Broxburn in Juniors Cup exit

Dec 22 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

DEFENSIVE blunders cost Broxburn Athletic a place in the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup.

The West Lothian side travelled to Girvan on Saturday for the cup replay without key men John Jeffrey and Stuart Cairns – and the absence of both men proved crucial.

Girvan drew first blood through Alan Love, who pounced after Sean Roycroft’s attempt to head clear flew across his own goal.

The lead was short lived however, as Mark Cowan fired home to level the scores on the stroke of half time.

Both sides upped the tempo after the break but another blunder gifted Girvan the lead.

Stephen Payne, a makeshift right-back for the day, was dispossessed on the halfway line and the Ayrshire side broke forward, with John Bradford finishing off the quick counter attack.

Broxburn battled back again, with David Morrison finding the back of the Girvan net to make it 2-2. Morrison then spurned a chance to make it 3-2 in what was turning into a classic cup clash.

Shaun Martin (below) edged Broxburn ahead with a strike on 75 minutes.

Just when it looked like Broxburn were heading into the fourth-round draw, goalkeeper Gary Maley made a complete howler in the dying minutes.

After coming off his line to meet a loose ball, Maley dithered and allowed Girvan’s Craig Harvey to knock the ball past him and walk the ball into the Broxburn net.

Then, in an incredible end to the match, Girvan won possession almost from kick-off and raced up the park, with Lee McCrae sparking scenes of wild celebration in the home ranks when he hit the last-gasp winner to leave Broxburn reeling.