Post match report

Banks O'Dee 2 - Ellon 1

Ellon United’s league match against Banks o’ Dee at Spain Park last weekend finished up 2 - 1 in favour of the home side. Banks o’ Dee dominated the first half possession and took a 1 - 0 lead into the interval. Play was far more even in the 2nd half but it was Banks o’ Dee who added to their tally before United’s late goal lead to a frantic closing spell.

Dee keeper Pennant was caught out in the 3rd minute when Chris Huggins fed Matty Edmond out wide on the right. The keeper came rushing out of his goal but was unable to cut out the pass with Matty Edmond cutting inside him and sending in a low cross which Michael Fletcher just failed to get on the end of, much to the home defence’s relief.

Banks o’ Dee forced a corner with Neill Irvine on hand to head clear off the line. A strong run from the home side’s Gary McNamee took him into a shooting position but he sent his shot straight at Richard Bowman. Ellon responded with the lively Chris Huggins getting on the end of a cross from Keith Robertson but he was unable to get the power behind his header to trouble Pennant.  The home side came close to taking the lead in the 11th minute. A Phillips free kick was headed back into the danger area with central defender Stewart powering in to send a header just beyond the post.

A free kick from Andy McCraw was scrambled behind for a corner before Banks o’ Dee broke the deadlock midway through the opening period. United were caught out from a throw in. The Referee overuled his Assistant to award the throw to the home side with McWilliam collecting the ball and firing home into the top far corner.    

Banks o’ Dee continued to pose a threat but were almost caught out when Cammy Bruce made room and found Matty Edmond whose shot was tipped on to his bar by Pennant and thumped away for a corner. The home defence had another shaky moment three minutes before the break when Pennant misjudged a shot from Matty Edmond which he appeared to have comfortably covered only to scramble the ball round his post at the last minute for a corner which came to nothing.

United imposed themselves much more in the second half. Chris Allsop met a corner but his effort was cleared off the line and behind for another corner. The second cross came out to Matty Edmond whose shot was deflected for a third corner which was eventually cleared.

Strachan won possession in the middle of the field but Richard Bowman managed to turn his shot away for a corner and Ellon replied with Scott Henry meeting a corner only to see his header rebound off the back of Michael Fletcher and cleared. It was the home side who went further ahead when they were awarded a soft looking free kick with their ace poacher Foy stealing in at the back to head home the deep cross.

A late push from Ellon saw Matty Edmond break down the left and send over a fine low cross which was fired home by Cammy Bruce. The home goal had to survive a late flurry but Ellon were unable to snatch an equaliser in the precious little time remaining.

ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Irvine, McCraw, Annand, Allsop, Fletcher, Bruce, Gunn, Robertson, Huggins, Edmond. Subs: Henry, Slesser, Petrie, Clark.

BANKS O’ DEE: Pennant, Phillips, Turnbull, Stewart, Long, McWilliam, Christie, G. McNamee, Craib, Scaiffe, Strachan. Subs: McGuigan, Foy, A. McNamee, Dick, Corser, White, Forbes.

United have a vital home game next Saturday when Hall Russell United are their visitors to The Meadows, KO 2:30pm.