 2023/24

Attendance 162

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Penicuik Athletic 22 August 2023 

Broxburn returned to league action to face what has historically been their bogey team Penicuik Athletic. Having maintained their 100% start to the season by beating Peebles Rovers in the cup last Saturday the Brox made only 1 change to Saturdays line up Turner replaced Campbell. Penicuik have had a strange start to the season with 2 poor results losing 6-0 at promoted Glenrothes and 9-0 at Tynecastle. Things got back on track last Saturday edging out Luncarty by 3-2. The Cuikie also made 1 change to their starting line up Melvin replaced Baptie.

In the 3^rd minute Penicuik made an opportunity for themselves McManus playing in a ball to Dawson with his back to goal but he couldn’t play on to a team mate to get a shot off.

The same combination were at it again in the 8^th minute as the visitors positive start continued Dawson’s strike for goal was was straight to Watt who collected well.

In the 10^th minute Broxburn were seen for the first time in an offensive situation when Davidson was fouled by Furness, the ball was played to the left to Turner who swung in a deep cross to the back post where D.Nimmo put in a strong challenge but was adjudged to have fouled Leiper in the Cuikie goal.

Broxburn were starting to hit their stride now Locke played a great defence splitting pass down the right wing to Munro who swung over a pinpoint cross where Leiper did superbly well to get a hand on it with Downie on hand to finish if the keeper had made an error.

In a similar incident at the other end McManus played in a cross which Dawson battled strongly for with Watt with the keeper doing well to punch clear.

Against the run of play to that point the Brox took the lead Brass controlled the ball in midfield moved forward and slid the ball to DOWNIE who controlled the ball and fired the ball into the bottom left corner of the net past Leiper. Time 16 minutes.

Turner was fouled by Taylor-McKenzie, took the free kick himself which was well met by Leiper who punched clear.

Great play from Locke in 25 minutes, he turned his man brilliantly and played in a cross which was well defended by Young with plenty red shirts on hand to pick up on any error.

Broxburn were nearly 2 to the good a minute later Munro again providing a fine cross which Downie won at the back post but his header went just wide.

A mistake by Millar on halfway allowed Penicuik a 2 on 2 situation but the visitors didn’t get it right Watt doing a great job to usher Dawson wide with his cross then unable to find Wardlaw. Time 36 minutes.

A nice free flowing Brox move was ended by captain Locke blazing high over the bar.

In 39 minutes Munro fouled Wardlaw about 20 yards out slightly left of centre. Taylor-McKenzie took the free kick which he struck well curling from left to right and just clearing the cross bar.

Penicuik went even closer to an equaliser in 43 minutes McManus forcing a corner off Millar. Young won the header from the corner which Watt did well to parry Dawson got to the rebound but his header looped over the bar.

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 0 Penicuik Athletic      

(Photos Courtesy of Andrew MacPherson)

Penicuik made a bright start to the 2^nd half Melvin’s long throw was well won by Page over Dawson, Brass was then fouled with Watt completing the clearance.

In 52 minutes the Cuikie continued to press Taylor-Mackenzie cutting in from the left and unleashing a great shot which Watt did brilliantly to save at full stretch.

Broxburn forced an error in the Penicuik defence with Turner playing a ball into the penalty area but Thomson came away with the ball, Downie retrieved for Broxburn got to the bye line but he couldn’t pick out a red shirt.

In 55 minutes a long ball was played forward which Locke chased and challenged keeper Leiper who had come off his line but Locke caught the ball with his hand when trying to knock the ball past the keeper and was promptly booked by the referee.

Then a touch of class by the Brox skipper Brass’s persistence down the right saw him cross for LOCKE who audaciously back heeled the ball into the left corner of the net.

The Brox had their tails up and from a Turner corner Brass won the header which went just over the bar.

Penicuik made a change in 66 minutes Buckle went off to be replaced by Roue.

Two minutes later Locke played in a ball from the right Young conceding a corner. Turner took the kick the ball was part cleared but fell to Page whose header was cleared from inside the 6 yard box.

Locke went off for Broxburn to be replaced by Thomson.

In 77 minutes the visitors squandered a chance on the break Wardlaw laid the ball off to Dawson but his shot was high and right.

A minute later Downie came off for Wilson.

Taylor-Mackenzie was booked for a foul on Bremner. Time 81 minutes.

Two minutes later the pacy Wardlaw fashioned a shooting chance on the left which he fired wide.

In 84 minutes Taylor-Mackenzie and Dawson were substituted for Fraser and Philp.

Davidson came very close to his first Broxburn goal cutting inside on the left and curling a shot which hit the cross bar, the fall up falling to Brass who was also out of luck.

A chance fell to Wilson in 89 minutes but he shot well over.

In a high energy finish to the game a misunderstanding between D.Nimmo and Page allowed Wardlaw clean in but he shot straight at Watt who did real well to save.

Wilson and Bremner were booked in injury time for the Brox.

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 0 Penicuik Athletic

Referee  Mr R. Donaldson ,   Assistants Mr A. Simmonds , Mr D. Robertson

 

 

 

Attendance 160

East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell 12 August 2023 

Broxburn returned to the Albyn after 2 excellent away wins at Musselburgh and Luncarty to face Dundonald Bluebell. Last season’s game between the two had produced a 10 goal thriller in a 5-5 draw.

Dundonald had made a decent start to their season winning 3-1 last Saturday against Hutchison Vale and seeing off Edinburgh United 3-0 in the East Of Scotland Qualifying Cup.

Dundonald kicked off playing into the wind blowing down the ground. In the 1^st minute from a clearance by the visiting defence Brown was struck in the head by the ball and required lengthy treatment and was unable to continue. In 5 minutes Rogerson came on to replace him.

Locke got in the first shot of the game in 7 minutes from the right side of the penalty box he hit the ball well but into the side netting.

However the opening goal was to come at the other end Bremner gave the ball away in midfield to Hall who slid a neat ball through to HEALY who was in on goal who steadied himself and slotted the ball past Watt.

Broxburn responded well to the setback Locke playing the ball to Davidson who in turn fed the ball into the box to Douglas who held the ball turned and slid the ball just wide of the left hand post.

In the 11 minute Douglas was fouled by MacKenzie. Turner took the free kick on the right about 22 yards from goal. Lennox in the visitors goal did well to palm the ball out for a corner. Turner took the corner low which was easily dealt with and cleared.

A real lung busting run from Campbell in 15 minutes on the left from the halfway line saw him leave defenders in his wake and delivering a cross from the bye line which Douglas couldn’t get enough on with his flick going past the left post.

A minute later and ex Brox full back Orru was fouled by Bremner 25 yards from goal on the left. Lumsden took the free kick Brass heading clear, Rogerson played back in but Watt claimed comfortably.

The Brox had a real let off in 18 minutes when the defence were split open again Hall having a clear sight of goal but he screwed his volley wide of the right hand post.

From a Turner corner in 22 minutes Page won the ball in the air his header found Douglas whose shot deflected for a corner. Turner took the kick once again creating a shooting opportunity for Bremner but he dragged his effort wide left of goal.

Broxburn allowed the visitors another chance this time LUMSDEN cooly knocked the ball past Watt and into the net to make it 0-2. Time 28 minutes.

Broxburn threw themselves a lifeline 3 minutes later Turner won the ball in midfield and fed the ball out to Munro on the right wing who sent over a fantastic cross which beat Sibanda was controlled by DOUGLAS who turned and cracked the ball into the roof of the net. Time 31 minutes.

Five minutes later Bremner played a nice ball down the wing for Brass to chase, he got to the bye line his cross being met by Sibanda who conceded a corner. From the Brox corner Dundonald broke quickly although Hall appeared to foul Campbell which wasn’t given Healy and Hall played the ball between them with the latter tapping the ball into the net but was flagged offside.

Bremner was booked in 38 minutes.

In 45 minutes Munro put over another great ball which Sibanda clearly handled in the air, the referee awarded a penalty with the Broxburn players incensed Sibanda wasn’t sent off only seeing a yellow card. Davidson was also booked. DOUGLAS stepped up to the take the penalty where he dispatched the ball past Lennox to tie the score.

.     

HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 2 Dundonald Bluebell

Dundonald almost got themselves back ahead in 48 minutes Locke did well on the right to cut out a pass at the concession of a corner. Lumsden took the kick McCulloch got his head to the ball with the Brox defence scrambling the ball clear inside the 6 yard box.

There was another scare in 51 minutes Orru played in a ball from the left Campbell totally mistimed his clearance attempt which luckily went out of the reach of Healy.

In 54 minutes Munro fed Locke on the right who played over a low cross which Sibanda didn’t deal with the ball breaking to BRASS who didn’t make the best of connections on his shot but was good enough to go into the left hand side of the net to complete a great Brox come back.

Eight minutes later and it was 4-2. A Munro cross was blocked for a corner on the right. Campbell took the kick which was excellently delivered right on the head of DOUGLAS who headed down and ball flew into the net.

Downie replaced Brass in 64 minutes.

The Brox were having an excellent spell from another flowing move Davidson played a ball down the left for Campbell to chase his cross again was a good one Sibanda doing well to defend.

In 67 minutes Drummond and Healy went off for Dundonald, Smith and Murphy coming on.

A minute Broxburn made a change Heath replaced Davidson.

Locke made a great run down the right feeding Downie whose cross picked out Heath who hit a good shot on target which Lennox saved well.

Substitute Murphy was booked in 71 minutes.

A minute later another change for the visitors Mackenzie went off Kennedy came on.

From a long wind assisted ball forward SMITH just got to the ball before Page and he expertly lobbed Watt the ball bouncing before entering the roof of the net. Time 72 minutes.

Dundonald had been lifted by the goal with Rogerson sending in a cross which Kennedy won but his header looped over the bar.

Binnie a Broxburn substitute was booked off the field.

In 77 minutes Douglas was substituted by R.Nimmo.

Munro was booked for a foul on Orru.

In 85 minutes Rogerson got off a shot which Watt did well to save at Hall’s feet but the striker had been flagged offside.

Campbell sent Heath for a run down the left wing who got in a cross which Lennox did well to cut out and save.

Downie did well in 88 minutes sliding a great ball to R.Nimmo who miscued his shot completely when in great position.

Page did brilliantly in defence to strongly challenge and retain possession and then sent a fine long ball which R.Nimmo controlled but shot with his left foot went well wide on the right side.

The visitors last chance in injury time came from an Orru long throw on the left Hall and then Lumsden had shots which were blocked with the Brox seeing the game out for their 4^th league victory maintaining the 100% start to the season.

     

FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 4 – 3 Dundonald Bluebell

Referee  Mr J.Kelly   Assistants Mr J.Gardiner , Mr S. McArthur