Dyce v Ellon Thistle

AFC Trophy Quarter Final

Today’s hosts were looking to make it unbeaten in twenty games in this A.F.C trophy quarter final. Ellon were looking for another scalp by knocking out another First Division team after already disposing of Kintore.

It wouldn’t be easy for the Jags against the XI of Dyce but on top of that a mini hurricane was blasting from wing to wing over this Pitmedden Road pitch. The game was in doubt during the warm ups when the referee tested out the keepers kick outs before declaring “game on”.

Thistle fired out the traps from the off and were rewarded early when an Alexander freekick into the box was poorly dealt with by a combination of a shilly-shally defence and a dithering keeper this leaving McGILL on hand to slot home. A dream start for the visitors. A disaster for the cumbersome keeper.

Alexander found himself in the book just after the restart after two of his team mates failed to halt the Dyce man leaving the big man to hip-toss the striker to the ground.

But moments later Dyce were awarded a spot kick after the number 8 (whose blow off beard was in danger of becoming a cropper) tied Cockburn in a knot, with the Ellon man taking a nibble at his legs the Dyce man tumbled. Due to the wind the Penalty taker took a full minute to get the ball to stay on the spot, and it was a waste of time in the end when he rapped the pall past Adamsons left hand post.

Not long after Dyce had the opportunity to score once more when Anderson stumbled in possession and the home player was as good as clean through but somehow managed to run the ball out safely for a goal kick. But the goal did come when an overhead ball into the Thistle box found its way to the back post where the mouthpiece that was number 9 headed in from close range.

But the Dyce joy was short lived when seconds later the Dyce rear was exposed and duly probed by Captain Ryan BIRNIE had an empty net to slot the ball into. The Ellon man couldn’t believe his luck when the keeper ran into his own defender leaving the ball to squirm free. Definitely one for a Nick Hancock DVD at Christmas.

Half Time: Dyce 1 Ellon Thistle 2

Ellon started the second period shaky when poor defending led to a bit of a stramash in the box but Alexander cleared. Then the ball was straight back into the box with Adamson claiming but somehow the ball wriggled free from his grip somehow and into the back of the net via the strikers boot.

After the equalising goal the wind picked up and completely ruined the game. The ball must have been in play for at the most, a third of the second half. Ellon came close to scoring twice in the second period. Birnie hit a piledriver of a thirty five yarer that flew narrowly over. Adamson the keeper also came close when a kick out also just narrowly over again.

But it was Dyce who won it when three defenders stood off the man and let him unleash a shot which found its way under Adamson. 3-2 with five minutes to go and Ellon looked the defeated team which was the final outcome.

Final Score: Dyce 3 Ellon Thistle 2

Ellon Thistle: D. Adamson, N. Henderson, B. Alexander, D. Anderson, M. Cockburn, S. Cruickshanks, C. Duncan, D. McKeitch, R. Birnie, S. Beaton (A. MacLean), D. McGill (R. Longmuir). Unused Subs: G. Giles, A. Kerr, K. Duncan