Ellon Thistle v Ellon Amateurs

Division Two East

Ellon Thistle faced local rivals Ellon Amateurs on Saturday looking to bounce back from last weekends defeat at McTeagle. In a surprise move, Thistle manager Kevin Kennedy opted to leave midfielder Martyn Duncan out of his starting eleven and recalled Graeme Giles, Stephen Cruickshanks and Steven Beaton. Full back David Anderson was ruled out through illness and Neil Murray had to settle for a place on the bench.

The match was evenly contested but the visitors perhaps had the best opportunities in front of goal. Top scorer Michael Wild had Thistle's best effort but his low drive barely warmed the palms of the Amateurs keeper. Billy Dailly did his best to carve open the visitors defence but had little impact in the final third. At the other end, Ellon Amateurs forced a series of corners but were unable to test Dickinson in the Thistle goal.

Half-Time: Ellon Thistle 0 Ellon Amateurs 0

The second half was as competitive as the first but neither side was able to break the deadlock. Even the introduction of Thistle's Martyn Duncan could not change their fortunes in front of goal. The home sides chances of making the breakthrough were severley hampered when Graeme Giles retaliated to an off the ball kick by swinging a punch at an Amateurs attacker. Giles was sent off and Thistle played put the remainder of the game with ten men.

The fixture finished goalless for the second successive season and Thistle continue to slip out of the promotion chase while their opponents picked up a useful point in their battle to beat the drop.

Final Score: Ellon Thistle 0 Ellon Amateurs 0

Ellon Thistle: A Dickinson, N Henderson, S Cruickshanks, G Giles, R Birnie, B Alexander (M Duncan), N Mitchell (R Longmuir), C Davidson, S Beaton (N Murray), B Dailly, M Wild. Subs Not Used: A McLean