Ellon Thistle v Deva Dons

Division Two East

Even the best teams grind out ugly wins and this is exactly what this was from the Jags. Not at their full potential but they were never in danger of losing the three points. At some points of the match, it looked like a chore to some of the Ellon men against the only team they have not faced in the league to date.

Ellon still without frontman Ironside, opted to start with his strike partner Mikey Wild on the bench leaving Beaton and McGill to lead the line as they did in the Jags previous match. A bold move from manager Kennedy to leave the team without the “sixty” goal partnership. Martyn Duncan was also unavailable due to holiday commitments.

The wind was in full swing at the start of this match, but this was not a factor in the boring, drawn out opening fifteen minutes. Not what the Jags supporters turned up to see. But a spellbinding piece of play gave them something to smile about after twenty minutes. A cross field ball from Anderson found the feet of Keith Duncan who rifled in a cross which GIBSON nestled in at the back post.

It could easily have been “even Stevens” two minutes later when the ball was crossed into the Ellon box to find the head of the Dons man who was left by Keith Duncan. Luckily the header was docile. The visiting striker must have been disappointed in himself. A bad miss!

Ellon had a few chances that were not far off with the first coming from Beaton who was unlucky to fire over. Next up was Callum Duncan who put his laces through a thirty five yard drive that also was just the wrong side of the bar.

The Jags have profited in recent games from the Duncan and Cruickshanks centre midfield partnership and it was on show today with some tough, crunching “biiiiiiig tackles” that Claude Makelele would be proud of. This led to the latter earning a well deserved man of the match.

The Dons keeper was almost left red faced when he misjudged a cross and fumbled it luckily hitting the post, but he was not so lucky soon after when an Anderson challenge twenty five yards out ricocheted through to the goalie who spilled the ball straight into the path of McGILL who couldn’t believe his fortune as he tapped the ball into the net. And it was the same man again who added a third when after a delightful bit of close control in the box fired home. A brace for McGILL.

The first half ended on a sour not with Deva's big centre half being hospitalised with what turned out to be a broken ankle and ruptured ligaments. A sore one for the big man who landed awkwardly after an overhead clearance. This injury led to the game being held up for twenty minutes until an ambulance had been and gone.

Half Time: Ellon Thistle 3 Deva Dons 0

If you did not witness this second half then lucky you because it was dire, boring, slow, uneventful and in general just a nonentity.

The Dons looked dejected due to scoreline and losing their player to that horror injury and looked like they were waiting for Ellon to pin them and the referee to give the three count. As for the Jags they seemed to be content to see the game out.

Apart from a couple of efforts on goal from both teams and a few substitutions there was very little action at all. Not a good spectacle for a football fan.

So another three points on the board for the league leaders. Ten games to go but will the Jags manage to keep up their run of form to secure the holy grail of promotion or even go a step better and win the league. Only time will tell!

Final Score: Ellon Thistle 3 Deva Dons 0

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