BROXBURN IN THE HIGH OF A STORM
Donaldson settles seven-goal thriller with late winner
BROXBURN ATHLETIC .......................4 DUNBAR UNITED ................................3
Storm Dennis may have been a menace to other fixtures but it didn’t prevent Broxburn Athletic coming out on top in an entertaining tussle with Dunbar United at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
A double from captain Nicholas Locke, an exquisite shot by Cammy Ross and a last-minute winner from Gordon Donaldson handed the three points to Broxburn in an encounter that Dunbar can consider themselves unlucky not to take something from.
The tempo was set early on as Broxburn caused a stramash in the box just 30 seconds in, and the impressive Ross – who made a claim for man-ofthe-match with his exhilarating wing-play – forced a fine save from Dunbar keeper Daniel Laing.
It was Broxburn who opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Locke won a foul just outside the 18yard box and curled a sumptuous free-kick over the Dunbar wall past the grasping Laing.
The set-piece was just a harbinger of the events that would follow.
Dunbar almost equalised soon after when Keith Tait shot straight at Connor Wallace and Dean Ballantyne skied his shot well over the bar.
Despite Broxburn’s best efforts, Dunbar levelled the game deservedly after Ballantyne’s attempt was deflected past Wallace in the 19th minute.
Both sides had chances to go further ahead with Broxburn’s star striker Zander Miller’s shot trundling past the Dunbar near post, while Lloyd Fiddler – who was arguably Dunbar’s most impressive player on this occasion – jinked his way into the box following a succession of corners.
Broxburn took the lead again as Locke once more stepped up with a captain’s contribution, poking the ball into the net with delight as Miller headed it across the goal line.
Indeed, Locke could have had a hat-trick as he channelled his inner Cristiano Ronaldo with an acrobatic overhead kick but his effort sailed over the bar.
Dunbar continued to threaten through a series of set-pieces and Broxburn could consider themselves fortunate to go into half-time in front as a last-gasp clearance off the line prevented another Dunbar leveller.
It was 10 minutes into the second half that Dunbar hauled themselves back on level terms, but it was difficult to tell if Liam Peden’s cross took another deflection or if it was forced in by a Broxburn defender.
Athletic dusted themselves down and the game’s dynamic swung in their favour again 65 minutes in as Ross, continuing a fantastic individual performance, smashed a piledriver over the oncoming Laing.
By this time the oncoming storm was beginning to cause havoc in the surrounding area but despite Mother Nature’s attempts to disrupt the game, both teams continued to slug it out.
Fraser McLaren soon brought Dunbar back on equal terms once more as he took advantage of some slack passing around the defensive area before slotting past Wallace.
The game was still open to be won with Donaldson’s shot ricocheting off the crossbar and Miller unable to capitalise off the rebound.
However, it was Broxburn who gained the upper hand with seconds to go as a corner-kick was swung in and Donaldson forced the ball over the line to secure the three points, allowing the Broxburn faithful to leave their temporary home in good spirits before their return to Albyn Park.