Ellon Thistle v Monymusk

Division Two East

Thistle played their second home game in three days when they faced Monymusk at The Meadows on Monday night. Ellon were in dire need of a win after two successive defeats and a number of players were surprisingly given another chance to prove themselves.

The game wasn’t scarce of incident. Straight from kick off Cruickshanks received the ball at right back and collided with a Monymusk player and found himself on the end of a brain rattling head knock which was to snap the end off his front tooth. This was not to deter him from carrying on his defensive duties.

A minute later, Ironside had the ball in the net after winning an aerial battle with the ‘musk keeper (who had no complaints along with his fellow team mates), but referee John “perma-tan” McGetterick decided to chop it off.

Monymusk hit the bar after five minutes when a speculative forty yard “howitzer” left Adamson stranded, only for him to see it rebound off his goal frame.

This seemed to fire up Ellon who were to dominate proceedings, creating numerous chances and keeping possession for long spells. It was ANDERSON who finally “legally” broke the deadlock with twenty five minutes gone when he thundered his effort past the keeper from close range. Nothing wrong with this one according to John “Hawaiian Tropics” McGetterick.

Ellon continued their quest for more goals before the half. Ironside and Wild had efforts but failed to find a crucial second before the interval.

Half-Time: Ellon Thistle 1 Monymusk 0

Ellon started the second half still hungry for goals and when they found it, it was a cracker! After some decent passing play in the midfield the ball landed at Paul IRONSIDE who was at the edge of the box and instead of using his left peg, adjusted his body to use the outside of his right foot to curl an effort over the keeper into the top left corner. A majestic finish!

The “sun loving” referee’s decision making was to be called into question on further occasions, most notably when Martyn Duncan was getting the better of the ‘musk defender only to be boorishly barged off the ball winning what seemed to be a stonewall penalty. But not in the referee’s eyes. This incident ending what was an excellent performance by Duncan who was withdrawn injured and replaced by Bruce Alexander.

The Jags goal difference could have been far superior after the match with a catalogue of good chances and bad finishes with substitute Mikey Gibson, on for Paul Ironside, the culprit of some pitiful misses. The game could have been put to bed when Gibson found himself on the end of a great cross at the back post to do what can only be described as “banana” it into the car park from a meagre two yards (which is giving him the benefit of the doubt). An astounding miss! He was then again the culprit when he found himself clean through, he then lifted the ball over the keeper and it was the bushes he found and not the net.

GIBSON did redeem himself (slightly, if possible) when he finished off Monymusk. He again found himself clean through but this time thumping the ball under the keeper into the bottom left of the onion bag.

Final Score: Ellon Thistle 3 Monymusk 0

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