University Strollers v Ellon Thistle

Division Two East

With a bizarre turn of weather this game was to be played on greasy, skitey park after the glorious sunshine chose not to watch this latest Ellon capitulation. Cue the dark overcast skies and showers. A miserable day in terms of weather and in terms of Jags performance.

With promotion in their own hands, Ellon started in poor fashion with their play as scruffy as a tramps beard and their ball retention was unfathomable. Little chances were created with the best of what you could call a “chance” falling to Beaton when he was played in by Birnie but the Uni defender recovered well to halt the Ellon mans attempt.

This was to be a forgettable afternoon for Ellons talismatic goalscorer Mikey Wild. The striker found himself in the referees book early doors when the man in black deemed him to be offside. Wild disagreed and was carded for his protestation.

Strollers were denied the opening goal when Anderson was wrong footed but the effort from the number 8 was well saved by Adamson. The goal did come moments later when the Ellon failed to clear their lines and the ball was lobbed back into the box for a free header at the back post.

Uni were unlucky to not be awarded a penalty when Callum Duncan handled in the area but the referee failed to spot the infringement. You might have thought this was the break Ellon needed but instead they were reduced to ten men when Wild who felt aggrieved at being fouled was red carded for his arguing, this red card was promptly followed by a second for foul and abusive language and then again followed by a third card for further insubordination.

Then to make matters worse the home side doubled their advantage when some limp defending by four Ellon men led to an easy finish from a University forward.

Half Time: University Strollers 2 Ellon Thistle 0

David McKeitch had a glorious chance to half the deficit in the first minute of the second period but his header was tame and untroublesome.

Stevie Beaton and Mark Cockburn were replaced by Andy MacLean and Martyn Duncan and the grizzled MacLean almost scored with a header, then was called offside when clean through but the replays showed he was clearly on. But the big striker did find the net and made it game on when he was played in to coolly slot home. This time MacLEAN was offside but he wasn’t to care.

University introduced fresh blood with number fifteen and what a sub it turned out to be with the tricky wingers “Usain Bolt” like pace causing no end of problems for the Thistle rearguard. These problems culminating in a third goal and the ten men of Ellon with their heads in their hands.

With results going Thistle’s way at the weekend Ellon were rueing this weak, under par, bottleless performance. As it was said in the changing room after the game “too many players looked like they didn’t care and its verging on complacency”. Well boys the jobs not done yet and you have one hell of a “royal rumble” in the coming weeks if you want out of this league.

Final Score: University Strollers 3 Ellon Thistle 1

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