RGU v Ellon Thistle

AFC Trophy 2nd Round

Ellon were the visitors to an incredibly windy Kaimhill where a gale force wind was blowing down the park from goal to goal. The Jags opponents were from a division above and were likely to prove a stern test. Thistle were looking to avoid being knocked out of a third cup in as many weeks.

Ellon started the game attacking into the wind so the artificial surface was an ideal surface to knock the ball about and keep it out of the tornado-esque wind. The wind was to play a part throughout the game with all deadball situations moving as they were struck. But it wasn’t to stop Mikey WILD from putting the men in yellow ahead after he latched on to an Ironside ball. It was his twelfth goal of the season.

There was to be a few comedy gale related incidents all afternoon. But the pick of them was to come from Stephen Cruickshanks. The midfielder cleared the ball from the edge of the Thistle box only for the ball to get caught in the air current and blow out for a corner to RGU. Quite extraordinary.

Wild should have scored again after a Martyn Duncan through ball found him but he only managed to pull a save from the tax-dodging University keeper. Then came the weekly occurrence of Thistle being denied a stonewall penalty. Ironside hit a freekick from twenty yards that was clearing the wall when an RGU player stuck up his arm and saved it. How the referee missed it is bamboozling to say the least. Even the kids on the dry ski slope nearby could see it was a penalty and a red card. An abominable decision.

Martyn Duncans afternoon was cut short when after attempting to win a header he received a mouth full of boot and a trip to A&E for stitches after his teeth tore through his lip.

Ellon were lucky to go in at half time still in the lead after a bad miss by the RGU striker. He should have slotted the ball past Adamson but instead bungled his effort wide. A let off on the stroke of half time for the visitors.

Half-Time: RGU 0 Ellon Thistle 1

Ironside could have scored a spectacular effort in the opening minutes of the half when he tried a forty yard lob but the keeper managed to scramble back and save his blushes, and the shorn haired striker almost scored soon after but some great defensive work prevented the net from bulging.

RGU were to miss another sitter when the tight wearing number seven managed to miss from close range. A bad, bad miss from the man in what can only be described as wrestlers spandex.

Anderson had a freekick from a decent range saved by the keeper, Wild had a good chance and so did his strike partner Ironside but none of the efforts beat the keeper. Ellon really could have and should have been out of sight but it was RGU who were to score and level the match. A hint of offside involved maybe and to add to add to the refs poor day he chalked off a perfectly legitimate goal from Ironside who was blatantly on.

Full-Time: RGU 1 Ellon Thistle 1

Ellon went into the lead for the second time in the game through WILD much to the delight of Jags gaffer Kev Kennedy who celebrated like a madman.

If the wind wasn’t enough of a challenge for Ellon it was about to get harder when substitute Kerr seemed to go over his ankle and was unable to continue leaving only ten men on the park due to all three subs being used.

Ironside could have put the game beyond doubt when he beat the offside trap but got it wrong and blazed over and then from out of nowhere bang two all in the fourth minute of injury time. The suckerpunch goal taking the game to penalties.

After Extra-time: RGU 2 Ellon Thistle 2

So penalties it was then and the Jags were to triumph with BIRNIE, WILD, ALEXANDER converting, Ironside missing and Mark COCKBURN cool, calm and collectedly slotted home the winning penalty. 4-3 and a step closer to the Pittodrie final.

Penalties: RGU 3 Ellon Thistle 4

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