League: South Challenge Cup

Soccer Shop Direct Challenge Cup Second Round– Broxburn Athletic v Irvine Meadow XI – 21/11/2020

A return to cup tie action against West Of Scotland league opposition in the shape of Irvine Meadow was always going to be a tough game and so it proved to be. Broxburn showed 4 changes from the game at Jeanfield Swifts, Harrison for the suspended Wright, Binnie for the suspended Kelly, Ireland for Turnbull and Beesley for Brass. Irvine Meadow also made 3 changes from their home loss against Hurlford, McLennan, Pooler and Baird for Carnwath, Henderson and D. Miller.

After a couple of heavy rain showers and a swirling wind to contend with both teams took time to settle.

In the 6th minute good work from Ross saw his cross deflect off a visiting defender for a corner which Beesley took, the headed clearance fell to Grant whose volley ran safely through to keeper Marley.

In 9 minutes Donaldson picked up a knock for Broxburn and had to go off to be replaced by Murray.

Ross was spoken to by referee Shepherd in 12 minutes for a foul.

McLaughlin played in a great free kick into the box for Irvine Meadow in 16 minutes which no one could get on the end of.

Ross was then booked for a push on Sharpe.

Sharpe got in a shot for the visitors from the edge of the box in the 17th minute but it was high and wide of Wallace’s goal.

With Irvine Meadow starting to adapt well to the conditions they went ahead from a corner in 18 minutes, a good delivery from McLaughlin with SLOOVES left unmarked to bullet a header into the net.

Broxburn in trying to get a foothold in the game were almost caught again as the visitors broke at speed McLennan shooting wide from good position.

Another McLaughlin corner in 27 minutes saw McLennan getting his head to the ball but his effort went wide of the target.

McKie was giving Gillen a difficult afternoon beating him to the bye line to get in a cut back which found POOLER whose shot took a deflection off a home defender and into the net to put Irvine Meadow 2 goals to the good with 29 minutes gone.

Broxburn responded in 32 minutes Ross getting the better of Baird to get in a great cross which just eluded Binnie.

The home side went even closer 3 minutes later from their best move of the half Ireland played an excellent through ball to Beesley whose shot had Marley beaten but just crept past the right hand post.

The half ended with Harrison heading over the bar from a Beesley corner.

Half Time Broxburn Athletic 0– 2 Irvine Meadow XI

The visitors made the better start to the 2nd half creating a shooting opportunity for McLennan who shot over the bar in 46 minutes.

McCrae was booked in 49 minutes for a foul on Beesley.

Binnie was booked for talking out of turn to the referee in 53 minutes.

Broxburn had their first chance of the second half in 56 minutes from a Beesley free kick, Ireland got in a shot which was blocked, the ball broke to Grant but he hurried his shot with his left foot and it went harmlessly over the bar.

Irvine Meadow were awarded a free kick in good position in 58 minutes but this time McLaughlin’s effort was high and wide of goal.

Broxburn then broke down the other end of the field playing the ball into Binnie who controlled the ball well and fired in a shot which was straight at Marley.

There was then a flash point in 69 minutes Murray took a bad touch and in trying to retrieve the situation went in heavily on Sharpe which resulted in the referee brandishing a red card to the Broxburn player.

With a mountain to climb and in the same position position as last weeks game ie. 2 goals down and a man down, Broxburn tried to get back into the game Beesley with a free kick in good position curled the ball round the visitors wall but was easily saved by Marley.

Broxburn fashioned another shooting opportunity in 74 minutes but Cowley’s effort was high and wide.

Sharpe was booked for Irvine Meadow.

Cowley was then replaced by the introduction of Turnbull for Broxburn. The visitors also made a change Martin for Pooler.

Irvine Meadow then played a long ball forward which went over Harrison on the left side BOYD controlled nicely and lobbed over the advancing Wallace into the net to seal the game for the visitors in 78 minutes.

Broxburn made further changes Richards and Redmond replacing Ross and Beesley.

There was almost a fourth goal McLaughlin chipping the ball through for Boyd with Gillen claiming offside Wallace did well to save Boyd’s shot.

The visitors replaced Sharpe and Boyd with Reilly and Wardrope in 81 minutes.

In 83 minutes a good cross from Gillen was well controlled by Binnie who turned well and fired off a shot which forced a save from Marley.

Nicol was booked for Broxburn in 86 minutes.

Irvine Meadow were merited winners on the day advancing comfortably to the 3rd round. Broxburn will need to dust themselves down and look for improvement in their visit to Dunbar United back in league action on Tuesday.

Full Time Broxburn Athletic 0– 3 Irvine Meadow XI

Teams:

Broxburn Athletic: Wallace; Gillen, Donaldson, Harrison (c), Grant; Beesley, Nicol, Cowley; Ireland, Binnie, Ross

Subs: Donoghue (Unused), Murray, Richards, Greenhill (Unused) Nimmo (Unused), Redmond, Turnbull

Irvine Meadow XI: Marley; Slooves, McCrae, Sharpe, McLennan, McKie, Boyd, McLaughlin, Pooler, Findlay, Baird

Subs: Martin, Reilly, Wardope, Carnwath (unused), McLean (unused), D. Miller (unused), L. Miller (unused)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soccer Shop Direct Challenge Cup First Round– Broxburn Athletic v Creetown – 24/10/2020

The first cup tie of the season at Albyn Park with visitors Creetown making a 250 round trip from the South of Scotland to Albyn Park.

