Venue: Away

Attendance 225

Broxburn Athletic: Bob Watt, Greg Page, Jack Thomson, Matthew McDonald, Shaun Brown, Errol Douglas, Jamie Docherty, Marcus Lavery, Luke Morris, Trialist & Scott McRory Irving ©

Substitutes: Trialist (GK), Andy Rodden, Alassan Jones, Trialist, Ewan MacPherson & Kyle Bell.

We travelled over the bridge to Fife on Tuesday night, for our second pre-season match against Kelty Hearts at New Central Park.

 Kelty Hearts are managed by ex-Greenock Morton & Partick Thistle defender Thomas O’Ware. He is assisted by ex-Aberdeen youngster Michael Paton who recently joined the club from our league rivals Albion Rovers.

Players to watch for Kelty include, ex Hibernian youth player Innes Murray, veteran defender Kirk Broadfoot, youngster Luke McCarvel, ex Rangers forward James Murray and ex Hearts youngster Callum Flatman.

In season 2024/25. Kelty Hearts finished 6^th in Scottish League One. Winning eleven, drawing eleven and losing fourteen.

In the club’s last fixture, Kelty Hearts defeated Kirkaldy & Dysart 4-1, away at the Bodywyse Autocare Park last Saturday. On the scoresheet for Kelty were, James Graham with a brace and goals for Luke McCarvel and Innes Murray.

In a past encounter, on Saturday November the 30^th 2016, Kelty Hearts defeated Broxburn Athletic 2-1  at Albyn Park in the Super League. Nelly McCabe gave the fifers the lead on 24 minutes. But Broxburn hit back through Darren Gribben with a free kick on 68 minutes. But it was the west Fife side who took all three points, through a Steven Husband later winner.

Kelty Hearts Starting Eleven vs Kirkaldy Dysart: Adamson, Thomson, Paterson, Fellows, Clay, Ferguson, Moore, Johnston, Arnott, Bexfield & Murray.

Kelty Hearts: Last 4 Fixtures

 

(19/4/25) Queen of the South (H) 1-3 (Loss)

(26/4/25) Cove Rangers (A) 2-2 (Draw)

(3/5/25) Alloa Athletic (H) 2-1 (Win)

(28/6/25) Kirkaldy and Dysart (A) 1-4 (Win)

 

Kelty Hearts are in all maroon, while Broxburn Athletic are in their changed kits, Gold and Black shirts, black shorts and black gold socks. Broxburn Athletic make six changes to the side who played Gartcairn in the 2-2 draw on Saturday. In comes, Bob Watt, Jack Thomson, Shaun Brown, Luke Morris, Scott McRory Irving and Errol Douglas. They replace, three trialists, Kyle Bell, Andy Rodden and Robbie Hamilton.

First half chance of the match comes for Broxburn on 9 minutes. Matty McDonald’s low ball in from the right is well read by Kelty goalkeeper Ryan Adamson who manages to get out to the ball before onrushing Broxburn striker Errol Douglas. On 11 minutes, Errol Douglas picks up in deep in Kelty’s half. He holds up play, before taking on Kelty left back Corrie Fellows, his cut back finds Jamie Docherty who lays off to Sean Brown. Brown doesn’t connect right with the ball and Kelty captain Clay clears for the Fife side.

On 13 minutes, Kelty get forward in numbers and the ball finds Murray Thomas wide left. His ball in has too much on it and is shepherd behind by Broxburn keeper Bob Watt for goal kick. On 19 minutes, a free kick by Kelty Hearts striker Scott Mercer has no power and is easily saved by Bob Watt.

GOAL! Kelty take the lead. Aaron Arnott’s cross from the left finds Kai Kirkpatrick in acres of space, he lays it off for James Graham whose strike finds the top right corner leaving Broxburn keeper Bob Watt no chance.

KELTY HEARTS 1 (Graham-25 Minutes)

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 0  

 GOAL! Broxburn equalise a minute later. A corner by Marcus Lavery on the right, is half cleared as far as Greg Page, Page’s low ball in finds Errol Douglas whose header catches the bar on the way into the back of the net.

 KELTY HEARTS 1 

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (Errol Douglas-26 Minutes)

 GOAL! Kelty regain the lead. Kai Kirkpatrick finds Aaron Arnott who cuts on to his right foot before delivering a great strike into the right corner.

 KELTY HEARTS 2 (Arnott-29 Minutes)

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 

 

 HALF TIME (2-1 Kelty Hearts)

 Andy Rodden and Kyle Bell replace Greg Page & Sean Brown at half time.

On the hour mark, Kelty make numerous changes and Alassan Jones and Ewan MacPherson replace Errol Douglas & Jamie Docherty for Broxburn.

On 64 minutes, Scott McRory-Irving finds Andy Rodden in space wide left. His cross is too close to Kelty keeper Ryan Adamson who collects.

Good play be Kelty. Lewis Moore drives at the Broxburn defence, plays a 1-2 with the Kelty trialist before bending his shot just wide of the right-hand post.

On 75 minutes, Kyle Bell’s effort from range is saved by Kelty keeper Ryan Adamson. On 82 minutes, a backward header from a corner by Broxburn’s Ewan MacPherson is saved by Kelty keeper Adamson.

A good performance by Broxburn today. Not much between the teams. Kelty’s finishing was frightening. But a great exercise for the boys and we look forward to Bathgate on Saturday.

