ALL THE WEEKEND FOOTBALL ACTION
EAST OF SCOTLAND
Broxburn Athletic got their 2020 off to the perfect start at the expense of local rivals Blackburn United with a 3-1 victory at Albyn Park.
Goals from Connor Kelly and Gordon Donaldson just before the interval put the Brox in the driving seat following a scrappy opening to the game.
Craig Scott’s long-range effort on the hour mark wrapped up the points but United did show some fighting spirit as substitute David Howie reduced the arrears with 15 minutes remaining before peppering the home side’s goal in an unsuccessful bid to get back into the game.
United came into the contest hoping to put an end to a run of four straight defeats and things could have been different had referee Iain Snedden awarded them a first-half penalty after Callum McDowell appeared to be fouled inside the area.
After Donaldson and Ross Nimmo both went close, Athletic got themselves in front on the half-hour mark when Kelly was afforded too much room on the edge of the box and confidently smashed the ball beyond Darren Mitchell.
Nine minutes later they were two in front when Scott’s corner-kick was fiercely headed into the net by Donaldson.
While the hosts were the better side and had more of the play, trailing by two at the break was harsh on the visitors.
Blackburn came agonisingly close to getting themselves back into the game just three minutes into the second half when Michael Browne’s header clattered off the crossbar.
The story of the game was that Athletic were simply more clinical in front of goal and they extended their lead in fine fashion on 60 minutes when Scott rounded off a quick counter-attack with a 25-yarder into the bottom corner.
Blackburn sub Howie was causing the Athletic defence problems and forced Connor Wallace into a smart save five minutes later.
The keeper was helpless on 75 minutes, though, when Howie’s strike from the edge of the box took the slightest of deflections and nestled into the far corner.
The goal seemed to spark Blackburn into life and they would go on to dominate the final stages.
David Taylor went close with a header before Danny Campbell missed a glorious chance in injury-time with only Wallace to beat as he blazed over the bar with what was the final action of the game.
The defeat sees United slip to second bottom and things don’t get easier as they welcome league leaders Bo’ness
United to the Purdie Worldwide Stadium on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Linlithgow Rose suffered derby defeat as they went down 2-1 away at Bo’ness United.
Ryan Stevenson’s free- kick eluded everyone and nestled into the net to give United the lead before Brian Ritchie extended the home side’s advantage before the half-time break.
Prolific striker Tommy Coyne set up a dramatic finish as he reduced the arrears 10 minutes from time but the Rose were unable to find a second goal that would have completed a fine comeback and fall to ninth in the East of Scotland Premier Division table in the process.
It’s another derby clash for the Rose this weekend when they host Broxburn aiming to do the double over their rivals having taken the points at Albyn Park earlier in the season.
LINLITHGOW ROSE
The Rose have signed club captain Ruari MacLennan to a new deal. The 31-year-old skipper has been a consistent performer for the Prestonfield side and the new contract will see him rack up 10 years at the club.
He originally joined from Clyde in 2010 and has been at the Rose ever since, bar a one-year stint at rivals Bo’ness United.
Meanwhile, the club are hosting a ‘Meet the Manager’ event on Tuesday, January 14 from 7pm.
Brown Ferguson, who took over from Mark Bradley in October, will talk about his ambitions and plans for the club as well as happily taking questions from supporters. *Hill of Beath awarded two points and Sauchie deducted three points after Sauchie fielded an ineligible player.
FIXTURES East of Scotland Premier Division:
BLACKBURN UNITED v Bo’ness United, Camelon v Musselburgh Athletic (2pm), Crossgates Primrose v Sauchie (2pm), Dundonald Bluebell v Hill of Beath Hawthorn, LINLITHGOW ROSE v BROXBURN ATHLETIC, Penicuik Athletic v Newtongrange Star, Tranent v Dunbar United (1.30pm), Whitehill Welfare v Jeanfield Swifts (2pm).
All games kick- off at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated.
JUNIORS EAST REGION SOUTH SUPERLEAGUE
A tense clash featuring the top two sides in the East Region South Superleague ended honours even as Livingston United and Pumpherston finished 1-1 at Station Park, writes Kieran Polland.
A low-key 85 minutes preceded a late burst of drama that featured United opening the scoring through substitute Ben Magee before Jack Beaumont equalised from the penalty spot just two minutes later.
That leaves United and Pumpherston level on 29 points with United ahead on goal difference.
Armadale, Fauldhouse, Whitburn and Thornton Hibs are among the chasing pack behind them, with Armadale just one point behind the two league leaders in a thrilling South Superleague.
Both sides did not give much away in terms of chances as the nerves seemed to creep in even as the game progressed.
Promising counter- attacks would break down either through resolute defending or players making the wrong decisions but with the table as tight as it is, it’s understandable that nobody