Broxburn had a couple of early opportunities from free kicks in decent positions Jack Beesley’s effort hitting the visitors defensive wall.

In the fifth minute Creetown showed they weren’t here to make up the numbers McHarrie latching on to a long ball and getting a shot in which flew wide of the goal.

Broxburn went closer to the opening goal in 10 minutes Beesley playing a great through ball to Hopkinson whose shot went wide of the post.

Creetown continued to carry some threat on breakaways and from a cross field pass Nathan McKay got off a shot on the right side of the penalty box but it was always going wide and into the side netting.

The visitors good spell continued with McKay in good position on the right his cutback found Jones whose cross was met by a timely interception from Wright as David Hughes was on hand to get a strike in on goal for Creetown. Connor Wallace punched the resultant corner clear of the goal.

In 18 minutes a mistake from Wright when his pass was intercepted allowed Herries to get in the first shot on target which Wallace comfortably saved.

Creetown were working really hard closing down Broxburn making it very difficult for the home side to create opportunities. However Hopkinson did manage to work a good position and his shot just crept wide of Brown’s right hand post.

In 22 minutes Ireland made good ground down the right beating Bruce his cross was over hit though.

On the half hour a good build up presented Hopkinson with a decent opportunity but Creetown full back Rogers got in a challenge just as the shot was struck which was easily collected by Brown.

Creetown were forced into a change in 33 minutes with Whorlow having picked up a knock, he was replaced by McKenzie.

The visitors had another good spell the hard working lone striker McHarrie getting in a good shot from the edge of the box and Rogers driving a dangerous cross across the face of the goal but no Creetown player was on hand to do any damage.

Broxburn responded from a Beesley corner Grant headed over the bar.

Half Time Broxburn Athletic 0– 0 Creetown

Broxburn made a half time change Ross for Kelly.

Hopkinson was first to threaten for Broxburn in the second half cutting inside on the left hand side his shot looked like heading for the target but was well blocked for a corner by Rogers.

With much more tempo about Broxburn’s play they finally unlock the visitors brave defence in 50 minutes Wright passed to ROSS who cut in from the left and his shot is well placed bouncing just in front of Brown in the Creetown goal into the right hand corner of his net.

In 52 minutes Broxburn won a free kick in good position on the left side which Beesley takes trying to catch Brown out at his near post but the ball hits the side netting.

With the pressure increasing Broxburn score a second goal in 54 minutes a delightful ball from Hopkinson frees ROSS who fires into the net.

Creetown made another change in 56 minutes Kiltie replacing Hanlon followed 3 minutes later by a Brox change Brass coming on for Hopkinson.

After a great team move, Ross crosses a great ball to the back post which Wright wins and heads back across the goal for REDMOND to head into the net from 3 yards for his first Broxburn goal.

In 63 minutes McKay is booked for Creetown, from the free kick Brass hits the visitors wall.

Broxburn were in control of the game now and only a great defensive tackle from Hughes on Ross prevents another scoring opportunity.

In 71 minutes Ireland sends over a great cross which Ross gets on the end of but his shot is blocked by McKay for a corner.

Jordan Wright picked up a booking in 72 minutes.

Hughes then hit a long range shot from fully 35 yards out but it is always slightly high and clears the bar. Richard Jones is next to have a shot for the visitors but its straight at Connor Wallace.

Broxburn then put together a move down their right on 73 minutes which sees Murray get in a cross which breaks to IRELAND whose shot is partially blocked but can’t be prevented from going into the net.

The joy of going 4 goals up is tempered by Wright picking up a second yellow card and being sent off.

The sides are levelled up numerically in 80 minutes when Ross breaks free and clear in on goal down the right side Rogers brings him down and is promptly shown a red card. ROSS confidently strokes the penalty kick into the corner of the net sending Brown the wrong way.

The scoring is completed in 87 minutes Ireland hanging up a great cross to the back post for BRASS to head into the net from close range.

Broxburn were made to work hard for their victory which was convincing in the end but credit should be given to Creetown for a very hard working performance which should stand them in good stead back in the South of Scotland league. Broxburn’s reward for the win is to face Irvine Meadow at the Albyn on 21 November.

Full Time Broxburn Athletic 6– 0 Creetown

Teams:

Broxburn Athletic: Wallace (c); Murray, Redmond, Grant, Wright; Beesley, Nicol, Turnbull; Ireland, Kelly, Hopkinson

Subs: Donoghue (Unused), Ross, Brass, Greenhill (Unused) Gillen (Unused), Cowley(unused), Harrison (unused)

Creetown: Brown; Rogers, Bruce, Whorlow, Hanlin, Hughes, Jones, Herries, McKay, Miller, McHarrie

Subs: McKenzie, Kiltie, McCulloch, Wilson (unused)