Post match report

Buchanhaven 0 - Ellon 1

Ellon United’s league match at Peterhead was one of only three Super League games to survive the frost with United taking advantage to gain another three points courtesy of a Scott Henry penalty which gave them a tight 1 - 0 win. With Richard Bowman on “paternity watch” , Russell Ord took over in goal for United and came through with a shut out despite being hampered with a hamstring problem in the latter stages. Otherwise the initial United line up was the same eleven as started against Longside. With neither side able to make the breakthrough the match looked to be heading for stalemate until a penetrating 83rd minute attack from United was stopped by Duncan Chalmers being upended in the box and for the second week running Scott Henry made absolutely no mistake from the spot for the all important goal.

United forced an early corner which they worked to Matty Edmond whose shot flew over. Two minutes later the United man met a deep free kick from Calum Annand only to fire his shot wide. Hearts retaliated with Lee Wilby meeting a cross but his attempt failed to trouble Russell Ord.

Keith Reid and Cammy Bruce linked up to force a corner for United. Ross Forsyth met the cross but his header went over. Steve Gunn was in the right place for United five minutes later to force clear a header from Nico Marchi. It was Buchanhaven’s turn to breath a sigh of relief in the 40th minute when a ping pong session in the home box saw four United efforts blocked before the ball finally went behind for a corner. Just on half time Scott Henry found Keith Reid with a free kick but the Ellon striker’s shot on the turn flew straight at William Gatt in the Hearts goal.

United were first to threaten after the break when Keith Reid moved on to a fine diagonal ball from Calum Annand. The strikers flighted ball drifted just wide of the far post but was retrieved  by Cammy Bruce who cut inside only to see his left foot shot blocked. Ross Forsyth looked to have put the visitors ahead on the hour mark with a low shot which beat the keeper but came back off the inside of the far post to be cleared by the home defence.

Ellon continued to look the more threatening without managing to cash in. A strong run from Chris Huggins ended with his parting shot going just wide then Duncan Chalmers and Cammy Bruce combined to feed Keith Reid who slipped the ball past Gatt but the Hearts keeper did enough to push the United striker wide and his cut back from the narrow angle ran just the wrong side of the far post.

Buchanhaven had a half hearted claim for a penalty turned down only to be punished minutes later when the home defence were caught by an incisive United attack through the middle which was stopped by Duncan Chalmers being taken down in the box and Scott Henry fired home the resulting spot kick.

The United defence stood strong in the closing stages to protect their injured keeper. Hearts did win a free kick in a good position on the edge of the Ellon box two minutes into stoppage time but they failed to put the visitors under pressure and United were able to comfortably see out the remaining time.

ELLON UNITED: Ord, Annand, Allsop, Craib, Henry, Forsyth, Cadger, Gunn,  Bruce, Reid, Edmond. Subs: Petrie, Huggins, Morrison, Paterson, Clark, Chalmers.

BUCHANHAVEN HEARTS: Gatt, McLean, Glendinning, Cunningham, K. Simpson, Taylor, Duncan, Marchi, Porter, Norrie, Wilby . Subs: Webster, Donaldson, Creighton, M. Simpson, Clark, Barbour, Cowie.

United’s last game of the year sees FC Stoneywood visit The Meadows next Saturday, KO 1:15pm with Ellon looking to end the year on a high. United would like to take the opportunity of sending best wishes from The Club to their loyal and generous support and their thanks to the staff at The Meadows.