Heathryfold, NRJFA Premier League, 6/4/25
Me still 343, Wee Man still 205
Sunnybank Football Club
Founded – 1946
Nickname – The Black and Whites, The Bankies
Selected Honours – Scottish Junior Cup – 1953/54. Aberdeen and District Junior League – 1951/52, 1953/54, 1955/56, 1965/66 and 1966/67. North East Premier League – 1971/72, 1974/75, 1975/76, 1982/83, 1996/97 and 1998/99. North Region Superleague – 2002/03 and 2009/10. Grill League Cup – 2001/02, 2007/08 and 2009/10. Interregional Cup -2008/09 and 2009/10. Archibald Cup -1947/48, 1952/53, 1953/54, 1963/64, 1969/70, 1974/75, 1975/76, 1979/80, 1983/84, 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1997/98. Morrison Trophy – 1971/72, 1980/81 and 2013/2014
The bingo machine was out again at the request of the Wee Man with an entirely Junior load found within. I had my eyes on a trip to Heathryfold as there were things to play for both sides, plus its one of my favourite places in the city for a game. Wee Man spun the drum, and out popped Sunnybank v Ellon United. A result before a ball was kicked. Wee Man was hoping for a trip to Rothie Rovers to see Hermes who he seems to have taken a shine too as they are a “decent team”. But he soon warmed to a trip to west of Aberdeen……or is it the west central…….or is it north west or is that Dyce…..ach he was liking the idea to a trip to Sunnybank. As I was saying about this game not being a dead rubber with things on the line, the Interregional cup qualification was still up for grabs for the visitors which can be achieved by coming in the top six, while avoiding the third bottom playoff spot is the aim for the Bankies as Newmachar United were certs to be relegated tonight in the second bottom automatic relegation place as they were facing Culter.
With an early arrival at Heathryfold it would have been rude not to partake in a drink in the social club. A cheap £4.10 pint of Tennent’s was scoofed as Wee Man couldn’t make up his mind with his score prediction over his J2O. From here it was into the ground and a pie. But disaster was to unfold, there was only one steak pie left but two mouths needing a pie. With Wee Man and his steak or nothing approach to fitba pies i bit the bullet and let him have it as I went macaroni. It was worth it as the steak effort was well and truly demolished with a “that was an ace pie” after. To be honest the macaroni was affa fine too even though it would usually be the last place I would go. As I was finishing up my double carbs pie washing it down with coffee from a real mug(a rare simple thing in fitba life that goes down a treat) I noticed fitba royalty was standing next to me in Neil “Simmie” Simpson. This as his loon Lee plys his trade at Ellon. I fancied a Sunnybank win tonight. With them fighting for safety and Ellon not playing for anything significant, this combined with the team lines giving the impression Ellon weren’t hugely bothered. The weakened approach also throwing Wee Man’s fellow goalkeeper pal Daniel “Jock” Adamson on the bench which was a bit of a downer as I was up for watching my ex team mate. We did get a blether prior to kick off though.The win for the black and whites was not to be though as they were soundly beaten by Ellon in the end and it wasnt long before the visitors took the lead, this when Scott Gray headed a cross past Harry Cowie who didn’t move as the ball looked to go past him in slow motion. The same man could have doubled the lead two minutes later when he fired an effort just over the bar. Soon to jack in the Juniors James Bain was on the bench and we got a chat about the future for the striker. If you are looking in, sign for Thistle min. Sunnybank were to pass up a good chance when a corner was poorly cleared by the Ellon defence, but defender Andy Mutch couldn’t direct his effort on the spin on target. Ellon then should have had the ball in the net when Devon Duguid had a glorious chance while in masses of space but instead of getting power he hit a worm burner which gave Cowie the opportunity to save. The second came on the half hour and it was a tidy goal. Some good team play on the right culminated in Callum Tremaine sliding in at the back post to tap in a cross. As the half went on it was not unnoticed the state of the park. Heathryfold used to be the best playing surface in the entire city once upon a time, this including Pittodrie too. Today it was covered in excess cut grass in some areas but also the goal mouth Ellon were defending in the first half was reminiscent of something out of the Gulf War as any time there was any form of conflict in the six yard box it threw up dust clouds that hung about in the air. Sad to see as is the damaged parts of the fencing etc.
HT 0 v 2
After the half time kick about Wee Man asked to swap sides to the other wing. As we were heading past the goal, Baino said there were two balls over the fence behind the goal. Wee Man decided to help by crawling through a hole in the fence to help out United in not losing what must have been at least 100 quid in balls. He managed to get the balls from the thick growth and even find a third which had been unaccounted for. It was a great determined effort from him. One which he didn’t really need to get involved in. On the pitch United spurned another big chance when Duguid was clean through but dragged his strike wide. Then came an even bigger chance when they were awarded a penalty for a handball. Sunnybank could moan all they wanted, but at the end of the day the hand was not in a natural position and it stopped the cross going into the box. Stonewaller in my eyes. Tremaine stepped up but Bankies keeper Cowie got down to save very well and retrieve the second ball post haste. It was all Ellon and they then struck the woodwork when Neil Irvine rattled the post with an overhead kick. The third finally came when some unselfish play from Duguid out wide saw the ball played across the box to a completely unmarked Lenny Johnson who couldn’t miss. Game over you had to think, especially as Sunnybank had brought very little to the match in the second period. They finally did create a big chance which resulted in a stramash in the box, the ball looked destined to hit the net but somehow failed to do so. The aided by some last ditch defending from Arran Gerrard. Bankies defender Connor Rae didn’t like the Ellon man holding on to him from the ground and looked to have punched him in the face. This incited a rammy with bodies flying about as the Ellon men fired into the black and white players in unity against the treatment of their team mate, once peace finally restored itself and the bag of ferrets were calmed down. Rae received his second caution of the night and was sent for an early bath while having a shit fit at the far side lino en route to the changing rooms. That was game over for sure now and the points heading north. The only thing of not left in the match was the introduction James Bain who Wee Man told me he knew it was Baino as he came on the park and did his double handed hair sweep he continually does. I had to laugh at him picking up on this but he is not wrong. As the game petered out we made our way toward the gate for a quick getaway. This past the young team who had supported their team admirably during the game, but now the team were getting easily pumped by the men in red, they had lowered the tone and were shouting abuse at the bingo players in the Social club, accusing the Ellon keeper of being a “paedo” and other Ellon players of lets say, same sex antics. The full time whistle went an with Newmachar getting beat, the auto relegation was done. In terms of the playoff Islavale were trunced tonight by Stonehaven. Saturday sees Islavale host Sunnybank, a game that could be huge. I hope for this historic Aberdeen side the sun doesnt set on their Premier League stint.
Entrance – Me £6, Wee Man Free
Attendance – 109 (rough head count)
Pie – £6.50, pie x 2 and coffee
Pint – £4.10, Tennent’s, Social Club
Score Predictions – Me 2 v 1, Wee Man 1 v 3
Season Score Predictions – Me 5 v 4 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 