League: Lowland League
Freddie Owens
BROXBURN ATHLETIC V CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS
Attendance 252
Broxburn Athletic– Watt (GK), Rodden, G Page, J Page, Bell, Wardell, Jones, Douglas, Brass, McRory-Irving, Locke ©
SUBS- Pettigrew (GK), Morris, Downie, Mwangi, Turner, Thomson, McLeod-Kay.
Broxburn Athletic returned to Albyn Park on Saturday for the visit of Edinburgh side Civil Service Strollers in the Lowland League.
Going into this game, Civil Service Strollers lie in 11th position, winning four, drawing two and losing seven so far. The Muirhouse based side are managed by ex-Edinburgh City manager Gary Jardine. The Assistant Manager/ Captain is journeyman midfielder Marc Laird. Top scorer for Strollers this term is Mackie Scott with four goals. In the clubs last match, they defeated Cumbernauld Colts 4-1 last Wednesday away at Broadwood in Lowland League action. Scorers for Strollers on the day were Mackie Scott with a double and Tom Findlay and skipper Marc Laird also getting in on the scoresheet.Civil Service Strollers last 4 Games
(1/10/24) Albion Rovers (A) 2-1 (L)
(5/10/24) Gala Fairydean (H) 4-2 (W)
(12/10/24) Dalry Thistle (A) 0-3
(16/10/24) Cumbernauld Colts (A) 1-4 (W)
Broxburn are in their traditional home kits. Red and white shirts, white shorts and red and white socks. Visitors Civil Service Strollers are in all navy-blue kits. Steve Pitman makes one change from the Broxburn side who drew away at Bo’ness United last Wednesday night. In comes Gary Brass for Bryan Mwangi.
First to threaten are Broxburn on two minutes. Gary Brass shot is wide of the target,
Up the other end and Strollers create their first chance of the match. A shot by Ewan McLeod is wide of the left-hand post.
A long ball forward by Bob Watt is headed on by Errol Douglas and finds Gary Brass wide left in space. His cross deflects for a corner. The resulting corner is defended well by the Muirhouse side. On 14 minutes, captain Nick Locke drives down the right flank and plays a good ball through to Owen Wardell. The Broxburn winger delivers a deep cross that finds Alassan Jones. Jones takes a good touch too set himself up, but his shot is well blocked by Strollers defender Josh McCulloch and Strollers clear their lines.
Broxburn defender Jonathan Page, who was down earlier and came back on, has to be replaced with just fifteen minutes played.
SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN ATHLETIC (15 Minutes)
ON-Lewis Turner
OFF-Jonathan Page
On 19 minutes, Broxburn keeper Bob Watt sends a long ball that finds Errol Douglas. The big man is fouled just outside the D and the referee awards a free kick to the home side. Up steps captain Nick Locke, whose free kick is pushed away by Strollers keeper Freddie Owens.
First in the referee’s book is Broxburn’s Alassan Jones for a foul on Callum Yeats on 23 minutes.
On the 28th minute, Errol Douglas is in from a long ball. But his shot is way over the bar.
Civil Service have dominated possession so far without creating many chances. Broxburn haven’t got going yet.
GOAL! Strollers get their reward on 40 minutes. A good move down the left finds Callum Yeats whose cross over finds Alieu Faye who scores at the back post
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 0
CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS 1 (Faye-40 Minutes)
On 41 minutes, Gary Brass latches on to a long ball behimd the Strollers defence. He can’t get any power on the shot is caught by keeper Freddie Owens. Bang on the 45-minute mark, Errol Douglas has the ball in the back of the net but he is ruled offside by the stand side linesman.
HALF TIME (1-0 Strollers)
On 46 minutes, Lewis Turner is free wide right. His cross deflects into the air and is eventually caught by Strollers goalie Owens.
GOAL! Strollers have a second. Alieu Faye plays in Tom Findlay who slots his effort into the left corner
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 0
CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS 2 (Findlay-49 Minutes)
On 51 minutes, Scott McRory-Irving is booked for a foul. On 57 minutes, a great ball over the park by Greg Page finds Lewis Turner. Turner’s shot/cross is way over the bar. On 58 minutes Kyle Bell is also booked from the card happy referee for a very soft foul.
On 62 minutes, Greg Page plays another great long ball forward to the feet of Alassan Jones. Jones crosses and its miss-kicked by both Brass then Douglas and eventually rolls out for a Strollers goal kick.
