Post match report

FC Stoneywood 3 - Ellon 3

Ellon United twice conceded leads and in the end were forced to scramble back from 3 - 2 down to get a share of the points from their league visit to FC Stoneywood last weekend. Stoneywood`s Michie was allowed to dominate the midfield too often for United`s comfort and was very influential for the home side supported by their experienced players Goodbrand, Brooks, Ord and Milne.

United opened comfortably and positively enough but it was Stoneywood`s Michie who was first to threaten and he sent his shot wide. It took until midway through the first half United to put the home goal under any real danger with Keith Reid rising well to meet a Scott Henry free kick only for the ball to drop over the bar. The Stoneywood defence had problems a minute later when Stewart Henderson got on the end of a cross from Cammy Bruce but his header went wide.

The tall full back Dines moved forward for a Stoneywood corner but fortunately for Ellon directed his free header beyond the far post and the home side`s miss was punished when United took the lead in the 26th minute with Chris Huggins` clinical finish off Cammy Bruce`s cross. United might have added a second within a minute when Keith Reid met another cross from Cammy Bruce only to see his well struck shot on the turn fly straight into the arms of keeper Sim. The home side had a let off when Cammy Bruce managed to get a touch on a cross from Andy McCraw but fortunately for Stoneywood the ball dropped into the arms of their keeper.

A break from Stoneywood 5 minutes from the interval ended with Goodbrand`s shot going behind off the top of the bar. A corner was given but Richard Bowman was able to comfortably collect the cross. The home side thought they had equalised a minute later. Richard Bowman did well to parry the first effort but Ord moved in to fire home only to have his effort chalked off for offsides. Slack defending from United from a corner saw Goodbrand eventually score with virtually the last touch of the first half after Ellon failed to clear the danger.

Stewart Henderson met an Andy McCraw free kick 4 minutes into the second period but his header was well saved by Sim. There was nothing the Stoneywood keeper could do a minute later when Keith Reid set up Cammy Bruce to put United back in front.  Ellon gave away a silly free kick in a dangerous position but Michie`s chip drifted harmlessly over.

A dreadful mix up in the United defence in the 54th Minute gifted Stoneywood their 2nd equaliser. The initial damage was caused by poor midfield work from Ellon but when the ball was knocked forward their looked to be no danger until two of the United defenders stood back and left the ball to one another with Milne gratefully stepping in to accept the gift and lob the ball over the stranded Richard Bowman. Stoneywood were then presented with the lead in the 74th minute. Again there appeared to be no great problem with the ball running away from goal but the United defender got too close to his opponent who went down in a tangle of legs and the Referee deemed the offence to be inside the box with Michie converting the spot kick.

United equalised from the spot when Keith Reid`s invaluable work rate forced a penalty which was driven home by Andy McCraw. Ellon came close to snatching a winner 2 minutes from time when Ryan Petrie released Keith Reid but a timely last ditch tackle from Dines saw the defender get enough of the ball to allow his keeper to come out to smother at the striker`s feet

ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Annand, McCraw, Henry, Allsop, Henderson, Huggins, Fletcher, Reid, Bruce, Edmond. Subs: Gunn, Robison, Petrie, Clark, Irvine, Paterson, Ord.

FC STONEYWOOD: Sim, Cowell, Dines, Smith, Strachan, Goodbrand, Stevenson, Michie, Brooks, Ord, Milne. Subs: Burnett, McDonald, Vardy, Delmaestro, Morgan, Scully.

United are on cup business next Saturday with Hillhead their visitors to The Meadows in a preliminary round tie of The GA Engineering Inter Regional Cup. The tie kicks off at 2:15 to be played to a finish with a penalty shoot out if all square at the end of normal time.