Broxburn Athletic claimed the West Lothian bragging rights and booked a Scottish Cup first spherical place within the course of as they defeated Blackburn United 3-0 at Albyn Park.
A crowd of over 300 witnessed the primary West Lothian derby within the competitors since 1926 as the 2 sides battled it out within the Preliminary Spherical.
Gary Brass opened the scoring with a effective header on 18 minutes earlier than an impressed show by United keeper Jakub Welna saved the guests within the tie. He was unable to forestall a late double, although, as David Churchill's luxurious half-volley double Athletic's lead eight minutes from time with Greg Binnie rounding off the scoring 4 minutes later.
The victory was definitely deserved but it surely may nicely have been a special story had Athletic keeper Josh Blair seen pink for dealing with outdoors the field halfway by way of the second half. The officers waved away Blackburn's protests and that appeared to spark a change in momentum after the away facet had threatened a leveller.
The competition began off slowly with Richie Hutton for United and Broxburn's Ross Nimmo attempting their luck from distance earlier than the impasse was damaged.
Brass was capable of leap the very best on the again put up to thunder a header into the online from a Josh Jeffries whipped free-kick.
As was the case within the league recreation between the 2 sides earlier within the month, Athletic loved a lot of the play within the first half with Craig Henderson and Jeffries particularly wanting a menace each time they obtained the ball in house. Each gamers would go near doubling the benefit with Welna denying the previous twice whereas producing a terrific save to tip a Jeffries 25-yard effort over the bar.
In that league conflict, United had been a modified staff after the break and got here again to say a draw and following a Welna save from a Ross Nimmo curling strike early within the second half, it appeared which will repeat itself as Blackburn loved their finest spell of the sport.
Danny Campbell noticed a deflected effort hit the side-netting whereas Daryl Meikle was denied by Blair earlier than the contentious handball choice not given in United's favour. From that passage of play, Campbell went near levelling however noticed his effort save.
Hutton was then agonisingly inches away from turning a Marcus Miller header that went again throughout objective into the online as United piled on the stress with the sport ticking into the ultimate 20 minutes.
Having weathered that storm, Athletic grew again into the conflict and had been capable of profit from Blackburn flinging males ahead. Binnie headed vast from shut vary earlier than Welna produced a powerful diving save to disclaim Gordon Donaldson as he flicked a Nimmo free-kick in the direction of objective.
The Brox lastly gave themselves some respiration house when Churchill latched onto a Jordan Orru throw-in on the left-hand nook of the field and pinged an inch-perfect half-volley throughout objective and into the online after kissing the within of the put up.
Binnie wrapped up proceedings by slamming house from shut vary minutes later earlier than Welna denied Liam Grey a fourth for Broxburn that might unquestionably have been harsh on the resilient guests.
The victory sends Broxburn into the hat for Monday's first spherical draw the place they are going to be joined by Linlithgow Rose. The Prestonfield outfit breezed previous South of Scotland League facet St Cuthberts Wanderers 9-0 with Mark Stowe bagging six for the hosts.
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