Attendance 165
East Of Scotland Premier League: Broxburn Athletic v Glenrothes 29 July 2023
The league season got underway at the Albyn with newly promoted Glenrothes being the visitors. Broxburn made 3 changes from the side who had beaten Pollok last Sunday, Douglas, Brass and Dryden replacing Trialist No.9, Heath and Millar.
Glenrothes made 2 changes from last weekends 7-0 home defeat to Cumnock, Kinnes and Leishman replacing Thompson and Lumsden.
There was a strong breeze blowing down the ground in Broxburn’s favour but it was the Premier League new boys who carved out the first chance Leishman shooting high over the bar from 25 yards.
The breeze was making it difficult for both sides to settle.
Locke was prominent for the Brox in 6 minutes striding forward and sliding a great ball through to Douglas but the striker was flagged offside when in decent position.
A long ball from Page found Brass 30 yards from goal he controlled the ball turned well and smacked a shot well over the bar.
In the 11th minute C.Schiavone was booked for a bad challenge Locke.
In the following minute a great chance for Glens, Wallace played in a free kick from the right with the Brox defence sleeping Leishman was allowed a free header which Donoghue did brilliantly to keep out at his right hand post at concession of a corner.
From the corner Broxburn seemed not to have learnt any lessons allowing Bridgeford to pick out C.Schiavone who crashed a shot against the home bar.
Broxburn responded Turner taking a corner from the left which Grierson won in the air but conceded another corner. Turner then took the corner from the right side finding the head of Brass with his effort goalbound to the left keeper Connor pulled off an amazing save to deny the Brox striker.
In the 20th minute Brass was fouled by Grierson, from the free kick Wallace conceded a corner. Turner’s corner was met by the head of D.Nimmo whose effort went straight to keeper Connor.
The Brox were right out of luck in the 24th minute Douglas beat Grierson in a foot race he then lobbed Connor but his effort unluckily bounced over the bar.
Broxburn were coming more into the game Munro feeding the ball into Brass in the penalty area who shielded the ball and slipped the ball to Douglas but his touch was heavy and the chance was lost.
Both sides were finding it difficult to string passing moves together.
In 38 minutes Broxburn played their way through the centre of the Glens defence Munro finding himself with a chance from 12 yards where he shot to the keepers right but once again Connor pulled off an amazing save.
From the corner taken by Turner Douglas got his head to the ball but his effort flew just over the bar.
Another defensive lapse almost caught Broxburn in 44 minutes Glenrothes playing the ball in from the right Shearer was all alone at the back post his shot brilliantly saved by Donoghue. From the corner from the left Shearer was unmarked but could only get a knee to the ball at the back post which went wide.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 0 – 0 Glenrothes
Broxburn started on the front foot after the break, Davidson doing well on the right sending in a great cross but Brass couldn’t get the ball past Connor.
Douglas was in the clear a minute later on the left got into the penalty area where he went down under challenge. The referee waved aside the home teams loud claims for a spot kick.
Brass was then next to get in an effort moments later but again the visitors defence was resolute in defence of their goal.
Turner made good ground down the right playing the ball inside to Davidson who blazed a shot high over the bar.
Then Glenrothes responded in 54 minutes Brown got a great cross into the 6 yard box but no one in white was on hand to finish.
Cargill replaced Shearer for Glenrothes in 56 minutes.
Douglas did well running down the right and putting in a great ball Brass couldn’t get a shot off the ball then played back to Turner who struck his effort goalwards but Grierson cleared off the line.
On the hour a let off again for Broxburn L.Schiavone won a corner on the left which Wallace took, the ball was cleared only as far as L.Schiavone who hit a cracking shot which cracked off the home bar.
In the 65th minute the deadlock was broken, Munro played in another fine cross to the back post where DOUGLAS was alone and finally got the ball beyond keeper Connor and into the net.
Broxburn made 3 subs in 68 minutes Brass, Davidson and Dryden going off Heath, Campbell and R.Nimmo coming on.
From a nice Brox move down the left Turner played the ball to Heath whose shot was saved by Connor at his right hand post.
Glenrothes replaced Brown with McManus in the 73rd minute.
In 77 minutes Broxburn failed to deal with a throw in from the left the ball falling to DENTON who smacked the ball into the net past Donoghue.
Two minutes later Smart replaced L.Schiavone for Glenrothes.
In 82 minutes from a Campbell cross from the left a Broxburn player went down but the referee again wasn’t interested in the home penalty claims.
The visitors were still dangerous when they did come forward from a cross from the left Campbell miscontrolled but fortunately so did McManus and the chance was gone.
In 85 minutes Heath did well getting over a great cross R.Nimmo’s first shot was blocked but his second was on target and cleared off the line by Smart.
With the pressure building the Brox broke Glens hearts with a late winner Locke touching the ball on to DOWNIE inside the penalty area and he hit a shot hard and low across the keeper it clipped the left hand post and went in. Time 89 minutes.
Locke was booked in the last minute.
(Photos Andrew MacPherson)
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 2 – 1 Glenrothes
Referee Mr C. Buchan Assistants Mr C. McFeat , Mr R. Duncan