Glendale Youth v Ellon Thistle

AFC Trophy Second Round

Ellon Thistle progressed to the Third Round of the AFC Trophy at the expense of Glendale Youth after goals from David Anderson, Mark Cockburn and substitute Paul Ironside sealed a 3-1 victory.

It was a dreich Saturday afternoon and the playing surface was far from ideal but both sides made every attempt to string a few passes together. The home side had the best of the early openings and looked the more likely to go in front but failed to trouble Adamson in the Thistle goal.

At the other end, when Ellon found themselves in threatening positions, they also failed to call the opposition goalkeeper into action and perhaps unsurprisingly, the first half finished goalless.

Half Time: Glendale Youth 0 Ellon Thistle 0

Ellon took the lead in the second half, when full-back David ANDERSON latched on to a Steven Beaton pass and opened the scoring with a clinical finish.

Shortly after, Mark COCKBURN finished in similar fashion to extend the visitor’s advantage before he fell victim to the now trademark substitutions that saw himself, Beaton and Ryan Birnie withdrawn. Their replacements included Mark Kennedy, Neil Murray and Paul IRONSIDE who fired in a third Ellon goal with his first touch.

The temperature was raised towards the end of the game after a number of meaty challenges from players on both sides. Neil Henderson, Paul Ironside and Martyn Duncan were all involved for the away side with the latter conceding a penalty in the closing stages. The spot kick was converted but Adamson will feel unlucky not to have got a hand to it.

Final Score: Glendale Youth 1 Ellon Thistle 3

Ellon Thistle: Adamson, Henderson, Anderson, Alexander, Rennie, C. Duncan, Cockburn (Murray), M. Duncan, Beaton (Ironside), MacLean, Birnie (Kennedy). Subs not used: Giles, Bruce.

Man of the Match: Martin Rennie