Ellon V Forres Thistle 1/10/11 [3 Oct @ 7:56pm]

A Scottish cup tie versus Forres was a tricky tie given we had played them a few weeks ago and didn't play well and also the fact they have had a few good results in recent weeks. We needed to approach the game with the proper attitude and to the lads credit they did exactly that. I would describe that performance as professional, we had a game plan and we stuck to it. As a unit we were solid throughout the game. We worked on a few things in training this week and it was pleasing that the first goal came from one of the things we worked on, it really was a well worked goal with a great cross from Blair and great run and header from Fozzy. Keith Walker scored the second with a great finish and I was delighted for young Lewis Forbes(back after 5 weeks out) to come off the bench to score a great header. Although Rossco hardly had anything to do his save at 2-0 is without doubt worth a mention as it was different class, somehow tipping a 25 yard effort heading for the top corner over the bar. Overall it was a good result and performance and a win that puts us through to the next round.


Craig

Hermes V Ellon 24/9/11 [26 Sep @ 7:32pm]

To come away from this game with nothing is a hard one to take. In the first half I felt we totally dominated and if we had gone in at half time four or five goals to the good I don't think anyone could have argued.
We really did start the game extremely well, we looked sharp, passed the ball sharply and were creating chances for fun. Unfortunately the game is about scoring goals and we failed to do that. We really did have enough chances to win three games. In the second half we didn't quite hit the heights of the first half although still created two or three really good chances however failure to clear our lines resulted in us conceding the goal.
At the end of the day this is a game we could and should have won. Did we deserve to win? Well no because we didn't take our chances and goals win games. Obviously disappointed with the result however there are so many positives I can take from the game.
The players were really frustrated after the game and It was good to see their reaction as it says alot about what they want to achieve as a group.

Craig

FC Stoneywood V Ellon - 5/9/11 [5 Sep @ 7:43pm]

With seven players missing through injury, suspension and illness it was always going to be difficult. In saying that I did feel there was still enough quality in the team to get a positive result. Being forced into going with a 4-5-1 formation we really struggled to create any chances. To be honest it wasnt the best of games with both teams struggling to make any impact on the game. I could only see the game ending in a boring 0-0 ending up with penalties. As so often happens in these games a moment of briliance can be the difference however it was a moment of madness from the referee that has turned this game on its head. In one of the most controversial decisions I've seen in a long time everyone in the ground could clearly see their striker was 5 yards offside standing on the goalline. I can only assume the ref has been caught dreaming. Having spoken to the ref after the game it was clear that he had made a mistake, although it wouldnt change things I would have respected him if he had admitted his error. I would say that apart from that he had a decent game. It was an uphill task when we went 2-0 down and as with the rest of the game we huffed and puffed without really threatening. Hopefully  we will have a few players back for next week and get back to winning ways.

Ellon V Cruden Bay - 28/8/11 [4 Sep @ 1:22pm]

That performance can only be described as shocking! Take nothing away from Cruden Bay as they showed on the day the desire and hunger to win a football match that unfortunately we couldnt come near to matching. You can possibly get away with 2 or 3 players having an off day but with 9 or 10 you have no chance. It's extremely disapointing to turn in a performance like that any week but to do it in a quarter final at home against a lower league team is really not acceptable. We just didnt get going at all, we didnt pass the ball well enough, didnt press the ball well enough, lacked that bit of quality to play the final ball and lacked composure in and around the box. Unfortunately we can't change it now so we wont dwell on it but what we will do is put it behind us and move onto next week.

Craig

Ellon V Forres Thistle 21/8/11 [21 Aug @ 11:24pm]

Obviously I am happy to pick up the 3 points however this was our poorest performance of the season. The players have set a high standard so far but unfortunately didn't get near to that level today. It wasn't a bad performance but it really didn't hit the heights of the previous games.
We passed the ball well enough in spells however we lacked urgency throughout the game. That said we were never under pressure throughout the game and when we got the 1st goal there was only going to be one winner. Positively it’s another win under the belt which gives us a solid start to our league campaign with a quarter final to look forward to next Saturday in the grill cup.

