Season: 2023/24

Attendance  90

East Of Scotland Premier League: Luncarty v Broxburn Athletic 5 August 2023

Broxburn made their first ever trip to Brownlands Park on league business to face newly promoted Luncarty. The Brox were looking to keep their unbeaten start to the season going whereas the hosts were looking for their first points after 2 narrow defeats to Musselburgh and Hill Of Beath.

Broxburn made 2 changes from Tuesday’s 3-1 win against Musselburgh Watt replaced Donoghue inbetween the sticks and Campbell for D.Nimmo.

Luncarty made 2 changes to their starting line up Patton replaced Nowrotek in goals and Carlon came in for Sutherland.

The Brox came out of the traps firing, having kicked off they should have taken the lead in 50 seconds a Campbell long throw in on the left was head flicked on by Douglas, the ball fell for Brass who turned and shot over the bar.

Luncarty gave the ball away in midfield in the 2nd minute with the ball worked to Locke 20 yards out but the skipper fired his shot over the bar from 20 yards.

In a whirlwind start the Brox spurned another chance in the 4th minute Douglas played a ball to Munro on the right side of the penalty box the full back steadying himself but tried to be too deliberate with Patton making a good save.

Luncarty created a chance of their own in the 11th minute when Bremner lost possession in midfield the ball was played to Carlon whose shot was well saved by Watt with his feet and out for a corner. Brass headed clear.

A couple of minutes later and Munro played a great ball into the box which was well defended by Scarborough who conceded a corner. Turner took the corner deep to the back post where a goalmouth scramble ensued with Brass, Locke and Douglas all trying to get off shots but found the Luncarty defence standing firm.

Brass then tested Patton in the home goal who saved well at the expense of another corner. Nothing came from the corner kick.

In the 17th minute another sweeping Broxburn move saw Brass head flick the ball onto Douglas on the right who then played over a great ball to the front post where Locke rose his header beating the keeper but not the right hand post as his effort went agonisingly wide.

There was then an offball incident involving Yates and Campbell where the Brox player appeared to be caught with an elbow. Yates was booked.

In the 25th minute Page played a great long ball forward down the right to Munro who once again played over a ball right on the money which Brass won with his head but his effort was off target to the right.

Munro hit in a ball with his left foot in the next attack which Patton spilled but Walker was on hand to clear.
Campbell and Bremner combined to good effect down the left the former picking out Locke with a cross who curled a shot but again too high and over the bar.

Carlon was then booked for the hosts in 29 minutes. Turner tool the free kick from the right finding Brass whose effort was disappointingly well wide.

Campbell did well down the left playing in a ball to Brass who set up Locke but the target was again missed with his volley going wide left.

In 35 minutes Luncarty captain Dewar was booked.

From a ball swung in from the right Douglas was adjudged to have been fouled by Walker with the referee pointing to the spot. DOUGLAS took the spotkick which he dispatched into the net despite slipping on the wet surface with the home side claiming he had double hit the ball. Time 39 minutes.

Mackie was then booked for handball.

Locke then intercepted a pass in midfield and played an intelligent ball to Campbell whose cross found Brass who was to shoot over the bar again.

In first half injury time Brass won a corner on the left, Turner took the kick Millar planted his header firmly downwards with his effort being cleared from the goal line.

