League: Friendly

Pre – Season Friendly: Broxburn Athletic v Edinburgh South – 19 July 2022

Broxburn continued their pre-season build up in the searing heat at the Albyn against East of Scotland League 2 side Edinburgh South. There were 8 changes in the starting line up from Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Bo’ness. Donoghue, Sayers, Gillen, Gray, Jeffries, Brass, Douglas and a Trialist for Wallace, Newall, Orru, Greenhill, Binnie, McConnell, Downie and Churchill.
Edinburgh South arrived in good fettle having beaten Premier League Tynecastle 4-2 on Saturday.
Broxburn started on the front foot in the 3rd minute Sayers playing a delightful ball through for Douglas who steadied himself before hitting a decent strike which forced Gilpin to save. From the corner Henderson swung the ball back in but the it broke kindly for the visitors hitting Meikle and deflecting back to the keeper.
In 7 minutes Edinburgh South showed their attacking intent Sharkey sliding the ball through towards Martin, needing a last minute intervention from Harrison to prevent a clear chance.
Broxburn should have gone ahead a minute later, Gray the architect playing a fine ball to Douglas but the striker fired just over.
An even better opportunity was also spurned in 12 minutes Henderson leaving defenders in his wake getting past keeper Gilpin catching the ball on the bye line and cutting back to Brass but he shot wildly over.
In an all action game the visitors also added to the gilt edged chance misses Martin taking a fresh air swipe at the ball yards from goal after a ball was played in from the left.
A goal had to come and it duly did in 21 minutes Sayers playing in a great ball from the right which was met by the head of BRASS whose bullet header cracked off the underside of the bar just over the line and back out again. The referee signalled a goal.
It was almost two in 23 minutes Jeffries picking up a poor pass and sliding a great ball to Douglas who got a shot off which was saved by Gilpin. Brass was then denied a second goal by the linesman’s flag, being adjudged offside.
On the half hour Edinburgh South’s Tweed beat Gillen and slipped a ball inside to Martin but he shot well over the bar.
A great 1-2 between HENDERSON and Brass saw the former in the clear and he slotted the ball past Gilpin for the Brox’s second goal. Time 34 minutes.
That man HENDERSON was at it again 2 minutes later going on a solo run beating a couple of defenders on the left and striking a brilliant left foot shot past Gilpin into the right hand corner of the net.
In 38 minutes Henderson and Sharkey were booked.
The visitors should have pulled a goal back but Sharkey’s effort from close range hit the post.
In 42 minutes great play from Henderson again set Sayers away down the right the young wing back seemed caught in 2 minds between cross or shot and his effort was just out of reach of Brass.
In 44 minutes Henderson who had had a brilliant half again set up Brass nicely after a run down the left this time Brass’s effort was well blocked by Brennan.
In first half injury time a neat move from the visitors saw Martin create a shoot opportunity which Trialist number 11 blocked well.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 0 Edinburgh South
Edinburgh South made a change at half time Ashraf replacing Gilhooley.
In 54 minutes Henderson nicely picked out Sayers who strode into the box but his shot was well wide when others were well placed to finish in the centre.
Three minutes later Edinburgh South had a chance a long ball was played forward to Martin but he hurried his shot which was well wide.
On the hour a great long ball from Harrison was well controlled by DOUGLAS on the left and he fired the ball past Gilpin for the home sides 4th goal.
Ashraf played in a decent ball from the right but his forwards Martin and Sharkey were a bit over eager and flagged offside.
The Brox made a number of changes Newall, Downie, Ross Nimmo, Trialist 16, and Churchill replacing, Gray, Henderson, Jeffries, Brass and Trialist 11.
Hassan replaced Pritchett for Edinburgh South.
In 70 minutes Churchill almost made an immediate impact cutting inside nicely from the right but Gilpin did well to save and the ball cleared.
A minute later it should have been 5-0 Churchill and Downie setting up Douglas who beat his man but fired disappointingly wide.
Smith replaced Sharkey for the visitors.
In 78 minutes Churchill swept the ball wide to Donaldson whose cross was blocked for a corner. From the kick Douglas got in a header which was blocked.
After a neat build up down the right Douglas swung over a deep cross which found Nimmo who struck the ball well with his left foot with his effort being deflected over the bar.
The visitors kept plugging away to the end but Martin shot wildly over.
A positive workout for Broxburn after Saturday’s disappointment. Both sets of players deserve credit for serving up a decent game in such high temperatures played at a good pace. The final friendly is at home this Saturday when West of Scotland League Kirkintilloch Rob Roy visit.
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 4 – 0 Edinburgh South

