Post match report

Ellon 7 - Deveronside 2

Ellon United got off to a flying start to their Grill League Cup campaign with a 7 - 2 home win over Deveronside at The Meadows last weekend. United introduced new signings Stewart Henderson and Chris Huggins from the start with Mykie Pugh and Willie Filson coming off the bench in the second half.

United were 2 - 0 up within four minutes. New signing Chris Huggins on a temporary transfer arrangement from Cove Rangers made an immediate impact, setting up Matty Edmond to open the scoring with less than two minutes on the clock before heading home a Steve Gunn free kick to give the home side a two goal start.

United were full of confidence at this stage, making full use of the ball and two minutes later Scott Henry drove home number three from long range. Chris Allsop was on hand to make a couple of vital clearances but two minutes later the home side increased their lead when Cammy Bruce linked up with Keith Reid for the latter to drill home number four. United went 5 - 0 up in the 24th minute when Chris Allsop’s cross picked out Chris Huggins who fed in Cammy Bruce to slip the ball home.

The visitors pulled a goal back in the 44th minute. Neat work by Walker took him to the byeline and when his low cross was deflected Kevin Sopel was on hand to turn the ball home to put the sides into the break at 5 - 1.

Deveronside were far more positive after the interval but it was United who looked to have won an early breakthrough when Keith Reid went down in a challenge from behind in the box but play was waived on. The visitors broke straight up field with Richard Bowman saving a Sopel header. Two minutes later and the United keeper was again brought into action, this time turning a Cowie shot away for a corner.

Deveronside’s much more positive approach saw them awarded a free kick on the edge of the United box but Walker’s effort failed to trouble United’s defensive wall. The visitors kept up their pressure and United had a let off when a cross went behind off the near post although Richard Bowman probably had it covered.

The visitors did snatch a second goal twenty minutes into the second half with almost a replica of their opener. This time slack defensive work from United allowed Deveronside to work the ball along the byeline with Cowie in position to knock home the final cross. Ellon might have paid the price for a careless pass but two saves from Richard Bowman kept Deveronside at bay.

United came back strongly in the closing stages and made full use of their pressure . Willie Filson played in Cammy Bruce for number 6 before Chris Huggins wrapped up an impressive debut by shooting home number 7.

ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Clark, Edmond, Henry, Allsop, McCraw, Henderson, Gunn, Bruce, Reid, Huggins. Subs: Pugh, Baxter, Macdonald, Anderson, Filson, Ord.

DEVERONSIDE: Duguid, Buchan, Muedo, Stewart, Milne, Davidson, Walker, Blackhall. Sopel, Cowie, Thompson. Subs: Thom, Gray, Ewan, Masson.

United’s second match in their Grill League Cup section sees them travel to East End next Saturday followed by a home league fixture against Buchanhaven Hearts at The Meadows on Tuesday 11th August with a 7:00pm KO.