Glendale v Ellon Thistle

Division Two East

Ellon Thistle travelled to Maryculter on Saturday looking to pick up three points against Glendale and went into the game full of confidence after an encouraging performance in the midweek rout of Monymusk.

With Martyn Duncan now unavailable for up to five weeks through work commitments, a central midfield berth was up for grabs and Michael Gibson was given his chance to stake a claim for the jersey. New recruit Adam Kerr took his place on the bench as manager Kevin Kennedy continues to bring in defensive players to shore up a back line that has shipped twelve goals in just six games.

Ellon got off to the worst possible start as the home side capitalised on some sloppy defending to fire themselves in front after just six minutes. Once again, Thistle were going to have to come from behind to salvage anything from the match in what is now an all too familiar story.

However, The Jags struck back within five minutes when Paul IRONSIDE was bundled to the ground in the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The front man dusted himself down and confidently slotted the ball past the Glendale goalkeeper to level the scores at one each.

Left-back David ‘goals for fun’ ANDERSON grabbed his fourth goal in five games when he fired high into the roof of the net from close range to put Thistle in front. The lead was short lived as further defensive carnage allowed a Glendale attacker a free header which found the corner of the Thistle net. 2-2.

Defences were definitely not on top in this encounter as Michael WILD burst through on goal and easily beat the Glendale keeper. WILD doubled his tally and gave Thistle a two goal cushion before the interval. The striker raced through on goal and with just the goalkeeper to beat, effortlessly dribbled past him as he lay down like a dog wanting his belly rubbed. 2-4.

Half-Time: Glendale 2 Ellon Thistle 4

The card-happy referee’s zero tolerance approach saw no fewer than half a dozen players in the official’s notebook and even Thistle season ticket holder Mike Cockburn was banished to the roadside.

Glendale clawed themselves back into the game when they made it 4-3 prompting the introduction of Adam Kerr and Bruce Alexander as Thistle looked to preserve their lead.

But the changes were to no avail as third and final substitute Steven Beaton squandered possession in his own half initiating another Glendale attack. As the home side advanced on the Thistle goal, Stephen Cruickshanks brought the attack to an abrupt end with an illegal challenge on the edge of the box resulting in the full-backs second yellow card of the game. From the ensuing free-kick, Glendale snatched a point with the final kick of the ball. The visitors could only watch in despair as the Glendale set piece taker sclaffed a ‘wormburner’ that trundled into the bottom corner of the Ellon goal.

Final Score: Glendale 4 Ellon Thistle 4

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