Pre Season Friendly: Broxburn Athletic v Bo’ness United – 16 July 2022

Broxburn continued their pre-season build up at the Albyn against local rivals Bo’ness United from the Lowland League. The Brox showed 4 changes to their starting line up from the Tranent game, Greenhill, Binnie, Downie and Henderson replacing Brass, Gillen, Jeffries and Douglas.
Bo’ness had 5 changes from the side who beat Dunbar with 2 late goals on Tuesday night, McCormack, Jacobs, Jones, Hughes and Love replacing Hawkins, Ward, Johnston, Grant and Trialist.
Broxburn had a glorious chance in the 2nd minute Churchill played in on goal but he inexplicably sclaffed his shot completely and the chance was gone.
From a long ball the BU’s were almost in on goal but for alert defending by Donaldson to prevent Love having a clear run on Wallace.
In 8 minutes Bo’ness made an early breakthrough, Jones slid a nice ball through for Stevenson to run on to, Wallace was switched on to the danger and came off his line to slide in to clear the ball but missed it completely allowing STEVENSON an empty net to tap the ball into.
This seemed to rattle the home side and from a Jones corner 2 minutes later McCormack was left unmarked at the back post, fortuanately his header back across goal did not find a team mate.
In 12 minutes Henderson was heavily challenged by Gemmell forcing the winger to have extended treatment. From Orru’s free kick Bo’ness cleared only as far as Greenhill who floated the ball back in but his cross was well claimed by Dibaga in the visitors goal.
In a niggly period of play Stevenson brought down Newall , with Greenhill taking the free kick short to Henderson but his cross was disappointingly over hit.
In 19 minutes Henderson had to come off not having recovered from the previous challenge, to be replaced by Jeffries.
The visitors went close again in 22 minutes Hughes sending in a great free kick which Coll headed just over the bar.
Binnie got into a decent position for the Brox but he shot wide and over the bar.
The BU’s had their tails up in 35 minutes when they increased their lead, WATT ran on to a nice ball down the left and he steadied himself before curling a great shot past Wallace into the right hand corner of the net.
Broxburn were not dealing well with wind assisted long balls Stevenson having a great opportunity but he lobbed this effort to the right of the target.
From a high ball from the left from Jacobs, Wallace had to keep a close eye out doing nicely to tip the ball over the bar. From the corner Stevenson engineered a shooting opportunity which Wallace parried away to safety.
Broxburn through themselves a lifeline right on half time from a neat through ball Churchill picked out DOWNIE who dispatched the ball past Dibaga to pull a goal back.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 2 Bo’ness United
A real blow for Broxburn early in the 2nd half when McConnell challenged for the ball going down in real pain and needing extensive treatment before being stretchered off and an ambulance called for.
A trialist took the stricken McConnell’s place in 54 minutes.
In 56 minutes after a bad foul on Churchill resulted in a free kick, Greenhill and Churchill combined nicely to send Newall away down the right but his cross just evaded Downie.
From a Jones corner in 58 minutes deep to the back post slack marking allowed Love a free header but he just couldn’t divert on to target.
That warning wasn’t heeded when a good cross came in from the right STEVENSON got ahead of Newall to head past Wallace to give the BU’S a 3-1 lead in 61 minutes.
Bo’ness then made some changes Todd, Gemmell, Jones, Watt and Stevenson going off to be replaced by Hamilton, Johnston, Grant, Dukuray and Ward.
Broxburn also made changes Brass, Sayers and another trialist for Binnie , Orru and Newall.
There were home claims for a penalty when trialist number 16’s cross appeared to strike an arm but the referee wasn’t impressed and play went on.
In 65 minutes the same trialist was once again prominent playing a defence splitting pass which went past Dibaga but Brass couldn’t catch the ball before going out.
The Brox went closer in 68 minutes involving trialist 16 to Brass who sent Churchill down the left his curling effort hitting the bar.
A long ball forward forced Ward into an error but Brass who had pressured him couldn’t get in a decisive effort on target.
From a quick break forward with 10 minutes left Hamilton played a nice pass to GRANT who slotted the ball past Wallace.
In 82 minutes Jeffries sent Sayers down the right wing with his cross just out of reach of Brass and Downie.
In 88 minutes a high hanging ball in from the right from McCormack was dropped by Wallace but scrambled clear to safety. Wallace was soon back in action pulling off a save at full stretch from Love.
In the last minute Brass neatly found Downie who got off a shot which was deflected wide. From the corner Donaldson from 3 yards out missed the ball altogether when any touch would have been a scoring one.
A tough day for the Brox with Bo’ness taking their chances and punishing the hosts mistakes and not taking chances when presented. Pre-season preparation continues on Tuesday when Edinburgh South come calling to the Albyn.
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 4 Bo’ness United