TRIPLE BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (62 Minutes)
ON-Luke Morris, Bryan Mwangi & Conor Thomson
OFF-Kyle Bell, Scott McRory Irving & Alassan Jones
Referee Duffy books Broxburn coach Derek McWilliams for something said from the Broxburn technical area.
Broxburn look to have a huge shout for a penalty on 70 minutes, the ball looks to hit the hand of a Strollers player in the box. But referee Duffy is not interested. Broxburn’s Lewis Turner is booked for his protests.
Chance for the visitors on 73 minutes. Shot by Alieu Faye is well saved by Broxburn keeper Bob Watt.
BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (74 Minutes)
ON-Finn McLeod Kay
OFF-Owen Wardell
On 77 minutes, Gary Brass scores but its ruled offside. Looked on from our viewpoint.
Next in the referee’s book is Strollers keeper Freddie Owens for time wasting on 79 minutes.
Another huge chance for Broxburn. Luke Morris gets to the byline on the right and delivers a good cross that finds Gary Brass. From close range Brass heads over the bar.
Referee Duffy books Strollers gaffer Gary Jardine for leaving his technical area on 89 minutes.
Another harsh decision by referee Duffy on 90 minutes. Greg Page has the ball in the net from a header, but it’s chopped of for a foul on the keeper. Shocking decision!
GOAL! Broxburn score! A great volley by Errol Douglas into the right corner for his 20th goal of the season.
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (Errol Douglas-95 Minutes)
CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS 2
On 98 minutes, a deep Lewis Turner cross is headed wide by Errol Douglas.
It ended 2-1 to the visitors who deserved the three points. If we get one of the 3 big decisions the referee got wrong, it gives us a big boost with time left. But no excuses, we weren’t good enough on the day. Now for a good week training in preparation for the Scottish Cup second round away tie away to Auchinleck Talbot next Saturday.
FULL TIME
Broxburn Athletic 1(Douglas)
Civil Service Strollers 2
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE- James Duffy
ASSISTANTS- Daniel McGuire & Jason Crocker
Bo’ness United – Owens (GK), McCulloch, Clarke, Shaw, Bone, McLeod, Findlay, Laird ©, Smith, Faye, Yeats
Subs- Wilkinson (GK), Aluko, Valentine, Kazoka, Vata, Scott, Laing
NEXT GAME
Saturday the 26th of October
Scottish Cup Second Round
Auchinleck Talbot (Away)
Beechwood Park
3PM
Boness United v Broxburn Athletic
Attendance 275
Broxburn Athletic– Watt (GK), Rodden, G Page, J Page, Bell, Wardell, Douglas, Mwangi, McRory-Irving, Morris. Locke ©
SUBS- Pettigrew (GK), Jones, Downie, Brass. Turner. Thomson, Millar.
Broxburn returned to league action with a tough midweek away game against Bo’ness United
Going into this game, Bo’ness United lie in 7th place in the Lowland league. The club’s top scorer is Luca Stenhouse and Smart Osadolar who are both on four goals. In the last meeting between the sides was a 2-2 draw back in September at Albyn Park. Errol Douglas scored on 16 minutes, with a great run from the halfway line and good finish. Bo’ness equalised four minutes later. Keir McAuley’s cross from the left finds Smart Osadolar whose header is over Bob Watt for 1-1. United took the lead on 84 minutes. Referee Hogarth gave an indirect free kick, after Bob Watt saved an Andy Rodden clearance. Smart Osaldolar set up Shaun Rutherford, who’s shot went under the wall and beat Bob Watt for 2-1. But Broxburn fought back with a 91st minute equaliser. A deep Marky Munro cross from the right found Alassan Jones, whose initial shot was saved by Bo’ness keeper Melrose, but at the second attempt Jones scored to secure Broxburn a huge point.
Bo’ness United’s last 4 Games
(1/10/24) Berwick Rangers (H) 1-1 (D)
(5/10/24) Celtic B (H) 3-3 (D)
(6/10/24) Kilsyth Rangers (H) 3-1 (W)
(12/10/24) Eglington (A) 0-1 (W)
Bo’ness United are in all blue kits. Broxburn are in their traditional kits. Red and white shirts, white shorts and red and white socks. Broxburn make two changes to the team that beat Thorn Athletic 3-1 in the South of Scotland third round last Saturday. Returning to the starting eleven is captain Nick Locke and Jonathan Page, they replace Marcus Millar and Gary Brass.
