Ellon Thistle v Luthermuir

AFC Trophy Second Round

The Jags entertained First Division side Luthermuir at the Meadows on Saturday. It was a welcome break from the league campaign and gave Thistle the chance to pursue some cup success. The game kicked off twenty five minutes late due to the referee being caught up in traffic.

Ellon made one change to the squad which comfortably beat Don Athletic the previous week. Midfield playmaker Steven Beaton was missing due to social commitments. Steven Cruickshanks returned from a lengthy spell on the physio table to replace him in the midfield. Neil Mitchell, fresh from his honeymoon, took the vacant spot on the bench.

The game started with Ellon attacking towards the car park end and the opening 20 minutes saw both teams trying to suss each other out. Ellon tried to gain the upper hand but could not find the killer final ball or finish. Nevertheless, Thistle drew first blood in the twenty second minute when the stout Luthermuir left back tried a suicidal bicycle kick in his own box and hit nothing but fresh air. The ball ended up at the feet of the battling Mark Cockburn who played in Billy Dailly. A snap shot from the attacker was parried by the Luthermuir keeper allowing Cammy DAVIDSON to score a poachers toe poke on the rebound.

Luthermuir did little to threaten Dickinson in the Thistle goal. However, their number 8 had a glorious chance to make it even stevens from five yards but his finish was more suited to a rugby pitch and flew over the bar. On thirty five minutes, Mark Cockburn whipped in a great free kick which the burly left back intercepted and almost lobbed his own keeper. His miscalculation could easily have been a red face moment for the rotund full back.

The last action of the first half saw Billy Dailly unleash a ferocious shot which rocketed over the bar and put passing traffic in danger. Boss Kev Kennedy couldn’t be anything but happy going into the interval after a decent first half performance from his young squad.

Half-Time: Ellon Thistle 1 Luthermuir 0

Ellon were sloppy after the restart and presented an opportunity to a Luthermuir midfielder ten yards out but yet again Dickinson was left untroubled. The visitors had a couple of corners in a ten minute spell of pressure as Thistle defended poorly yet Dickinson was left unthreatened.

Fifteen minutes into the second period, Ellon were awarded a corner. With Martyn Duncan being a persistent nuisance, a regular occurrence this season, the opposition keeper decided that pushing him would be a good idea. Referee A. Dick laid down the law but when the corner was taken, the ever clever keeper wrestled Duncan into a headlock. Dick was firm and awarded the penalty. Michael Wild accepted responsibility for the task at hand and hit to the keepers right. Surprisingly, the keeper guessed correctly and a defender completed the clearance by conceding a shy. Ryan Birnie threw to Duncan in the box who was immediately kicked to the ground. A Dick was hard on Duncan as he signalled that the pint-sized midfielder had strayed offside.

At the mid-point of the half, Davidson had a great effort from ten yards that was smartly turned round the post for a corner. Thistle continued to threaten and were awarded a free kick on edge of box. Birnie was poised to ask a question of the Luthermuir goalkeeper but slipped on contact which led to a 6 on 4 break. However, the attack petered out and Dickinson was left to take another goal kick.

The last action of the match involved captain Ryan Birnie as he squeezed a great defence splitting ball through to Davidson. Left one on one with the keeper, he tried a cheeky chip and unluckily took a layer of paint off the post.

A long journey home for Luthermuir but a comfortable win at the end of the day for Ellon Thistle. They remain in the quest for glory coming into the turn of the year.

Final Score: Ellon Thistle 1 Luthermuir 0

Ellon Thistle: A Dickinson, N Henderson, D Anderson, B Alexander, R Birnie, M Duncan, S Cruickshanks, M Cockburn, C Davidson, M Wild, B Dailly. Subs Not Used: I Bailey, G Giles, N Birnie, N Mitchell, R Longmuir

Eye-witness account by G Giles