Ellon Thistle v Insch

Barclay Cook Cup Semi Final

So Ellon once again found themselves in the semi final of the Barclay Cook Cup, and for the third time in three years the final was a no go area for them after this battle between these two second division adversaries at a sodden Strathburn Park. It looked like a typhoon had hit Inverurie during the night as the drookit pitch showed. The match was to include some beefy sliding challenges and unforced errors throughout. Even with the warm ups being held off the pitch the surface at the starting whistle was atrocious with puddles here there and everywhere. Fine conditions for a game if you were a duck!

The opening minutes were action packed with Stoney letting the Jags off with some over hit passes when the soft approach would have led to goals on two occasions. Ellon also had a decent opportunity early doors when Ryan Birnie fired at goal only for the ball to take numerous deflections and the rebound being cleared off the line hitting the defenders arm. A suspicion of handball, but would have been a tad harsh if it was given. Even in this early stages the pitch was tearing up and some of the players looked as if they were playing on ice with stilettos on.

The game raged from end to end with some velocity basically all half but nobody took it upon themselves to break the standoff. Cruickshanks being the closest with a twenty yard drive that was top corner bound but deflecting wide for a corner.

Half Time: Ellon Thistle 0 Stoneywood Ams 0

The second period started with a robust diving lunge on McGill. There was definitely malice in the Stoney player’s actions, and McGill’s resulting actions also had malice in them when he petulantly kicked out. Both players received a stern talking too from the senior referee.

It was Stoney who took the lead on the hour when a ball from the left wing somehow shirked its way past Adamson and his defenders leaving the striker with an easy tap in at the back post.

From the centre Ellon went straight on the attack and after a great high ball from Anderson into the box beat the keeper, the Stoney number eight who had not been having a good day at the office got in a flap and narrowly headed past his own post. An own goal would have summed up his performance thus far.

But moments later the ball did find its way into the Stoney goal when McKeitch played in Birnie who slipped it to McGILL who rounded the keeper to slot home. By this point Stoneywood looked dead on his feet and Ellon started to fancy their chances. Substitute MacLean could have put The Jags in the lead after he rounded the keeper but then gave the well nourished goalie a chance to get back and save which he did. Credit the keeper but it should have been 2-1.

With five minutes to go catastrophe struck for the men in yellow, or in the afternoons case, the men in yellow and brown. A slack clearance from Anderson found an opposing midfielder who played in his team mate for 2-1 Stoneywood. Shortly after, a short header from Cruickshanks let Stoneywood in for 3-1. With little time left Ellon were done and dusted, their final dreams extinguished for yet another season.

Final Score: Ellon Thistle 1 Stoneywood Ams 3

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