Mintlaw v Ellon Thistle

Castle Rovers Cup Quarter Final

Daniel Adamson returned from suspension to take his place in the Thistle goal and a heroic performance from the Hatton stopper helped The Jags progress to the semi finals of the Castle Rovers Cup.

Inaccurate time management cost Cammy Davidson his place in the starting line up but the midfielder did make a cameo appearance in extra time only to be sent off for summing up the referee's performance in as few words as possible. Stephen Cruickshanks returned from injury to take his place from the start.

David McKeitch opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half when he fired home a Keith Reid cut back. Goalkeeper Adamson had fortuitously saved an earlier free-kick between his legs before Mintlaw did find the back of the net to equalise before half time.

Ellon regained the advantage with McKeitch again involved. After a marauding run down the left, evading two tackles, he crossed for Matthew Cowie to head home his third goal of the season. However, the home side forced the game into extra time with their second goal of the game.

Keith Reid thought he had won the tie with his goal in the second period of extra time but the referee had other ideas as he awarded the softest of penalties to the home side. The penalty was converted and Mintlaw could easily have been awarded another soon after had Jamie McNeil's push inside the box been penalised. There would be plenty more spot kicks to come though as the semi final berth would be decided by penalty kicks with the scores level after 120 minutes.

Steven Beaton, subbed on in the dying seconds of extra time with penalties in mind, inevitably trundled a feeble effort straight at the keeper and with Jamie McNeil having already seen his spot kick saved, Mintlaw had the chance to win the tie. However, Adamson turned the shoot-out on its head by repelling consecutive strikes by the home side and allow skipper Stephen Cruickshanks to send The Jags into the last four.

Final Score: Mintlaw 3 Ellon Thistle 3

After extra time, Ellon Thistle won 4-3 on penalties.

Ellon Thistle: Adamson, Gillan (Davidson), Anderson, Henderson, C. Duncan, Stephen Cruickshanks, Cockburn (McNeil), Dailly, Reid (Beaton), Cowie, McKeitch. Subs not used: Simon Cruickshanks, Drummond.

Man of the Match: Daniel Adamson