HALF TIME: Luncarty 0 – 1 Broxburn Athletic
Luncarty kicked off in the 2nd half Scarborough tried to burst through the Brox defence but Page took control of situation and shepherded the ball back to Watt.
Broxburn retaliated to good effect the ball played into Bremner in the penalty box where he his legs taken from him by a Scarborough challenge resulting in another penalty. DOUGLAS cooly dispatched the ball into the net for the second time. Time 46 minutes.
In the 53rd minute Campbell played over a great ball from the left Douglas won the ball but his header can’t beat Patton.
Then the home side were thrown a lifeline from a suspiciously offside position Woolley picked out a fine cross for DAVIES to finish from 6 yards at the back post past Watt.
Turner then lost the ball in midfield with Luncarty breaking quickly but Woolley this time can’t deliver a cross.
Douglas did well on the left in 59 minutes picking out Brass who left for the arriving Locke who struck the ball well but just over the bar.
In the 65th minute its almost three as Munro played over a pinpoint cross where Douglas struck a shot first time which Walker did brilliantly to block saving a certain goal. From the corner Turner found Millar again with the same result his header was cleared off the line.
The hosts were coming more into the game Davies getting clear on the right but Page did well to block his cross for a corner which Brass headed clear.
Scarborough then found his cross blocked for a corner by Page with Brass once again strong in the air to clear with his head.
In the 72nd minute Davidson did well in centre field playing the ball wide to Munro whose cross found Brass at the near post but he slid the ball wide of the post.
Carlon was replaced by Clos in 73 minutes.
Turner fouled Clos in a central area 25 yards out in 76 minutes. Davidson was booked for kicking the ball away.
Mackie took the free kick which forced Watt into a terrific diving save at the expense of a corner. The corner was deadly accurate with Davies flicking a header goalwards which Watt again had to save.
Luncarty were having their best spell now in 81 minutes Clos forcing Turner into conceding a corner. Yates took the kick, Brass headed clear the ball fell to Woolley who volleyed over the bar.
Watt was booked for time wasting in 84 minutes.
Wilson came on for Brass in 85 minutes.
The young winger was quickly into the action as he seemed to be clearly pushed over in the box but the referee waved away the penalty appeals.
From another neat Brox move Douglas played the ball to Davidson who slipped the ball to Bremner who rifled in a shot which Patton saved well to concede a corner. Turner took the kick which was partially cleared to Davidson whose attempt like many others on the afternoon went over the bar.
In 89 minutes Scarborough took a long throw from the left which was half cleared only as far as Davies whose shot trickled just wide of the left post.
FULL TIME: Luncarty 1 – 2 Broxburn Athletic

Referee Mr K.Brown     Assistants  Mr R. Alexander ,Mr S.Galloway

300 approx

East Of Scotland Premier League: Musselburgh Athletic v Broxburn Athletic 1 August 2023

The first away game of the new season took Broxburn down to East Lothian to face one of the favourites for promotion this season, Musselburgh Athletic.

Broxburn made 1 change from Saturday’s 2-1 win against Glenrothes Millar replaced Dryden.

The hosts had also got off to a winning start at the weekend a first half Jordan Smith goal being the deciding factor against newly promoted Luncarty. Musselburgh made 2 changes to their starting line up Myles and Nisbet replaced by L.Smith and O’Connor.

In the 3^rd minute Brass was fouled 30 yards out by O’Connor. Turner took the free kick but it was too close to keeper Laing who claimed the ball confidently.

The first shot of the game came on 7 minutes Hope took a throw in on the left, J.Smith controlled and worked a position to shoot low which Donoghue took at his near post.

Davidson and Millar combined neatly on the left with Millar getting in a cross which was too deep and went out of play.

In the 10^th minute L.Smith made a good break down the right got the bye line but his cutback was poor and nowhere near a blue shirt.

In a nice Musselburgh build up Renton found Hope on the left but the full backs cross was overhit and went out of play.

From a deep cross by O’Connor J.Smith just failed to get a telling touch on the ball at the back post.

In the 20^th minute a moment of controversy, Knox took a corner from the right Renton winning the initial header which Wilson got a head to at the back post, the ball falling to a Musselburgh player who appeared to miss the ball and fall too the ground with Page the nearest Broxburn player to challenge. The referee saw it as a foul and awarded the home side a penalty. STEVENSON took the kick sending Donoghue the wrong way and into the left hand corner of the net to put the home side 1 to the good. Time 22 minutes.

