Post match report

East End 2 - Ellon 3

Ellon United recovered from their 3 -1 mid week set back in their opening league match at Dyce to keep their 100% record at the top of their Grill League Cup qualifying section with a 3 - 2 win over East End at New Advocates last Saturday.

United put the home side under severe early pressure. Scott Henry met a corner only to see his header go behind off the top of the bar then a Keith Reid header off another corner flew over. Ellon’s early pressure paid off when the forced a penalty in the 4th minute with Michael Fletcher converting the spot kick. United’s lead was short lived with East End breaking up field from the restart and Walker fired home the equaliser from a tight angle.

Keith Reid met a cross from Scott Henry only for his header to come back off the post but the home side were caught out in the 11th minute when they were too slow in moving out and Cammy Bruce ran in to convert from close in with the East End shouting for offsides.

Gardiner fired a free kick wide for East End before the woodwork again came to the home team’s assistance when the ball came back off the near post following another Ellon corner.A neat interchange between Keith Reid and Cammy Bruce almost paid dividends for Ellon but this time the final shot went wide. And the scoreline remained at 2 - 1 going in to the break.

United took less than 5 minutes to add to their lead after the interval. The East End defence were unable to clear Andy McCraw’s in swinging free kick with Cammy Bruce pouncing to snatch his second goal of the day and bring his tally to five for the week.

East End began to put Ellon under pressure playing down the slope. Walker shot wide but a minute later the home striker fired home his second when the United defence were unable to deal with a high looping through ball. The home side were denied an equaliser in the 72nd minute when Richard Bowman turned Murray’s drive over for a corner. Unted responded with Chris Huggins bursting up the left and cutting the ball back into the danger area but the home defence managed to keep out Michael Fletcher then Keith Reid.

The home side were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position outside the Ellon box. With just over half an hour of the second period gone. The United defence blocked the first attempt but a retake was ordered and this time Richard Bowman held on to McArthur’s strike and the visitors played out time to keep the points against the side which put them out of last season’s competition at the semi final stage.
 
ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Annand, McCraw, Clark, Allsop, Henry, Henderson, Fletcher, Reid, Bruce, Edmond. Subs: Gunn, Robison, Huggins, Irvine, Pugh, Ord.

EAST END: Barney, Gardiner, Rae, McArthur, Wright, Murray, Robertson, Carrol, Whelan, Walker, Willox. Subs: Sinclair, Harris, Allan, Thomson, Taylor.

United complete their qualifying section next Saturday with the visit of Buckie Rovers to The Meadows, KO 2:30pm. A point would ensure United’s place in the knock out stages although Deveronside need to beat East End and overturn a 9 goal deficit to pip United if Ellon fail to take care of the business of their own account.