Musselburgh Athletic 2 - 1 Broxburn Athletic: Tough lesson for Broxburn in Cup defeat

Published on Monday 16 November 2009 09:05

SOUTH Division side Broxburn learned the hard way that you cannot drop your concentration for a second against a Super League side.

They were deservedly in front in this East of Scotland Cup second-round tie thanks to a super strike from John Jeffrey but in a crazy five minutes they allowed their concentration to slip and Musselburgh punished them. Broxburn were the better team over the 90 minutes but lacked the edge of their hosts. Visiting boss Steve Pittman has a side filled with good passing players but up front the inexperience showed.

He was delighted with their performance but disappointed with the result. He said: "We didn't deserve to lose but we allowed them into the game with a couple of mistakes at the back."

Broxburn dominated the opening 20 minutes with Chris Geddes missing the best chance to open their account. Clean through with only the keeper to beat, he lobbed the ball wide of the far post. Musselburgh then had their best spell but Broxburn keeper Gary Maley kept them at bay with a string of good stops.

The second half started the same but this time Broxburn did make the breakthrough. In the 57th minute, the ball was played through to Jeffrey who turned and drove the ball home at the near post. Broxburn were comfortably holding firm at the back until, in the 75th minute, Musselburgh grabbed an equaliser. A long ball was played in but the Broxburn defence hesitated. Sub Chris King, playing against one of his old clubs, headed the ball wide of the outstretched hands of Maley.

Broxburn were hurt but they responded well. Graham Baird's shot took a wicked deflection over the keeper's head but instead of landing in the net it came back off the post into play and was cleared. Five minutes later, the visitors fell behind. Again the defence turned off for a second, allowing Musselburgh to take the lead. Paul Tansey out wide left crossed for Mattu King to head home at the far post.

Musselburgh: Renton, Shand, Ramage, Fraser, Gibson, Nelson, McKenna, Crolla, McCallum, M King, Tansey. Subs: C King, Devlin, Porteous.

Broxburn: Maley, Wilson, Gibson, Cairns, Ritchie, Baird, Geddes, Dickov, Miller, Jeffrey, Young. Subs: Armit, Craig, Pearson, Todd, Douglas, Bruce.