The Meadows, Aberdeenshire AFA Division 2 East, 8/4/23
Me still 270, Wee Man 143
Ellon Thistle Football Club
Founded – 1968
Nickname – The Jags
Honours – AAFA Division 4 -1974/75. AAFA Division 6 – 1972/73. Barclay Cook Cup – 1972/73. Castle Rovers Cup – 2011/12. Dickie Trophy – 2015/16. Stephen Shield – 1992/93. Norman McAvoy Memorial Trophy -1986/87. White Cup – 1973/74
Random Fact – The club were originally known as Ellon Youth for the first two seasons.
The Jags juggernaut continued at a bright but nippy Meadows today against a struggling Blackburn side who currently prop up the league yet to record a point. But before I go to what unfolded I have to credit the visitors . A 40+ point deduction last season causing relegation and turmoil. Financial difficulties leaving them “debt suspended” for a few weeks this season. Home ground issues seeing them play elsewhere. Then scraping players together to field a team. Yet here they are still turning out more often than not on the end of some seriously bad results. I think they deserve a bit of credit.
Today was another bad result for the visitors. Fresh from taking 10 off Monymusk on Wednesday. They were to take another 10 from the Jags and that was being let off lightly with Thistle hitting the woodwork four times and spurning numerous good chances. To be honest, writing up games like this don’t do much for me. It was almost farcical at the Meadows, on the Thistle pitch meaning Wee Man is one closer to the 150 mark as he had only seen them playing on the United pitch in the past. This season he will hit that milestone I would imagine. But as farcical as it seemed it was an excuse to see the old man and speak to the likes of Tichie Birnie.
The game started as it was to go on with an early Greg Gillan effort hitting the bar. This was followed up with Nick Price being denied from point blank range then also striking the bar soon after. It was only a matter of time before Thistle took the lead and that’s exactly what happened when the main man Michael Moffat broke free on a Price through ball beating two defenders, you would bet your house on the striker scoring from this type of position and that’s what happened from 18 yards or so. The second soon followed when Moff was played down the left, he fired in a hopeful low ball and Gillan nipped in past a Blackburn defender to toe the ball in. Thistle were to miss some clear cut chances which could have put the game to bed early. This got the Blackburn heads up a bit and the did get into decent attacking positions with Thistle looking sluggish and slow to react at times. But in truth the only time veteran keeper “Jock” Adamson was tested was when a miss hit(total sclaff) freekick came at him which he had to palm over. The fully left footed back three were never under any sort of intense pressure. Inevitably though Thistle grabbed a third and it was Moff at the double. This time from the penalty spot after a stonewall infringement which to be honest was a stonewall booking too. Some more chances were passed up, notably from Price who really should have done better when he fired wide from close range. With half an hour gone it really should have been heading towards double figures already. Price made up for his earlier misses when he bravely challenged the Blackburn keeper in the air heading past him leaving a tap in to an empty net. The half wasn’t finished scoring wise and of course Moffat grabbed his hat trick when he thundered home a volley form inside the box. On this goal from the angle I was at, it seemed there was a small target to get the ball through the two defenders but he managed it and left the keeper absolutely no chance of saving it. The connection made a beautiful thumping sound too. Goal of the game. Not long after grabbing his third Moffat was maliciously wiped out by the the centre half. The same man who gave away the pen. This was not a mistimed tackle as claimed, it was a nasty assault. Lucky it was only a yellow. One which really should have been a second booking.
HT 5 v 0
Half time saw me blootering shots at Wee Man and getting him filthy but it also saw Culter FC historian Brian Coutts come across for a blether (Culter were playing Ellon United next door). This is a guy I have spoken to on numerous occasions but never in person. It’s always good to put faces to a name. Also in terms of speaking to folk, I enjoy catching up with ex-players when watching the Jags. There is always at least one kicking about without fail. This time it was two as big Bruceter and Craig Emslie were in attendance and unfortunate to have my company for the 90.
The second half was the same as the first. One way traffic and five goals. The woodwork was rattled a couple more times before the sixth was scored. Price wont have an easier finish than his second. A looping cross beat everyone and it seemed to hit him in the gut as he ran in. Did he miss time the header? Not that it matters as it went in. Then the seventh was a decent strike. It was almost unexpected too. Brodie Stewart received the ball about 25 yards out, central. Then with a clutch of players in front of him he manged to find a gap and stick the ball into the bottom right corner. A fine finish. Number 8 was scored by number 8 Thomas Blakey. This in strange circumstances as the keeper seemed to usher him toward the right corner which he left wide open. And by wide I’m talking the Blackburn keeper was at least 5 yards too far to the left. A bizarre error. Blakey grabbed the ninth and got me thinking I may just get my prediction right for the day. This when he rounded the keeper to slot home after being picked out by a great ball which parted the defence like the Red Sea. However my dreams of predictions were destroyed when the second hat trick of the game came when Blakey took advantage of some more suspect goalkeeping and was left with a tap in form close range. Now Wee Man had the correct score. Was he to take another point in our season long competition with his 10 v 0 prediction? Yes he was as that was the end of the scoring for the day. Strangely even with two hat tricks scored I wouldn’t necessarily have said either were man of the match. Big shouts for Greg Gillan and Nick Price or even defender Brad Whyte who started many a move throughout the 90. A good team performance over all keeping up momentum coming into the “business” end of the season.
An very simple day at the office for Thistle who keep up their title hunt. I am a big advocator of “goals are what we watch fitba for”. This is true to an extent, but these types of games are not much use. But with the smile on Wee Man’s face after getting the score correct and a clearly chuffed Dad on the sideline it was a decent way to sign off this trip home before heading back to Denmark tomorrow.
One blemish on the day. I took more than two photos but for some reason there were only two on the reel
Entrance – Free
Attendance -35
Pie – N/A
Pint – N/A
Score Predictions – Me 9 v 0, Wee Man 10 v 0
Season Score Prediction Total – Me 1 v 3 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 