Davidson was booked for Broxburn.

Brass then played a poor ball to Turner who was dispossesed, the ball transferred wide to Khan who beat Munro but fired wide of the left hand post.

Broxburn tried to respond from a Turner corner Millar won a header but Laing watched carefully and tipped the ball over the bar. Turner took the following corner but this time Stevenson cleared.

In the 28^th minute Broxburn had a real chance to draw level, Brass pressured Wilson into a mistake and got into the penalty box at an angle on the left but the strikers shot was straight at Laing who saved.

Brass was again involved in the 34^th and 35^th his shots being blocked then just off target.

Douglas was next to get a chance beating the offside trap but under pressure from Wilson couldn’t get enough purchase on his effort to beat Laing.

The Brox went a bit closer in 40 minutes Millar laying the ball off to Bremner whose shot from 25 yards clipped the top of the bar.

Khan won a corner after good defensive work from D.Nimmo. From the corner L.Smith went down but this time the referee wasn’t impressed and nothing was awarded.

In 1^st half injury time brilliant play from Locke who played an incisive pass to Munro down the wing he got to the bye line put over a cross hard and low which Laing did well to gather diving to save.

HALF TIME: Musselburgh Athletic 1 – 0 Broxburn Athletic

Broxburn made a very positive start to the 2^nd half Turner taking a free kick which was headed clear then back to him and he hit a shot from 22 yards out which Laing beat away to his right, Davidson retrieved and his cross found Locke whose looping header beat Laing but hit the bar and went over.

The home side responded in 48 minutes Renton crossing from the right with Munro back heading the ball clear.

Turner was booked in 54 minutes.

A minute later and Khan dispossessed Munro and got off a good shot which was straight at Donoghue.

A poor clearance from D.Nimmo fell to Knox who curled his shot just wide of the left hand post.

Davidson sent Locke on a run down the left where he won a corner off Stevenson.

Before the corner could be taken Broxburn made 2 changes Downie and Heath coming on for Brass and Davidson. Time 64 minutes.

Turner took the corner from the left deep to the back post which Page just couldn’t control but did well to get any touch to the ball.

Then a real turning point in 69 minutes Todd was red carded for what was adjudged a two footed challenge on Munro 20 yards out.

Page took the free kick which he curled over the wall but hit a defender and out for a corner. Heath took the corner which was cleared by the home defence.

In 72 minutes J.Smith was booked for a foul on Heath.

A minute later ex Brox player Barker came on for J.Smith.

Heath then took the free kick from the left which DOUGLAS won with his head sending the ball looping over Laing and into the net to tie the game. Time 73 minutes.

Barker was booked before he had touched the ball!

Heath was having a big impact and once again he played in a great ball from the left Downie got to it laid the ball back which appeared to hit a Musselburgh player’s hand but despite Brox appeals nothing was given.

Trialist No 12 then came on for Musselburgh replacing L.Smith. Time 77 minutes.

In 81 minutes from a mis control of the ball by Stevenson, Heath fired in a great cross which DOUGLAS met first time with his shot beating Laing and into the net to complete the Brox comeback.

Musselburgh hit back with Khan going on a run down the left and winning a corner off D.Nimmo. The corner was won by the head of Wilson but the Brox defence cleared to relieve the pressure.

In 83 minutes Trialist No.24 replaced Hope.

D.Nimmo then took a free kick in 85 minutes from the half way line area a Musselburgh defender headed clear only as far as Turner who cracked a great shot just over the bar.

LOCKE was to go one step better in 87 minutes picking up the ball and advancing 30 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable shot which found the roof of the net past Laing to seal the win for the Brox.

Turner was replaced by Campbell in 88 minutes.

(photos Andrew MacPherson)

FULL TIME: Musselburgh Athletic 1– 3 Broxburn Athletic

Referee Mr L. Hogarth    Assistants Mr D. Dickson  , Mr S. Simpson