Broxburn win bragging rights over Armadale

Mar 26 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Broxburn win bragging rights in county derby

Armadale 1 Broxburn 2

THE South Division match of the day took place at Volunteer Park as Broxburn defeated their county rivals in a crucial clash in the race for promotion.

League leaders Thistle just lost out to neighbours Broxburn in a clash which could go a long way to deciding who will take the South Division title flag.

The Dale have led the way at the top of the pile for most of the season and with only one promotion place available the title is doubly important.

But Broxburn have their own designs on a place in the Premier League and this week they blew the title race wide open with their stunning victory.

The result leaves the Dale on top and six points clear but Broxburn have two games in hand meaning if both sides win their remaining fixtures the title and promotion may go down to goal difference.

Armadale started the game with all guns blazing and both Lee Johnstone and Robbie Feeney went close but it was the visitors who drew first blood when Chic Pearson gave them the lead on 27 minutes.

After the break the Dale deservedly fought back into the match and levelled when Johnstone drilled an unstoppable effort home.

But it wasn’t Armadales day and they were only level for 10 minutes before Pearson netted with superb diving header.

Armadale: Wood, Dick, Donaldson, McCulloch, Rodgers, R Johnstone, Lynch, Mauchline, Feeney, L Johnstone, Malcolm. Subs: Burnett, Bonnar, Alexander, Sychinskys, McMeechan.

Broxburn: McCann, Bishop, Gibson, Ritchie, Cunningham, Wilson, Douglas, Baird, Chilton, Pearson, Young. Subs: Robertson, Wells, Smith, Martin, Ferguson.

Elsewhere in the South Division, Pumpherston lost 2–0 at Edinburgh while West Calder lost heavily 5–0 at home to Tranent.

Blackburn travelled to Haddington and lost 2–1 with Stoneyburn beating Dunbar 2–0.

The only other game played was at Harthill where the hosts edged out Livingston 1–0.