Broxburn are the first to threaten on the 5th minute. Owen Wardell’s cross from the right had too much on it for Errol Douglas.
After a fast Broxburn start, its Bo’ness who nearly take the lead on 6 minutes. Lucas Stenhouse takes on Luke Morris before playing in Ryan Porteous. The Bo’ness striker fires his effort over the goal mouth and wide of target.
On 17 minutes, Kyle Bell drives into the area before playing in Broxburn top scorer Errol Douglas. Unfortunately, Douglas miss kicks his shot and it’s a Bo’ness goal kick.
Bo’ness United have another chance on 22 minutes. Luke Morris clearance is intercepted by Smart Osadolor. The Bo’ness number nine’s effort is just wide of target. On 23 minutes, a shot by Lucas Stenhouse deflects of Jonathan Page for a Bo’ness corner. From the resulting corner taken by Livingston loanee Stenhouse, it’s over everyone for a Broxburn goal kick.
First in the book today was Bo’ness United’s Adam Masson for a foul on Bryan Mwangi on 25 minutes. From the resulting free kick, Andy Rodden’s effort is over the bar.
Bang on 45 minutes, a dangerous free kick by Lucas Stenhouse is well defended by Greg Page who clears the danger for Broxburn.
HALF TIME (0-0)
On 52 minutes, we have a major talking point in the match. Bryan Mwangi fouled Adam Masson and the Bo’ness right back who was already on a booking swore at the referee, (We heard this from the assistant referee) which lead to him being shown a second yellow card. Silly from the Bo’ness right back and certainly put his team up against it for the remainder of the half. Bo’ness make a tactical substitution after the red card, with Ryan Stevenson replacing Louis Kennedy.
A powerful low shot by Luke Morris is saved by Bo’ness keeper Melrose on 56 minutes.
Next in the referee’s book is Broxburn’s Greg Page for dissent on 61 minutes.
Huge chance for Broxburn to take the lead on 65 minutes. Owen Wardell wins possession wide right. He passes it wide over the park for the advanced Bryan Mwangi who feeds in Broxburn skipper Nick Locke. Locke’s low cross is headed wide from close range by Errol Douglas.
Up the other end Bo’ness have a huge chance also a minute later. A good cross by Lucas Stenhouse from the right, is headed inches wide by Smart Osadolor.
Broxburn come forward again on 67 minutes, through left back Andy Rodden. Rodden delivers a great cross from the left and finds Bryan Mwangi who misses from close range. Kyle Bell comes close a minute later when his low shot is just wide of target for Broxburn.
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (68 Minutes)
ON- Alassan Jones & Gary Brass
OFF- Luke Morris & Bryan Mwangi
Another Broxburn chance on 69 minutes. An Errol Douglas shot is over the bar for the visitors. A minute later, an Andy Rodden cross from a free kick is headed wide by Douglas. On 79 minutes, Nick Locke plays a great through ball for Errol Douglas who nutmegs one defender, before Bo’ness number four, Lewis Duffy makes a great block to deny Douglas.
In the book next is Broxburn midfielder Kyle Bell for a foul on 84 minutes.
On 81 minutes, Owen Wardell is sent through on goal by Scott McRory Irving, but his shot is well blocked by Bo’ness keeper Melrose.
On 82 minutes, Owen Wardell is in again and his shot is over the bar.
Up the other end, Bo’ness winger Lucas Stenhouse has a shot saved by Bob Watt on 87 minutes.
On 89 minutes, an attempted chip by Scott McRory Irving is just over the bar for Broxburn.
It ends goalless at Newton Park tonight. Fair play to Bo’ness who defended well all night. Now we look to get back to winning ways against Civil Service Strollers on Saturday afternoon.
FULL TIME
Bo’ness United 0
Broxburn Athletic 0
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE- Euan Birch
ASSISTANTS- Hannah McLean & James Quinn
Bo’ness United – Melrose (GK), Masson, Hawkins, Duffy, Travis ©, Irving, Stenhouse, Johnston, Osadolor, Porteous, Kennedy
Subs- Campbell (GK), Stevenson, Malcolm, Henderson, Grant, McLinden, Gemmell
NEXT GAME
Lowland League
Civil Service Strollers
Saturday the 19th of October
Albyn Park
3PM