Post match report

Ellon 1 - Culter 2

Ellon United lost 2 - 1 against Culter in their quarter final tie of The Grill League Cup at The Meadows last weekend. United took the lead a minute into the second half but Culter fought back to draw level in the 59th minute before grabbing the winner nine minutes from time to set up a home semi final tie against Sunnybank who were overwhelming 12 - 1 winners over Burghead Thistle. Longside will play hosts to Banchory St Ternan in the second semi

United came close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when Matty Edmond met a free kick from Stewart Henderson and headed the ball back across goal. Keith Reid was quickest to react but his first time shot hit the side netting. Ellon were caught out when Culter broke out wide. The ball looked to have been pushed too far ahead but for the second week running the final United challenge was not strong enough and when the ball was squared across the goal the home side were fortunate that the ball was ballooned over the bar.

United came close again when new signing Lewis Duguid, signed on a temporary transfer from Buckie Thistle, met a cross from Steven Gunn only to see his header bounce just wide of the far post with keeper Farquhar well beaten. Neither keeper was tested in the remainder of the first half with the best chance falling to Culter’s Shand whose snatched shot went harmlessly wide.

Ellon grabbed the lead within a minute of the restart when Matty Edmond’s lob caught out John Farquhar stranded off his line. United were finding it far more difficult to keep possession as the strength of Culter’s midfield began to be more telling without their managing to put Richard Bowman’s goal under any real threat. Culter’s efforts were rewarded, however, when full back Donald was given too much time and space to send over a cross which caught United defenders ball watching with Stott drifting in unchallenged to score with a simple free header.

Culter introduced their new signing Ogboke off the bench. The big striker, making his return to Culter colours, made an immediate impact and it was he who put the visitors in front in the 81st minute. United conceded possession in midfield and the ball was knocked forward to Ogboke. The striker managed to create the space to set up the opening to drill the ball low past Richard Bowman into the far corner.

United tried hard to get back on terms freshening up things with the introduction of their second new signing, Scott Paterson, and pushing Scott Henry forward into a midfield role but the home side was unable to snatch the elusive equaliser.
           
ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Irvine, Duguid, Henry,  Allsop, Henderson, Fletcher, Petrie, Bruce, Edmond, Reid. Subs: Gunn, Paterson, Annand, Anderson, Clark, McCraw, Ord.

CULTER: Farquhar, Donald, Robertson, Garioch, Cooper, Kelly, Wyness, Ellis, Smith, Shand, Stott. Subs: Middler, Ogboke, McIntosh, Rattray..

United and Culter face up to each other again next Saturday, this time on league business with a 2:30pm kick off at The Meadows. Ellon know where they have to be more competitive and where they have to tighten up if they are to pick up points.