Season: 2021/22

ATTENDANCE 95

League Cup Last 16 – Broxburn Athletic V Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts – 30/04/2022

After a glorious morning of sunshine the rain clouds rolled into the Albyn for the league Cup last 16 tie with Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts. Broxburn were unchanged from Tuesday’s battling draw at Penicuik.

Inverkeithing showed one change in their starting line up from last Saturdays win at Tynecastle McMurchie replacing Murray.

The first opportunity in the game came in the 2^nd minute when Barker was brought down 25 yards from goal. Mair took the free kick but the Inverkeithing defence cleared easily.

The visitors got their first effort on goal in 6 minutes from a long throw on the left McMurchie back headed towards goal but straight to Donoghue.

Inverkeithing were playing at a very high tempo making it difficult for Broxburn to settle.

The home side were looking lively down their right with Barker and Gillen showing up well, in 12 minutes Gillen’s cross was well defended for a corner with Binnie waiting to pounce.

From the corner by Greenhill, Nimmo rose well at the back post to win the header with his effort just clearing the bar.

In 17 minutes Greenhill was booked for a foul on McMurchie.

A nice interchange between McMurchie and Kelly in 24 minutes ended with the latter curling his shot just wide of target.

In 29 minutes the first real chance of the game fell to the visitors Strang robbing Gillen playing inside from the left to McMurchie but he shot over when well placed.

In 31 minutes a good Binnie cross was met by the head of Barker but he headed straight at Gibb in the Swifts goal.

In 36 minutes Jackson was booked for a foul on Barker. Ross Nimmo replaced the injured Dan Nimmo.

In 43 minutes Broxburn fashioned a decent opportunity Greenhill playing Ross Nimmo in on the right side but his chip shot went over the bar.

Half Time: Broxburn Athletic 0 – 0 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

The second half continued the same pattern with both teams cancelling each other out.

In 52 minutes Tait replaced Binnie for the Brox.

In 54 minutes a Simpson pass split the Brox defence with Spence in on Donoghue who did brilliantly to dive at the feet of the striker to save with Murray completing the clearance.

On the hour it was Broxburn’s turn to go close Tait putting over a great ball from the left finding the head of Brass which looked to be heading in until Gibb managed to claw the ball away from goal.

The game was opening up a bit now with Liddell lobbing a cross to the back post where Spence got in a looping header which was brilliantly tipped over by Donoghue.

The Swifts made 2 changes in 64 minutes McMurchie and Simpson going off Morris and Murray on.

In 67 minutes Broxburn broke out quickly from the back Greenhill feeding Tait down the left but his cross was disappointing and straight to Gibb.

Murray was booked for Broxburn in 73 minutes.

Once again Broxburn broke out well from the back but the final ball this time from Mair was poor going straight out of play.

In 77 minutes good play down the right from Ross Nimmo and Gillen with the cross from the latter not beating the first man.

In 81 minutes Liddell was booked for the Swifts.

From a loose Greenhill pass Scullion strode forward for the Swifts and it needed evasive action from Gillen to concede a corner.

There were further changes for both sides Greenhill off and Newall on for Broxburn, Jackson and Hynd off Macdonald and Brough on.

Broxburn continued to press Nimmo getting off a shot from the right which Gibb saved, the keeper also did well moments later to beat away a Gillen cross.

The home sides persistence finally paid off from a Scullion error Nimmo fed the ball to Gillen whose cross found BARKER unmarked and he slotted the ball into the net in 88 minutes.

With Inverkeithing pressing forward they left plenty gaps to be exploited but Broxburn failed to take their chances to put the game to bed Nimmo and Newall thwarted by Gibb.

Nicol was also booked for Broxburn.

Not the prettiest of games to watch but the result a huge one for Broxburn as they advance to the League Cup quarter finals to face Whitehill Welfare. A real gritty performance following a battling performance at Penicuik in midweek. Next week it’s a trip to Newtongrange Star in the league.

Full Time: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 0 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts