Mair of that please as late strike seals win
It’s Brox by a head as substitute secures the points
Broxburn Athletic came out on top in an entertaining tussle with Musselburgh Athletic as two late goals sealed a 3-2 victory at Albyn Park.
The impressive Joe Tait opened the scoring for the hosts before Musselburgh raced into a 2-1 lead thanks to a penalty from Josh Jeffries and a well taken strike by Jordan Smith.
But the Brox rallied and started the comeback through a penalty of their own taken by Gary Brass seven minutes from time before substitute Andrew Mair forced his header over the line in the dying embers to secure the points.
The victory takes the Brox into sixth place in the East of Scotland Premier Division table, ahead of Crossgates Primrose on goal difference.
As the wind battered the hardy crowd, Broxburn provided some good passing football despite the conditions.
Tait was causing havoc down the wing and he started the goal frenzy in the 35th minute after lifting his shot into the top left-hand corner of the net, leaving Musselburgh goalkeeper Ben McGinley with no chance.
The visitors bounced back, however, and began to pile the pressure on the Brox defence.
They received their just rewards after a defensive mix-up at the back led to Greg Page winning a penalty for his side.
Shaun Donoghue was incredibly unlucky not to save Jeffries’ spot-kick as he dived the right way but saw the ball wriggle under his body and over the line.
As the wind began to really bite after half-time, Broxburn continued their patient play and almost grabbed the lead again when Greg Binnie was played through on goal only for his shot to be well blocked by McGinley.
Right-back Craig Newall powered into the box as well but his shot sailed wide over the bar.
They would be made to pay for missing those chances as they went behind in the 73rd minute. Musselburgh captain Liam Reid was able to nick the ball off the opposition and send it to Liam Gregory, whose low cross was powered in by Smith.
It would have been easy for the home side to let heads drop after their impressive play wasn’t reaping rewards, but they stuck to it and won a penalty of their own seven minutes from time after McGinley collided with Binnie in the box.
Ex-Whitburn striker Brass stepped up to slot home into the bottom righthand corner.
Four minutes later Broxburn grabbed the late winner after a free-kick was swung into the box and found Brass, whose header was diverted into the net by Mair, who wheeled away in celebration.
The hosts would see out the remaining few minutes to pick up a hard earned three points.