League: Friendly

v Dundee North End – 9 July 2022

Broxburn’s first friendly of the season in the glorious sunshine and heat at the Albyn with Midland League opponents Dundee North End the visitors. Six of the new signings featured in the starting line up for the Brox, Sayers, Clark, Henderson, McConnell, Downie and Orru.
North End had already played 2 friendlies against Kirrie Thistle and Dundee FC Under 18s, in the lead up to their league season opener on 23rd July against Lochee Harp.
Broxburn kicked off with the breeze at their backs.
The home side were first to have an attempt at goal in 2 minutes from an Orru throw on the left Downie controlled and shot but his effort was high over the bar.
A minute later captain Shaun Harrison, in an aerial challenge, was caught accidently with a flailing arm which resulted in a bloodied nose and him having to leave the park for 3 minutes for the injury to be attended to.
In 6 minutes a nice break down the left saw Rice get in a cross which was half cleared falling nicely to Devine who curled in a shot to the right which Donoghue dived to his left to save at full stretch.
The visitors continued to look dangerous and should have taken the lead in 11 minutes after a bad mistake from Gillen, Devine was clean in on goal but the striker hurried his shot when there was no need to and he miscued his effort completely.
Broxburn started to grow in to the game and from their best move to that point in 19 minutes Binnie and Downie combined well resulting in Downie having a clear shooting opportunity inside the penalty box but Ferrie saved his effort well with the clearance completed by a defender.
Both sides continued to try and pass the ball about probing for an opening which North End managed to achieve on the half hour MacLeod adjudged to have been brought down by Orru.
DEVINE stepped up confidently to convert the resultant penalty to put the Dokens one goal ahead on the half hour.
This seemed to sting the home side into action with Orru doing well down the left his cross being blocked by Rice for a corner. From the corner Henderson and Orru worked a nice short corner routine with the latter’s cross being won by Nimmo at the back post with his header being smothered by keeper Ferrie on the line.
In 38 minutes Orru was again prominent cutting in from the left and being brought down just outside the box. Harrison touched the free kick to the right to McConnell whose well struck shot took a deflection for a corner. Henderson took the corner Harrison rose well to win the header which was well defended by the defender covering the post.
With Broxburn now having their best spell in the game Gillen hit an amazing drive from 35 yards which cracked the cross bar and bounced to safety.
From another short corner in 43 minutes Orru played the ball inside to Henderson who struck a great shot from the left which Ferrie did well to fist away.
In first half injury time after 4 successive corners Broxburn finally got on the score sheet, Henderson’s deep corner was well retrieved by Nimmo with his head this set up Harrison for a shot which was blocked with MCCONNELL reacting quickly to the loose ball with his overhead kick eluding the visitors defence and into the right hand corner of the net.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 1 Dundee North End
Broxburn made 6 changes at half time Newall, Brass, Douglas, Churchill, Murray and Greenhill replacing Sayers, Nimmo, Clark, McConnell, Downie and Binnie.
Ballantyne replaced Jamieson for North End.
The home side started the second half with some purpose Newall beating 2 North End defenders down the right and forcing a corner. Orru’s corner was on the money Ferrie forced into punching clear.
In 53 minutes from another Orru corner HARRISON headed high into the top corner of the net to edge the hosts ahead.
Greenhill and Churchill were working well in midfield with the latter sending a nice through ball which was cut off by Wighton with Douglas ready to pounce.
In 61 minutes North End’s Devine hit a shot which deflected for a corner. He took the kick himself which found Law whose shot was blocked with strong claims for handball which the referee waved away.
A minute later and the Dokens went close again Rice sending in a good free kick from the left which Lunan met strongly with his head with the ball flying just over the bar.
Rice went off for North End to be replaced by Bell.
In 65 minutes after good work by Henderson whose pass found Brass who got to the bye line but his cross was blocked with Douglas well placed.
In 69 minutes Devine was replaced by Brown.
North End continued to look for an equaliser MacLeod finding Montgomery 30 yards out who unleashed a shot which Donoghue had to look lively to tip over the bar.
In 74 minutes a real let off for the Brox, Ballantyne being 1 on 1 with Donoghue but the home keeper did well again to save his chipped effort.
In 77 minutes Harrison played a neat ball down the left for Orru who drove into the penalty box and appeared to be brought down not once but twice but the referee showed no interest in the home appeals and played on.
Henderson could have sealed the game 2 minutes later creating a chance for himself but the ball sat up and his lob went over Ferrie but also the bar.
With 8 minutes remaining Greenhill sent Orru away down the left but this time his cross was too near Ferrie who smothered the ball well at his near post.
In 84 minutes Harrison picked up another knock which forced him to go off leaving Broxburn to complete the game with 10 men as all substitutes had been used.
North End made some changes in injury time, O. Lunan, McConnachie and Herd replacing MacLeod, Law and Wighton.
An excellent work out for Broxburn against a very spirited North End side who contributed hugely to an entertaining encounter. The Brox continue their season build up at Lowland League Tranent on Tuesday night.
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 1 Dundee North End

Report 

Friendly – Broxburn Athletic v Preston Athletic – 19/01/2022

Broxburn welcomed high flying Preston Athletic from the First Division Conference B for a friendly to the Albyn on a bitterly cold evening.

