League: South Challenge Cup
Thorn Athletic v Broxburn Athletic
Attendance 150
Broxburn Athletic– Watt (GK), Rodden, G Page, Millar, Morris, Bell, McRory-Irving, Mwangi, Wardell, Brass, Douglas
SUBS- Pettigrew (GK), Downie, Jones, Turner, Thomson, Russell, McLeod Kay.
HOW BOTH TEAMS REACHED THIS STAGE
THORN ATHLETIC
First Round- Bye
Second Round – Crossgates Primrose (H) 3-2 (Prete x2 & Steele)
BROXBURN ATHLETIC
First Round- Ardrossan Rovers (A) 3-4 (AET) (Douglas x2, Bell & Locke)
Second Round- Nithsdale Wanderers (A) 2-10 (Douglas x3 Wardell x2, Brass x2, Kagni Soukpe x2, McRory Irving)
Broxburn travelled to Renfrewshire on Saturday for our South of Scotland tie against Thorn Athletic.
Thorn Athletic currently lie top of the West of Scotland third division and are undefeated in their 2024/25 campaign so far. The club is managed by former Queens Park academy coach David Watt. In the clubs last fixture, they knocked out Premier League side Benburb FC of the WOSFL cup, with a 2-1 win. Scorers for Thorn were Euan Rodger and an own goal.
THORN ATHLETIC’S LAST 4 MATCHES
(14/9/24) Crossgates Thistle (H) 3-2 (W)
(22/9/24) Ashfield (A) 2-5 (W)
(28/9/24) Lugar Boswell Thistle (A) 0-2 (W)
(5/10/24) Benburb (H) 2-1 (W)
Thorn Athletic were in all navy blue. Broxburn Athletic were in their traditional strips. Red and White shirts, white shorts and red and white socks. Broxburn make two changes to the side that defeated East Stirlingshire last Saturday. In come Bryan Mwangi and Marcus Miller, who replace Jonathan Page and captain Nick Locke in the starting eleven.
It’s very wet in Renfrewshire as the game kicks off. The home side start the game the better of the two sides and create the first chance of the match in the first minute. A dangerous ball through is just beyond striker Euan Rodger.
GOAL! What a start for Thorn Athletic. Marcus Miller gifts the hosts possession, Lewis Steele picks up and drives down the right before picking out Euan Rodger, Rodger slots his effort into the corner and its first blood to the West of Scotland side.
THORN ATHLETIC 1 (Rodger-3 Minutes)
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 0
GOAL! Broxburn equalise! Gary Brass finds Owen Wardell, the Broxburn right winger turns, set himself and from the edge of the box finds the bottom corner.
THORN ATHLETIC 1
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (Owen Wardell-10 Minutes)
On 12 minutes, Thorn Athletic have a huge chance. Jones is through on goal and drags his effort just wide of target.
On 15 minutes, Kyle Bell picks up a loose ball and drives forward. His through ball has too much on it and rolls for a goal kick.
Huge chance again for Thorn Athletic on 20 minutes. A long ball by Thorn keeper McWilliams finds Jones whose shot is touched wide by Broxburn keeper Bob Watt,
On 21 minutes, Errol Douglas lays it off for Bryan Mwangi whose shot deflects for a corner. The resulting corner is well defended by Thorn who get rid of the danger.
On 22 minutes, Bob Watt makes another great save, this time from Thorn Athletic number 10 Lewis Steele from close range.
On 27 minutes, Broxburn have a great chance to take the lead. A good cross by Owen Wardell finds Bryan Mwangi who heads over from close range.
Another good Broxburn move on 31 minutes. Good passing by Greg Page, Andy Rodden and Bryan Mwangi. A good cross in from Mwangi is read well by Thorn keeper McWilliams, who just collects the ball before Errol Douglas.
On 38 minutes, Scott McRory Irving picks up a loose pass, takes on the Thorn midfielder before finding Bryan Mwangi whose shot is saved by Thorn Athletic keeper McWilliams.
GOAL! Broxburn take the lead. Long throw from Marcus Millar finds Gary Brass. Brass chests it down for Owen Wardell who takes a good touch before shooting into the left corner for 2-1 Broxburn.
THORN ATHLETIC 1
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2 (Owen Wardell-41 Minutes)
On 44 minutes, Owen Wardell takes on the Thorn left back. His cross is touched on by Gary Brass, but it has too much on it for Bryan Mwangi and goes out for a goal kick.
HALF TIME (2-1 Broxburn)
On 50 minutes, Andy Rodden’s free kick finds Errol Douglas who can’t connect right with the header and the ball is collected by Thorn keeper McWilliams. On 51 minutes, Bryan Mwangi finds Owen Wardell whose shot hits Thorn Athletic keeper McWilliams in the face and we have a short stoppage in play. On 55 minutes, Errol Douglas is in on goal from a Scott McRory Irving through ball. Errol’s shot is saved by McWilliams.
On 64 minutes, Bryan Mwangi plays in Scott McRory Irving, whose chip is saved by McWilliams.
GOAL! Its 3-1 Broxburn. Errol Douglas is in and chips it over the keeper for his 19th goal of the season.
THORN ATHLETIC 1
BROXBURN ATHLETIC 3 (Errol Douglas-67 Minutes)
SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (70 Minutes)
ON-Alassan Jones
OFF-Errol Douglas
On 76 minutes, Gary Brass finds Alassan Jones who misses from close range.
DOUBLE BROXBURN SUBSTITUTION (80 Minutes)
ON-Fionn McLeod Kay & Conor Thomson
OFF-Bryan Mwangi & Owen Wardell
SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (85 Minutes)
ON-Darren Downie
OFF-Gary Brass
First booking of the match comes for Lewis Steele for a foul on Alassan Jones.
Chance for Broxburn on 90 Minutes. Andy Rodden’s is in on goal. His chip is cleared of the line by Thorn defender Davies.
A big win against a very good Thorn Athletic side to progress to the next round. A very good club with a good set up and good facilities. We wish them all the best for the season.
FULL TIME
Thorn Athletic 1
Broxburn Athletic 3 (Wardell x2, Douglas)
MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE- Mr McCart
ASSISTANTS- Mr Lyle & Mr Ferguson
THORN ATHLETIC – McWilliam (GK), Quinn, Lauchlan, Davies, Stewart, Denny, Prete, Armstrong, Jones, Rodger, Steele
Subs- Tennant, Dalling, McLelland, Keegan, Duffy, McKnight, Bridges
NEXT GAME
Lowland League
Bo’ness United (A)
Wednesday the 16th of October
Newton Park
7.45PM