Post match report

Ellon 1 - Blantyre Vics 3

Ellon United went down by 3 - 1 to Blantyre Victoria in their Emirates Scottish Junior Cup Tie at a sun drenched Meadows last weekend. The visitors passed up a great chance to go in front in the opening minute but United survived and managed to steady the ship. Both sides had first half chances but Blantyre looked to carry the bigger threat. A dramatic start to the second half saw Richard Bowman called into immediate action with a great save to prevent Blantyre from snatching the opener as the visitors came quickly out of the blocks but it was United who went ahead in the 48th minute through a Scott Henry penalty.

United’s naïve play cost them dearly as they were unable to make their advantage tell. Ellon threw away the equaliser in the 57th minute when they were caught in possession to gift Blantyre their route back into the game before two goals in the closing seven minutes cost the home side any chance of an upset.

Blantyre’s Fletcher should have put his side in front within a minute. An early ball into the Ellon box saw the home team at sixes and sevens but their early blushes were saved when the striker somehow managed to put the ball well wide from close in. Weir managed to parry a header from Scott Henry off a free kick from Andy McCraw with Cammy Bruce following up only to be denied by a brave block from the Blantyre keeper. United won another free kick three minutes later and this time Andy McCraw’s curling shot drifted just wide with the keeper beaten.

Steve Gunn met a cross from Keith Robertson but his effort went well over and Blantyre hit back through a Batchelor header which he was unable to direct on target. Fletcher skipped past two opponents but his shot from an acute angle hit the side netting then the visitors goal had a let off when Calum Annand finished a good run with a cross which appeared to come back off the face of the bar and away to safety. Neat work from Blantyre’s Mallon set up a shooting chance but a fine save from Richard Bowman kept the ball out at the expense of a corner. Another Blantyre raid saw Fletcher shoot wide as the sides had to be content at 0 - 0 at the interval.

Blantyre attacked from the restart and United had Richard Bowman to thank for keeping them out. The visitors were stunned two minutes later when Matty Edmond was tripped in the box and Scott Henry stepped up to drill home the resulting spot kick.

 United failed to make use of their lead. Ellon’s inexperience and nerves showed as they sat back, rushed into challenges and generally gave away possession far too easily which allowed  the tricky Bantyre players to create space in dangerous areas. Smith had a clear run on to a loose ball only to drill the ball straight at Richard Bowman but there was nothing the United keeper could do a minute later. United shot themselves in the foot when they lost possession in a dangerous area with Espener moving in unchallenged to turn home the cross.

A better spell from United saw Scott Paterson move on to a cut back from Keith Robertson but Weir was able to make a fairly comfortable save then Cammy Bruce turned his marker and cut inside only to see his chip drop just over the bar.

The closing eight minutes proved disastrous for Ellon. Fletcher headed over from a cross in the 82nd minute then a minute later United gifted Blantyre the lead when they failed to pick up runners with Espener completing the move to put the visitors ahead. The tie was killed off in the 85th minute when Blantyre were awarded a penalty. Richard Bowman did extremely well to block Doherty’s spot kick but the keeper got no support from his colleagues when they stood watching as the Blantyre defender was allowed to follow up unchallenged to fire home the loose ball.
        
ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Annand, Slesser, McCraw, Henry, Gunn, Huggins, Chalmers, Robertson, Bruce, Edmond. Subs: Irvine, Paterson, Reid, Clark, Ord.

BLANTYRE VICTORIA: Weir, Doherty, McGurgan, Smith, Newman, Batchelor, Fletcher, Dorrans, Espener, Mallon, Rielly. Subs: Glancy, Campbell, McAloon, Rodgers, Griffin, Cochrane, Colquhon.

A big plus for United was the competitive debut of Martin Slesser. The defender did well under difficult circumstances in his come back following the injury he received during the pre season preparations.

United travel to East End on league duty next Saturday, KO 2:00pm. The New Advocates side will be upbeat after their Scottish Cup win over Banchory following up their 1st round victory over Glasgow side Shettleston.