Webster Park, AAFA Division 1 East, 2/4/25
Me 339, Wee Man 202
Continental Amateur Football Club
Founded – Unknown but one of the oldest remaining teams in the set up
Nickname – Conti
Honours – White Cup 1996/97
Not plan A for the night as the ‘Whisky Derby’ between Keith and Rothes was earmarked. However, with seeing the Jags being away at Webster Park an idea non-fitba related fell into place in my brain so the AAFA and not the HFL it was. This game was a rescheduled match from Saturday after Webster Park was deemed unplayable. I can see why this may have been the case as the design of it is just daft. The pitch sits down from a raised area which must just let the water flow down on the park during periods of heavy rain and waterlog it. The upper part of this was still saturated tonight. The pitch looked awful and not fit for any flowing fitba. However, where there is bad there is good and by good I mean stunning. The views from Kingswells of the city, countryside and beyond are great with the Northfield Mast and the Radar Station at Perwinnes Hill standing out like modern monuments beyond the thick yellow Broom that could be seen in all directions. The latter landmark being known as “the big ball” by Wee Man since he could talk . In behind all of that, the North Sea and the Trump annoying wind burlers are very much visible. The view goes for miles and miles. Is there a more picturesque amateur ground? A debate worth having for sure. Strangely I have played here numerous times and cannot remember the views or I was just not one for appreciating such things in my youth. I think the latter is more realistic.
If this game was played on Saturday it would have been bottom v top but due to the cancellation and results elsewhere it was bottom v second. With this being the cliched ‘business end’ of the season, Thistle really had to register maximum points and that what they did coming away with the win in challenging conditions. As stated, the pitch stopped any real tidy deck football being played by the sides. Both teams had early strikes from range in quick succession, Cameron Moir stinging Conti keeper Smith’s hands while home man Jakub Taytay sent one just over the bar from 25 yards. Thistle should have been in the lead when after chasing down a boot over the top, Moffat was beaten in the race by keeper Smith who half cleared leaving him stranded, the ball landed at Callum Donald who could have just lifted it back over everyone into an empty net but his effort lacked the trajectory and was dealt with easily. It was another ball over the top to Moffat that saw Ellon take the lead.Assisted by a defender failing to get his head to the ball Moffat was in to lash a strike past Smith leaving the keeper no chance. The lead lasted ten minutes before a foul on the touchline which was awarded to the loudest shouter but should have been the other way. This being a theme during the night for both teams. The freekick was fired over the box finding Serghei Cotovici sliding in unmarked at the back post to send the ball into the net. Defensively poor from Thistle but hats off to the cross in from the wing. Within three minutes Thistle were back in the lead through Ryan Webster and what a strike it was. The whole move was decent with the ball visiting various players feet before coming in from the left to the grounds namesake Webster who from 25 yards walloped a dart like effort into Smith’s top left corner. A beezer of a hit leaving the keeper with no chance.
HT 1 v 2
The short half time break saw a crossbar challenge on the wee goal at the brow of the hill. I lost with the very last shot much to Wee Man’s delight.But during the interval I looked over to see the Conti team getting their team talk with Aberdeen behind in the low sun giving an orange tint to the Granite City. A great picture which I tried to capture. Only so well you can do it on a phone though. The second half was scrappy if truth be told.But one positive was the introduction of Brodie Stewart for Thistle who arguably put in a man of the match performance. I thought he was brilliant, never shirked or lost a tackle, sound distribution and was getting forward from his defensive berth. Top performance. But barring that the match quality had clearly lowered, as had the harsh sun which was coming in from the west clearly causing problems for all including the referee in the first half. The pitch was now entirely shaded. The fouls count was going up, the guessed decisions were upped, there were numerous unforced errors and in general was not great viewing by any stretch. There was a hairy and amusing moment for Thistle keeper Neil Law who while back tracking to retrieve a ball back to him, tripped over the pitch on to his back while the ball rolled past him. Conti goalscorer Cotovici was on the chase but Law got to the ball a ball hair before the striker. Law may have laughed it off but his arse must have been making buttons for a few seconds prior to his relived chuckle. Then the same man caused a moment of panic for his opposite number Smith when he launched a ball out of his hands which just about lobbed the Conti keeper who got the tips of his fingers and no more to it and recovered on the second ball. If he was any shorter we could have seen a ‘goalie goal’, it was matter of a couple of millimetres from happening. What a length of a kick from the Thistle keeper.The visitors put the game to bed with eight minutes to go when David Coutts rose to nod in a freekick from two yards out. His determination to get to the ball before the challenging Smith wrapped up the three points. But he should be thankful to free kick taker Ross Mitchell who sent the ball from pretty much the half way line to the goal line with pin point accuracy. What a ball it was. Before full time Brodie Mitchell struck the post with an effort or so I though but it was surely saved which was not visible from my perch. The Thistle number 14 deserved a goal after his second half performance but Smith was having none of it and Stewart went to take the resulting corner instead of celebrating. Another decent performance of note was fellow Thistle substitute Euan Watson who made his debut on the night. A young loon but direct and not afraid to get forward. Manger Les Forbes should be chuffed with the substitutes input to the game as he could be handy in the end of season push. The final whistle was eventually sounded as darkness was more than creeping in and due to results elsewhere, Ellon Thistle returned to the summit of Division One East and continued their quest for promotion. Conti although beaten did not look like a team propping up the table. Usually at this level the cellar dwellers are a visibly a bit shite. Not tonight if you ask me. I was surprised to see they have only recorded 5 points this season(and had 3 deducted). Anyway, fine night, fine views and fine company in the Ellon Thistle ‘camera mannie’.
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 36
Pie – N/A
Pint – N/A
Score Predictions – Me 0 v 5, Wee Man 0 v 4
Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 3 v 2 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 