Broxburn Athletic 2 Kennoway Star Hearts 2
The short trip over the Forth would see Kennoway visit Broxburn Athletic. Both team`s had saw a recent upturn in results with the visitors disappointed in not taking full points in midweek as they drew for the second consecutive game. Broxburn had a narrow win over Linlithgow Rose.
Blustery conditions were proving to be an unwelcome sideshow as the players struggled to get to get any sort of tempo to the game. The play was to settle though and it was KSH (who playing against the wind) started to get superiority in the middle of the park.
Helped by the promptings of skipper C.Gay alongside the tenacity of Rolland the chances started to open up for the Fife team. Young making a welcome return to the starting line up after a lay off through injury was providing much needed pace on the left flank. A strong run from the make shift wide man saw the ball drop to C.Gay on the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder struck a powerful shot that was well held by the Broxburn `keeper.
Broxburn despite not having as much of the ball were still coming up with attempts on goal. A free header at the back post should have seen a better effort as the striker`s effort flew high and wide. A free kick from twenty yards was the closest the home side came in the first half as Paterson scrambled to his left relieved to see the ball go wide.
Another attack involving M.Gay and C.Gay saw a succession of passes before C.Gay had another shot blocked inside the box, as the ball broke a header from M.Gay was cleared to safety. HT 0-0
A very positive start to the second half for Broxburn saw KSH pegged back as a defensive unit . The back three of Doig,Partridge and McGowan were earning their corn as they held firm with some disciplined defending.
The tide turned after ten minutes of the half when C.Gay again picked up a loose ball in the middle of the park, a quick turn and pass of precision saw M.Gay race through on goal. The `keeper advanced off his line to make a good save when a goal looked likely. This attack picked up the belief in the Kennoway side and Binnington was next to see a snapshot from sixteen yards saved at the second attempt.
A drifting run from centre to left from Muir saw the midfielder slip a lovely pass behind two defenders into the path of Young, unfortunately for KSH his cross was blocked.
Momentum was building and KSH got the goal their play deserved twenty minutes into the half. Another ball from the left found Muir on the edge of the penalty area, a deft touch to get the ball out of his feet then a quite stunning volley saw the ball soar into the top left hand corner of the net.
With the way the second half had developed it looked like the first win in the super league was not far away. However a dogged Broxburn team were not for giving it away without a fight.
A free kick from the left flew over the head of Paterson to give the home side the equaliser. The bickering over the goal seemed to have caused the KSH defence to lose focus as within five minutes a game that they had total control in suddenly saw them behind when Miller scored from just inside the right hand side of the box with a clever finish.
The one thing about this KSH team though is their desire. With composure regained they pushed for an equaliser. A long throw from the left saw the ball land at the feet of M.Gay with his back to goal. Catching his marker and the home `keeper unaware he produced an audacious piece of skill as he back-heeled the ball home from four yards out.
The final few minutes saw both teams try and get the winner in a game that provided many a talking point as the honours were shared. FT 2-2
Team: Paterson Doig Partridge McGowan Craig Muir C.Gay Rolland Young Binnington M.Gay Subs: Johnstone Newlands Bremner Page Davidson
Next game is at Home v Boness Utd Saturday 26th August KO 2.30pm
