Report

                              INVERNESS CITY 1  -  ELLON UNITED 1

                                  ( Inverness City won 4 - 2 on penalties)

Ellon United failed in their attempt to reach the semi final stage of The Dominos Pizza North Regional Cup when they lost out 4 - 2 on penalties in their tie against Inverness City at The North Meeting Park last weekend after the game had finished all square at 1 - 1 after normal time. United were forced to defend from the start when they fell foul of some mystifying decisions from the match officials  which gave the home side a series of free kicks which kept Ellon under pressure and also allowed Inverness to break clear several times when they appeared to be clearly offsides leading eventually to the home side taking a one goal advantage into the interval. United managed to put Inverness under more pressure in the second half but were lucky to survive a strong penalty appeal. Ellon`s equaliser following an indirect free kick just inside the Inverness box came in more bizarre fashion befitting the way the game was going. With the tie going to a penalty shoot out, United wasted their first two kicks and the home side`s 100% record took them through to meet Hall Russell United in the semi final.

United`s hopes of making a bright start went out the window right from the off when Inverness were awarded a series of baffling free kicks which allowed the home side to keep the ball in the Ellon half early on. United`s cause was further hindered when Inverness were allowed to run on time and again from positions which looked to be clearly offsides. Fortunately for the visitors keeper Ross Buchanan stood his ground and managed to keep the home side out. United rarely threatened at this stage but a fine run through the middle by Ross Forsyth almost took him through the home defence before the heavy going told and the  defenders  were able  to close the United skipper down before he could get a shot off.

The United defence were not adjusting to the way Inverness were getting off with taking advantage of offsides and they were also caught too often trying to play accurate passes on the heavy uneven pitch which clearly did not lend itself to this. Inverness eventually went ahead in the 37^th minute. They again looked to be offsides but were not pulled up and this time they did manage to get the better of Ross Buchanan. United had a let off just before the interval when their clearance from a corner fell to one of the Inverness central defenders and his well controlled shot came back off the face of the bar.

 United were more positive after the break but were lucky to survive a strong penalty claim in the 56^th minute with the ball eventually going for a corner. Ellon made their first change mid way through the half with Greg Simpson replacing Chris Craib. Ross Buchanan had to make another save two minutes later before United again fell foul of the officials with Niall Corser given his second caution for an innocuous challenge reducing the visitors to ten men. United made a second substitution with Lenny Johnson going on for Craig Morrison. United looked sure to equalise a minute later when Greg Simpson weaved his way into the box and round the keeper only to put the ball wide. Ellon made their final change with Jamie McKinnon replacing Ross Forsyth. United`s second half efforts were rewarded in the 86<sup>th</sup> minute. Players and spectators were left mystified when the whistle blew following an Ellon corner. Once all the dust had settled down it transpired that United had been awarded an indirect free kick just inside the Inverness box. The alleged culprit was cautioned and as it turned out to be his second booking the home side were also reduced to ten men. Steve Gunn laid the ball off to Greg Simpson who fired it home through the ruck of players. The controversy continued well into the stoppage time when Inverness were reduced to nine men when another striker was given a second caution. The game remained all square after all the stoppage time had been completed sending the tie to the penalty shoot out. United`s first two kicks were blasted well wide of the target and with the Inverness side making no mistake with their spot kicks the home side won through 4 - 2.  

ELLON UNITED: Buchanan, Ralton, Johnston, Corser, Gunn, Lawson, Bailey, Forsyth (McKinnon), Forbes, Morrison ( Johnson), Craib (Simpson), Annand

United are on cup travels again next Saturday to face Banchory St Ternan in the opening round of the McBookies McLeman Cup, KO 2:00pm.