Post match report

Longside 2 - Ellon 5

A strange game at Davidson Park, Longside, saw Ellon United return with a fine three points thanks to their 5 - 2 win. United went in front from an early penalty and then a quickfire double strike just on the half hour mark put the visitors into a commanding position as Longside were left to rue their missed chances. Life should then have been made a lot more difficult for the home side when they were reduced to ten men just before the interval. A freak goal three minutes after the break when keeper Michael Thomson scored direct from a huge kick out should have put Ellon on their toes but they allowed Longside to come at them far too easily and could have paid the price. Fortunately United hit the home side with another two fine strikes on the break before an opportunist goal from Ben Danton after the striker ran clear on to another long kick out from his keeper reduced the deficit with twenty five minutes of play remaining.

United took only four minutes to go ahead when the lively Keith Reid was fouled in the box and Scott Henry drilled home the spot kick. Richard Bowman had to be alert a couple of minutes later to prevent Longside from drawing level through an own goal with the United keeper forcing the ball away for a corner. A home free kick was headed behind for a corner which was comfortably dealt with by the Ellon defence but it was a different story from another Longside corner in the 14th minute. The low cross was somehow missed by everyone and fell to Herbie Craik with the goal at his mercy but the central defender was unable to take advantage, sending his weak effort straight into the arms of Richard Bowman.

United turned the screw in a devastating two minute spell. Keith Reid converted a cross from a corner with an acrobatic overhead effort then the striker laid a ball back into the path of his strike partner Cammy Bruce whose first time shot flew just over. Ellon`s third goal was delayed by less than a minute when Calum Annand`s free kick was met by Matty Edmond and his volley back across the goal was pounced on by Cammy Bruce to put United 3 - 0 ahead in the 30th minute.

The home side were given a mountain to climb in the 41st minute when Muir Murray got himself red carded and Ellon almost pressed home their advantage two minutes later when Steve Gunn met a corner but his glancing header went wide.

United disappointed for long spells after the interval when they sat back and allowed Longside`s ten men to dictate the play. The visitors were served with an early reminder that they still had a game on their hands when a 48th minute kick out from keeper Thomson went too far ahead of his strikers but bounced in front of Richard Bowman with the United keeper appearing to slip as he came out and the ball bounced high over his head and into the empty net. Ellon hit back with Atholl Cadger finding Matty Edmond whose shot hit the side netting. Two minutes later United could have been in trouble again when they were caught on the break but Richard Bowman parried Robert Ritchie`s near post effort behind for a corner.

United were giving Longside far too much of the ball at this stage but the home side were unable to cash in and were again given a finishing lesson when Matty Edmond released Ryan Petrie who lifted the ball over the advancing Michael Thomson to restore United`s three goal cushion. Ellon showed Longside the route to goal again some four minutes later when Atholl Cadger put Matty Edmond through to finish in the far corner.

Longside pulled another goal back in the 70th minute when United failed to deal with another long kick out from keeper Thomson with Ben Danton running through unchallenged to slip the ball beyond Richard Bowman. Neither side was able to add to the scoreline in the closing twenty five minutes leaving United with a good final score and a welcome three points from traditionally a very tight fixture but with plenty to think about before they tackle Buchanhaven Hearts at Peterhead next Saturday, KO 1:30pm.

ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Annand, Craib, Allsop, Henry, Forsyth, Cadger, Gunn,  Bruce, Reid, Edmond. Subs: Irvine, Paterson, Morrison, Petrie, Robertson, Clark, Chalmers.

LONGSIDE: Thomson, Stainton, Beddie, Wheeler, Craik, Panton, Wood, Reid, Danton, Ritchie, Murray. Subs: Geddes, Davidson, Cowie, Brown, Ross, Black, Campbell.