Season: 2023/24
Fraser Mullen
Mathew Burrows
Thomas Starrs
BROXBURN ATHLETIC V POLLOK F.C.
Total Attendance 320
75th Anniversary Tournament: Broxburn Athletic v Pollok 23 July 2023
The 3rd / 4th place play off game between Dundee United B and Livingston B turned out to be a close affair, both teams missed a penalty before United edged ahead in 70 minutes through Stirton. The Arabs added a 2nd goal in 78 minutes with Forbes on the mark. Livi pulled a goal back on 82 minutes through Reilly but there was no further scoring giving United the win.
Broxburn showed 2 changes from yesterdays starting line up Page and Heath for Campbell and Downie. Pollok made 9 changes to their starting line up Burrows, Morgan, Rumsby, Barr, Christie, Main, Docherty, Nelson and Gallacher for Burns, Forrester, Gow, Hutton, Maley, Lindsay, Forde, McKenzie and Duff.
In the tournament final Pollok were first to threaten with a high ball in that Donoghue had to watch closely and took at the 2nd attempt.
Broxburn responded and in some style Locke played a delightful pass which sliced through the visitors defence, Munro ran on to the pass and sent over a perfect cross to the near post where HEATH controlled and turned the ball into the net past keeper Starrs.
A poor kick out from Donoghue resulted in a free kick being conceded Mullen took the kick on the left side which Millar headed strongly clear, the ball was played back in and once again Millar mopped up the danger.
In the 8th minute Munro was sent away down the right wing his cross was just behind Locke this time.
Christie played in a dangerous ball from the right D.Nimmo did well to head out for a corner. Mullen took the kick, Morgan got to it at the back post but couldn’t get a clean contact on the ball and his effort went wide.
Mullen was prominent again on the left playing a great ball to Christie who played a great ball to the back post where Docherty rose planted a firm header downwards but Donoghue pulled off a brilliant save.
In the 16th minute Munro tried to unlock the Pollok defence but his pass to Trialist No 9 was just overhit.
Two minutes later Heath took a free kick on the left 30 yards out D.Nimmo made contact with his head but couldn’t direct goal wards.
Pollok broke quickly in 20 minutes Gallacher making good ground on the left, he swung over a deep cross where Christie collected he played the ball back in Donoghue dived to save but parried to BARR who headed in the equaliser. Pollok caught the Brox defence napping for a second time this time DOCHERTY applying the finish.
Gallacher was having a good game on the left for the visitors playing a neat ball inside to Docherty who was brought down at the edge of the box. Mullen took the free kick but it went straight to Donoghue.
Pollok went close again in 32 minutes Gallacher and Mullen sending balls into the home box with Millar and D.Nimmo standing strong to clear. The third cross from Mullen found Docherty at the back post But his header just went wide of the left hand post.
Turner was booked in 37 minutes.
Christie was booked for dissent in 40 minutes.
In 44 minutes Gallacher made a great run down the left his cross dealt with by D.Nimmo who conceded a corner. Mullen took the kick which found Morgan at the back post but he touched the ball wide of the right hand post.
HALF TIME: Broxburn Athletic 1 – 2 Pollok
Broxburn made 4 changes at the break, Campbell, Gray, Trialist 17 and R.Nimmo replaced Davidson, D.Nimmo, Turner and Locke.
In 55 minutes Munro was booked for a bad challenge on Gallacher.
Mullen took the resulting free kick which Donoghue collected.
In 57 minutes Campbell made good ground on the left before being fouled . The free kick was played in and broke to Gray who played into PAGE who hit a left foot shot which beat Starrs and into the bottom right hand corner of the net for his first Brox goal.
Trialist No. 9 was booked and then substituted being replaced by Downie in 59 minutes.
In 64 minutes Docherty and Nelson were replaced by Anderson and Kerr.
A Brox change followed Heath going off with Wilson coming on.
In 66 minutes R.Nimmo played a great ball in with the ball chested down to Downie who cracked a great shot which Starrs did brilliantly to save at concession of a corner. From Gray’s corner Millar won the header at the back post but his effort flew over the bar.
Pollok went down the other end Gallacher beating Munro and firing over a great cross which the Brox defence managed to scramble clear.
Nice play from Wilson who played a ball into R.Nimmo whose shot was blocked by Mullen.
In 74 minutes Pollok made 3 changes Barr, Christie and Gallacher went off to be replaced by Duff, Cassells and Forrester.
R.Nimmo was booked in the following minute.
In 80 minutes Burrows was replaced by a trialist.
Great play from Gray sets# up the winning of a corner. The corner was deep where Page retrieved on the right he swung another ball in with Starrs pulling off a brilliant save to deny Gray. From Gray’s corner DOWNIE bulleted the ball into the net to complete the Brox comeback. Time 86 minutes.
The visitors were dealt a huge blow when Main was shown a straight red card for dissent in 87 minutes.
In the 3rd minute of injury time Pollok forced the ball into the box Campbell sclaffed his clearance high into the air Kerr was first to get his head to the ball but his header drifted wide left.
That was the visitors last chance crowning Broxburn as winners of the trophy and bringing down the curtain on a cracking close season.
FULL TIME: Broxburn Athletic 3 – 2 Pollok
Referee Mr J. Kelly Assistants Mr R. Macartney, Mr J. Gardiner