 

FULL TIME

 

Kelty Hearts 2

Broxburn Athletic 1

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE- Stuart Luke

ASSISTANTS- Liam Duncan and Tayler Martin

 

KELTY HEARTS – Adamson (GK), Thomas, Fellows, Clay ©, Ferguson, Arnott, Kirkpatrick, Cole, McCarvel, Graham & Mercer

Subs:  Miller, Moore, Trialist, Johnston, Bexfield, Trialist, Murray & Trialist.

 

Next Game:

Saturday the 5^th of July

Bathgate Thistle (H)

Pre-Season Friendly (3)

Albyn Park

2.30PM

Attendance 98

Broxburn Athletic: Trialist, Trialist, Rodden, Trialist, Page, Bell, McDonald, Docherty, Trialist, Hamilton, MacPherson

 

Substitutes: Bob Watt (GK), Alassan Jones, Lewis Turner, Errol Douglas, Scott McRory Irving.

 

The club returned to action with our first preseason match against West of Scotland First Division side Gartcairn, away at MTC Park.

 Gartcairn are co-managed by ex-Hearts Scottish cup winner Darren Barr & ex Falkirk & Partick Thistle midfielder Ryan McStay. Last week, the club announced the arrival of new assistant manager to the pair, ex Pollock coach Ryan Dakhill.

Players to watch for Gatcairn include ex Rangers youngster Kyle Hutton & East Kilbride winger Andrew Stirling

Gartcairn were relegated from the West of Scotland Premier Division last season, finishing fifteenth

In the club’s last fixture, Gartcairn were defeated 2-1 away at Shotts Bon Accord back on Saturday the 10^th of May, with Adam McGowan scoring their only goal on the day.

In their last encounter between the sides, Broxburn Athletic defeated Gartcairn 4-0 at Albyn Park back in a pre-season friendly on Saturday the 23^rd of July 2023. Scorers for Broxburn that day were Errol Douglas, Gary Brass, Marky Munro & Callum Bremner.

Gartcairn FC: Last 4 Fixtures

 

(19/4/25) Glenafton (A) 2-2 (Draw)

(26/4/25) Troon (A) 2-1 (Loss)

(3/5/25) Troon (H) 4-1 (Win)

(10/5/25) Shotts Bon Accord (A) 2-1 (Loss)

Gartcairn are in sky blue and white stripes, blue shorts and white socks, while Broxburn Athletic are in their all navy away kit. The Broxburn team includes recent signings Matty McDonald, Ewan MacPherson & Robbie Hamilton with a handful of trialists also.

GOAL! Against the run of play, Gartcairn take the lead with a very good goal. A chipped ball through finds their trialist (Number 2), who volleys past our trialist keeper to give the hosts the lead.

 GARTCAIRN 1 (Trialist-13 Minutes)

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 0

 Broxburn came close to an equaliser on 14 minutes. Andy Rodden’s cross from the right is just beyond the onrushing trialist. On 16 minutes Ewan MacPherson finds Robbie Hamilton in space, but the ex-Edinburgh City player blasts his effort way over the bar.

On 18 minutes, tidy play by Robbie Hamilton finds Jamie Docherty, whose strike is just wide of the right-hand post.

GOAL! Broxburn equalise! Andy Rodden’s cross from the left finds new signing Ewan MacPherson who heads home from close range.

GARTCAIRN 1 

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 1 (MacPherson-22 Minutes)

Gartcairn nearly re-take the lead on 26 minutes. A chance for their number 6 from close range is over the bar.

GOAL! Broxburn take the lead. Kyle Bell does well to find the trialist winger on the right, he cuts it back for Robbe Hamilton who slots home from close range.

GARTCAIRN 1 

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2 (Hamilton-28 Minutes)

Gartcairn come close again on 35 minutes.  A cross from the right finds 10 whose shot has no power and is saved by our trialist keeper.

On 36 minutes, Andy Rodden’s cross from a free kick on the right has just two much on it for the sliding Greg Page at the back post. On 42 minutes, Kyle Bell’s shot is just over the bar.

HALF TIME (2-1 Broxburn)

Broxburn make a few changes at half time with Alassan Jones and Errol Douglas getting introduced

Big chance for Broxburn on 48 minutes. The Gartcairn number 2 plays a wayward pass only for the Broxburn trialist to latch onto, he flies through on goal and his effort hits the post.

On 65 minutes, Broxburn bring on Lewis Turner and Scott McRory Irving for Matty McDonald and Robbie Hamilton.

On 71 minutes, an Alassan Jones effort is saved by the Gartcairn keeper.

GOAL! Gartcairn equalise. Their trialist lobs the keeper.

GARTCAIRN 2 (Trialist-72 Minutes)

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 2

 First to see yellow this afternoon is the Gartcairn number 3 for a foul on the Broxburn trialist winger on 74 minutes.

Broxburn push for a winner. On 81 minutes, our number 18 (Trialist) does well to win the corner. Andy Rodden takes and Gartcairn force another corner. This time, Rodden’s cross finds Alassan Jones who heads wide of target.

FULL TIME

 

Gartcairn FC 2

Broxburn Athletic 2 (MacPherson & Hamilton)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE- Thomas Denholm

 

Next Game:

Tuesday the 1^st of July

Kelty Hearts (Away)

Pre-Season Friendly (2)

New Central Park

19.45pm

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