Ellon Vs Maud - 16/8/11 [18 Aug @ 10:13am]

I would have to say I'm delighted to get our league campaign off to a winning start. I felt we started the game fairly well only to be undone by a bizarre decision from the Referee to award Maud a penalty. Still feeling aggrieved at the penalty decision we seemed to lose our concentration which resulted in us losing a sloppy second to go 2-0 down.

 To the lads credit they didn't panic, got their shape back and forced Maud on the back foot and deservedly pulled 2 goals back before half time. We started the second half as we finished the first and went in front only to be pegged back by a well struck free kick from Maud. It would have been easy to be pegged back at that point but we came back at Maud again and were in control for the rest of the game for a 5-3 victory.

 Certainly alot of positives from the game, as a team we passed the ball very well and the desire to win the ball back after losing it was very pleasing.

 It was a good team performance however I thought the performances of Niall Corser and young Lenny were on a different level. With alot of young lads in the team I really needed 'Corse' to use all his experience and he certainly did that, and young 'Lenny' showed what he is all about with a performance full of energy capped off with  2 fine goals, both lads were outstanding.
A good start and something hopefully we can build on when we play Forres at home on Saturday.

Grill Cup Summary 15/8/11 [15 Aug @ 7:29pm]

Following the draw for the Group section I felt that we had a chance of qualifying however was aware that this was a fairly tough draw.

 Having made some fairly drastic changes to the playing staff at Ellon I did expect the new players to take time to settle in however during pre season games it was evident that these players would blend in with no problems at all. An away fixture to Dyce is always a difficult and to go there for the 1st fixture was probably 1 of the toughest starts we could have had. In the end a 1-1 draw was a fair reflection of the game. I felt we dominated proceedings in the 1st half and really with the chances we had should have been in at half time with a more comfortable lead than the 1-0 we had. In the second half I would say Dyce had more of the possession and put us on the back foot and deservedly equalised mid way through the 2nd half. The pleasing aspect of the 2nd half for me was the desire to defend what we had and although it wasn't pretty to watch at times it certainly was a dogged defensive display which in the end earned a valuable point.

 The Sunnybank 5-2 win followed. Although Sunnybanks problems have been well documented I was under no illusion that this was going to be a very difficult game if we didn't approach the game in the proper manner. I didn't feel we started the game well possibly down to the fact that a few of our players underestimated Sunnybank but more down to the fact that there are still some very good players there and they were out to prove the doubters wrong. They started well and probably deserved to score 1st. This acted as a wake up call for us and following the equaliser there was only ever going to be one winner. I felt we dominated the remainder of the game and 5-2 certainly didnt flatter us.

 Home to Bridge of Don thistle next who are a youngish side that are well organised. This wasnt a performance full of flair but what it was a very professional performance to earn a well deserved 2-0 victory. I would say that our second goal from 'Fozzy' was as good a goal as your likely to see combining some slick passing and a wonderful finish.

 This set us up for a winner takes all final game at Lewis Utd with a quarter final place at stake. Lewis have some experienced players in their side and have been in good form at the start of the season so this was going to be a real test. We started the game really well and if we had taken our chances could have been 2-0 up in the first 10 mins. Lewis gained confidence from this and went in front through some very slack defending from us and thats how the first half ended. At half time I told the lads that although 1-0 down we were in control of the game. I made a tactical change at half time and told the players that I expected us to have alot of possession in the second half and to be patient for the goals to come. The 2nd half went to plan as we totally controlled the 2nd half. I mentioned earlier about the quality of Fozzys' goal well our equaliser here was as good possibly better! The pass from Corser was exquisite and the first touch and finish from Chris Craib was different class! With time running out we pushed an extra man up front and got our reward when Duncan Chalmers scored with a brilliant in swinging corner which sneaked in at the front post. This was a well deserved victory and over the 4 games we have a well earned place in the quarter final which I'm delighted about!  It’s great to be in the quarter final with what is now a fairly young side.