Post match report

Sunnybank 1 - Ellon 0

Ellon United faced up to Sunnybank last weekend to provide the sternest of baptisms for Scott Clark’s opening game in charge. The Heathryfold outfit have been scoring goals for fun of late and have strengthened their squad even further with the acquisition of Gary Clark from Deveronvale. In the end, however, it took an unfortunate fluke 76th minute goal direct from a corner to separate the sides and give the home team the points with a 1 - 0 win. United stayed in contention right to the final whistle and although in boxing terms Sunnybank would have won on points, Ellon had their chances and might well have returned with a share of the spoils.

Richard Bowman was forced into action in the opening minutes bringing off a fine save to deny Forbes. United hit back with Keith Reid beating keeper Sweeney to a free kick from Andy McCraw but a defender was able to clear off the line. The Ellon striker’s efforts proved costly as he was forced to retire with a shoulder injury as a result of his awkward fall. Sunnybank were awarded a corner two minutes later and this time it was a United defender’s turn to make a goal line clearance.

Sunnybank’s Clark was finding too much space in the middle of the park and a strong run from the midfielder led to shot which Richard Bowman held confidently. United conceded a silly free kick in a dangerous position but Steve Gunn was able to usher the ball behind for a goal kick. At the other end Scott Henry and Cammy Bruce linked up to find Matty Edmond whose shot was blocked. The ball came back into the path of the striker whose second effort was also blocked. The United back four of Neill Irvine, Andy McCraw, Chris Allsop and Lewis Duguid were working hard to counter any threat from Sunnybank, ably backed up by Richard Bowman in goal and the half ended with Matty Edmond just missing out on the chance to lob keeper Sweeney in the last minute of the opening period.

The first real chance of the second half came when Scott Paterson worked the ball forward before feeding Matty Edmond whose parting shot brought out a competent diving save from Sweeney. United were caught on the break and when the ball was swung low across, McAllister’s first time effort went thankfully wide.

Ellon almost snatched the lead in the 68th minute when Lewis Dugiud’s long diagonal ball released Matty Edmond on the left. The striker skipped past his marker and fired the ball across with Cammy Bruce just failing to make full contact as he rushed in and the ball flew behind. Sunnybank came back with Greig drilling the ball into the danger area. McAllister managed to meet the cross but it was too strong to allow him to direct his header on target.

Sunnybank broke the deadlock with fourteen minutes remaining. The home side won a corner on their left and Greig’s fiercely driven cross appeared to take the slightest of deflections and flew into the net off the back post. United almost equalised in the last minute of normal time when Steve Gunn’s shot looked to be heading for the postage stamp corner but Sweeney managed to get across and turn the ball behind for a corner which was eventually cleared.    
           
ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Irvine, McCraw, Duguid, Allsop, Fletcher, Paterson, Henry, Reid, Bruce, Edmond. Subs: Gunn, Robison, Annand, Petrie, Clark.

SUNNYBANK: Sweeney, Thomson, Johnston, Clark, Shand, Jeffrey, Greig, McAllister, Craigie, Gordon, Forbes. Subs: W. Steel, Fettes, C. Steel, Cromar, Douglas, Farmer, McIntosh.