The Brox started on the front foot and in the 2nd minute Trialist No 6 getting off a shot which hit Binnie deflecting to the right and well defended by Prior for the visitors.

Preston’s first effort at goal came 2 minutes later Forsyth taking a free kick from 35 yards out but blazing the ball well over the bar.

Both sides were both trying to get the ball down and play which was making for an entertaining encounter.

In 8 minutes two of the Broxburn trialists nos. 10 & 7 combined well with a cross from the right being blocked for a corner. The ball was half cleared from the corner and played back into Wright who was measuring up his shot when Prior intercepted and forced the ball out for another corner. The visitors cleared their lines effectively from Beesley’s corner.

In 13 minutes Forsyth crossed from the left finding Preston’s Trialist No.9 who headed the ball into the net but from an offside position.

Binnie was having a good tussle with Preston centre half Prior who made a timely challenge to prevent the home forward creating a shooting chance.

Beesley was having an influential game in midfield for the Brox and he played a great through ball to Trialist No 10 but he was well tackled by Forsyth to prevent the Broxburn player getting in on goal.

In 18 minutes the best chance of the game fell to the home side Beesley once again pulling the strings sending Trialist 7 in on keeper Pennycuick who did well to hold up his progress, the ball broke to Binnie who fired wide.

Another good build up from Broxburn with Trialist 10 and Newall combining with the latters cutback finding Barker who shot wide.

In 21 minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty when Wright was adjudged to have brought down Jack. HAMILTON confidently dispatched the spot kick into the home net to give Preston the lead.

Newall was fouled 25 yards from goal on the right, Beesley took the kick but no one in red could get a touch although there were shouts for a handball as the Preston defence cleared.

The visitors were stringing some nice passes together one of which gave Austin a chance to cross which he duly did striking the ball well forcing Donoghue into a save.

Jack and Trialist No 9 for Preston played a neat 1-2 which Nimmo did well to break up for the Brox. The visitors continued to weave neat passing patterns McNeill and Hamilton combining to set up Young who shot wide of goal.

In 36 minutes Newall was once again prominent down the right of the Broxburn attack cutting the ball back from the bye line but Archibald defended well for a corner. In the following minute another Newall cut back found Binnie whose shot was blocked for a corner.

In 40 minutes Broxburn carved out another chance great play between Trialist 10 and Beesley saw the latter play in Binnie on the right but Pennycuick did well to block Binnie’s well struck shot for a corner which was not capitalised on. 

Half Time: Broxburn Athletic 0 -1 Preston Athletic

Broxburn made a number of changes at half time, Hamilton, Donaldson, Murray, Tait & Greenhill replacing Donoghue, Trialist 3, Nimmo, Trialist 6, & Beesley.

Tait who had had a good game in Saturday’s win against Camelon, was once again lively leaving visiting defenders in his wake before being brought down it appeared but the referee wasn’t impressed and no penalty resulted.

In 51 minutes Tait was tormenting the visitors defence getting in another cross which no one in red could apply a touch to, Newall played the ball back in finding Binnie who was just off target with his effort.

The Brox continued to probe down the right Newall again finding Binnie who tried to lay the ball off to Tait but the visitors defence prevented the ball reaching its target.

In 54 minutes, Tait again made a great run down the left but again couldn’t find a red shirt , Newall dug out a cross from the right which Binnie won but couldn’t get his header on target.

Preston were shouting for a penalty in 59 minutes when Hamilton was shouldered off the ball in the box but the referee waved play on. The visitors then made 3 changes Malloy, Stokes and Grotlin on for Jack, Trialist 9 and Hamilton.

Nicol then came on for Trialist 7 for Broxburn. Archibald and Somers came on for Preston.

The substitutions proved profitable for the visitors in 69 minutes Somers corner found the head of STOKES whose flick found the top corner of the Broxburn net.

In 80 minutes a foul by Greenhill on Malloy 25 yards out let Archibald take a free kick which deflected off the home wall just eluding breaking to Malloy.

The visitors should have increased their advantage in the closing stages spurning great chances when well placed.

Full Time: Broxburn Athletic 0 -2 Preston Athletic

Broxburn Athletic: Donoghue, Newall, Trialist 3, Nimmo, Wright, Trialist 6, Trialist 7, Barker, Beesley, Trialist 10, Binnie

Subs: Hamilton; Nicol, Tait, Donaldson, Greenhill, Murray, Townsley

Preston Athletic: Pennycuick; Austin, Forsyth, O’Connor, Prior, Young, Jack, McNeill, Trialist 9 , Archibald, Hamilton

Subs: Newman; Archibald, Somers, Malloy, Stokes, Grotlin

 GES