Post match report

East End 0 - Ellon 0

Ellon United and East End had to be content with a share of the points last weekend after their league meeting at New Advocates ended goal less at 0 - 0. Ellon had the better of the opening spell playing down the slope but were unable to make their early pressure tell although they did have a strong penalty claim waived aside. East End played to their strengths kicking with the slope in the 2nd period but were also unable to make more use of several promising positions and a series of free kicks and it was United who came closest to breaking the deadlock with a Cammy Bruce effort which came back off the post.

Ellon took the game to East End from the start without managing to put any great pressure on Barney’s goal. The home side did appear to have a let off in the 8th minute when Matty Edmond looked to have been taken down in the box but play was waved in despite United’s strong penalty claims. Martin Slesser was forced to retire early with a knee injury. Hopefully it will only be short term and unlike the problem with his other knee which kept him on the sidelines from the pre- season. East End gradually settled down to gain more of the midfield play without any real penetration with the game getting bogged down for long spells. Ryan Petrie picked up the ball in the 36th minute and made good progress only to send his shot wide then United conceded a soft free kick on the edge of their box but the direct shot went straight into the welcoming arms of Richard Bowman with neither side looking like hitting the net before the interval.

East End began to put their home knowledge to effect as the pressed downhill after the break but the best early chance was created by Scott Paterson who made room for a shot but his effort failed to trouble keeper Barney. The home side had a penalty shout turned down before Cammy Bruce picked up the ball in the 57th minute and swiveled to fire in a first time shot which hit the post with the keeper stranded and was forced away for a corner which was confidently dealt with by the East End defence.

At this stage United and their support were being continually frustrated by the number of free kicks being awarded to the home side in dangerous positions but East End were unable to capitalise and almost paid the price thirty minutes into the half when Cammy Bruce pounced on a loose ball and turned to fire in a shot which flew straight to the keeper.

United were forced to defend rather desperately on several occasions when East End managed to break into promising positions too easily but they always managed to keep the home side out. Ellon did survive a goalmouth scramble in the 89th minute with the ball eventually pushed wide then United might have grabbed a dramatic late winner when Andy McCraw found Chris Huggins but his first time shot on the run went wide.
   
ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Annand, Slesser, McCraw, Henry, Irvine, Huggins, Gunn, Bruce, Petrie, Edmond. Subs: Paterson, Morrison, Clark, Ord.

EAST END: Barney, Wright, Willox, Helson, Keith, Whelan, McArthur, Murray, Taylor, Carrol, Smith. Subs: Walker, McLeod, D. Thomson, Rae, Watt, Robertson, K. Thomson .

United travel to face Maud in the league next Saturday, KO 1:45pm. Their hosts did well to bounce back from their Scottish Cup drubbing at the hands of Bonnyrig Rose to record a fine away win over Banks o’ Dee last weekend. United have lost the services of Michael Fletcher who has been called up by Deveronvale but are in the process of fixing up Atholl Cadger and Lee Morrison from Formartine United.