Bankhead v Ellon Thistle

Division Two East

After Saturday’s second half capitulation against Stoneywood, Ellon Thistle were looking to get their season up and running against hosts Bankhead at Sheddocksley. Unlike most trips to “The Sheds”, this contest would be lacking gale force winds although the ever present urchin on a scrambler made his usual cameo appearance as he was chased by the local constabulary.

The game itself was not short of incident early on. In the opening minute, Martyn Duncan found himself one-on-one with the Bankhead keeper but instead of rounding him, the diminutive stand-in captain decided slipping onto his rear was a better idea. The woodwork was hit soon after when Wild found space and fired a cross which Cockburn headed against the post and away for a shy. In the early stages it appeared obvious the Bankhead rearguard were in for a torrid time against the Ellon strike force of Wild and McGill.

It was on the eleven minute mark when the Jags took a deserved lead when a low Cockburn corner eluded two defenders and WILD was on hand to tap in his and Thistle’s first of the season. Not long after the restart, young Duncan McGill saw the keeper off his line and from nearly thirty yards, his cheeky chip sailed agonisingly wide.

In a busy first fifteen minutes, the action continued when Martyn Duncan had the chance to extend the lead but yet again the petite midfielder squandered when scoring seemed easier. With seconds remaining of the forty five, Cockburn swung in another corner and after a fine double save by the keeper and a goal line clearance, McNeil concluded the stramash when his tame effort was hooked to safety.

Deep into injury time, WILD latched onto a defensive clearance which the keeper missed leaving the goal open for the striker to grab his brace.

Half-Time: Bankhead 0 Ellon Thistle 2

The second half started in similar fashion when Martyn Duncan had an opportunity to put the game beyond doubt but yet again the pocket sized midfielder threw away the chance. Bankhead should have taken advantage of a poor Thistle offside trap when their striker was clean through. He did the hard bit of rounding Adamson but missed the open goal and put it through the side netting.

New signing Jamie McNeil will be annoyed he is not off the mark this season when he got his head to a pinpoint Cruickshanks free-kick only to see the effort go harmlessly wide. The words “biscuit tin” were being uttered on the sideline by the Thistle faithful. On the fifty five minute mark, after a trademark Cockburn corner, the Bankhead centre half attempted the own goal of the season by volleying the ball off his own chest only to be denied by the top of the crossbar.

The game was soon beyond doubt when an inch perfect forty five yard Cockburn pass found WILD who nestled the ball in the keepers bottom left corner to complete his hat-trick. Duncan McGILL added a fourth on the hour mark when he showed great strength to squeeze through two defenders and blast home from ten yards.

Since the game was done and dusted, Thistle manager Kev Kennedy introduced Beaton, Longmuir and Gibson to the fold to freshen things up and almost was left with ten players when Longmuir’s face was on the end of a thunderous clearance from the Bankhead keeper. But the tough guy shook off the bust nose and carried on.

Ellon controlled the remainder of the game as they had done for the bulk of the match to see out a comfortable three points. Next up, Grammar FP at the Meadows on Saturday.

Final Score: Bankhead 0 Ellon Thistle 4

Ellon Thistle: D Adamson, N Henderson, D Anderson, B Alexander, C Duncan, M Duncan, S Cruickshanks, M Cockburn (R Longmuir), J McNeil (M Gibson), M Wild, D McGill (S Beaton). Subs Not Used: M Mathers, P Ironside