Ellon Thistle v Grammar FP

Division Two East

The Jags hosted Grammar FP at a rain soaked Meadows on Saturday. Thistle were looking to add to the three points gained in their previous match against Bankhead. Captain Ryan Birnie was available having served his two match ban but he had to settle for a seat on the bench replacing Mikey Gibson who is sunning himself in a finer climate.

Ellon were slow out of the traps with FP’s obviously the better team early doors and they were rewarded for their early pressure after six minutes. After some poor refereeing, they took the lead in controversial circumstances when their goal scorer plus a further two players were blatantly in offside positions.

Ellon had limited chances in the first half hour. Jamie McNeil found space for an eighteen yard drive which went harmlessly high. The Jags best chance fell to Duncan McGill who rounded the keeper but could only find the side netting on the twenty five minute mark.

The goalmouth action was limited for the remainder of the half with Grammar going in one nil up at the interval and the more convincing outfit.

Half-Time: Ellon Thistle 0 Grammar FP 1

The second half started brighter with the FPs keeper being called into action early on when he pulled off a great save from a Michael Wild effort.

The scores were level after fifty minutes when a seemingly tame Callum DUNCAN effort crept in at the keeper’s right hand post. It was Duncan’s maiden goal for the club since his move from junior side Hermes.

The goal seemed to fire up Ellon who took the lead moments later when ANDERSON fired a left foot drive straight at the keeper who let the ball through his body and into the net. What should have been a bread and butter save ended up in Anderson’s first of the season.

The phrase “game of two halves” was definitely apparent in this match with Thistle clearly the superior team in the second period after a sluggish first forty five.

FP’s defensive frailties were exposed again when WILD latched onto a Martyn Duncan pass to score his fourth of the season. Wild was involved again not long after his goal when the striker looked to have earned a penalty after he was axed down ruthlessly only to be told by the referee he had played for it. Poor decision by the referee was the thought of everyone but the referee himself.

Alexander was to find his moniker in the referee’s book when the lofty defender was caught with a high foot, after which he proceeded to square up to the guilty party who in turn looked as if he “Eskimo kissed” him back. Their antics earned themselves yellow cards.

From the resulting free kick which Grammar had surprisingly been awarded, Ellon conceded a corner. From the ball in, the Aberdeen team headed themselves a lifeline.

At this point boss Kevin Kennedy decided to freshen things up by replacing McGill with Ironside who was making his competitive debut. It wasn’t long before the debutant managed to ruffle a few feathers with robust challenges and choice words for the opposition.

Ellon held on for the win with Neil Henderson putting in a sterling performance and claiming a well earned man of the match.

Final Score: Ellon Thistle 3 Grammar FP 2

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