The Meadows, AAFA Premier Division, 16/8/25
Me still 357, Wee Man still 215
Ellon Thistle Football Club
Founded – 1968
Nickname – The Jags
Honours – AAFA Division 1 (East) – 2024/25. AAFA Division 4 –1974/75. AAFA Division 6 – 1972/73. Barclay Cook Cup – 1972/73 and 2022/23. Castle Rovers Cup – 2011/12. Dickie Trophy – 2015/16. Stephen Shield – 1992/93. Norman McAvoy Memorial Trophy -1986/87. White Cup – 1973/74
I know if you read my shite I do have a distinct bias towards a certain amateur club. I know I harp on about the joys away from the upper echelons of football and I know I sound like a broken record quite often. This game today was a brilliant example of why my brain works in this manner these days. With an undoubted poor start to the season Thistle were in a big need of a win. Prior to this it was W0,D1,L3. Not panic stations but in cliche terms, you don’t want to be in a habit of losing. A bad habit, plus the heavy youth and inexperience of the Ellon side would not make for good viewing. However, I told Wee Man all along the Jags would win as bad runs always end eventually. Junior was not so keen on the idea. On arrival the inevitable kick about on the fantastic Meadows surface ensued as always and turned into a sweat fest in the heat. About the pitch, it is one which really needs some rain but the Meadows have done a superb job keeping both the Thistle and United pitches in good nick over a hot hot summer. Keeping an the topic of pitches, there are three at the Meadows and all of which were hosting my old club teams. The astro had Ellon Meadows U18s, Ellon United were hosting Buchanhaven Hearts and obviously the Jags were on their home turf. I cant see this trio happening often. On the Hearties, as we were kicking about we were in awe of the Peterhead sides keeper during his warm up. He was taking goal kicks at his number two and I swear they were box to box. His understudy was catching them on the other 18 yard line. Incredible distance without looking like there was much effort put into them. Watch Buchanhaven and you will see.
To the main event.Finally we got to see the Jags which has not been possible thus far due to Jake’s own fitba. They had not won since promotion, could we be the omen needed? We were the previous night at Hopeman. Could it be the same again.
Ellon were the better team early doors and fired balls forward which saw some hesitant play between the Nicolls XI* defence. Nicolls didn’t seem to like the youthful enthusiasm of Thistle and especially forward Shawn Bruce (a proper throwback centre forward for the record) and were resorting to niggly wee fouls every time Thistle played the ball forward this without the ref going for his cards despite the persistence. Eventually Ellon took the lead when a ball into the box found Callum Donald who not at the first attempt under pressure toed it in from a couple of yards. Then came what seemed to be a contentious moment when it looked like Nicolls Ross MacDonald wiped out Bruce in the box. I was screaming like a banshee as were others on the sideline. As it turns out people closer to the tackle(up in the car park) uniformly said no pen. Fair do’s to the ref here on this occasion, a good spot. As the minutes ticked Ellon seemed to drop deeper and deeper inviting problems on to themselves but held their own dealing with everything thrown at them especially Liam Kerr who put in a superb performance which resulted in man of the match. The visitors were clearly getting annoyed and pissed and moaned bout everything. Then pissed and moaned about even more. The Jags despite the pressure took the lead to the break.
HT 1 v 0
From the second half whistle Thistle were dropping deeper and deeper and allowing far too much space especially to Daniel Masson who was roaming the right largely unopposed and very frequently. It was surely only a matter of time before they were to concede. The home goal was definitely leading a charmed life with big headed chances spurned by Elliot MacDonald and Euan Johnston. There was also a heart in mouth moment when Thistle sub Brad Whyte headed a beer coasters width over his own bar. In amongst the Nicolls chances, Thistle were gifted an opportunity to make it 2 v 0. Stu Martin was clean allowed to run through but Nicolls keeper Cowie was rapid off his line to close the angles and save which then saw Brodie Stewart hit the rebound agonisingly wide. Nicolls were the better team and continued to cause Ellon issues but it seemed that Kerr at centre half was in the right place at the right time at every opportunity. What a game the usual right back was having. The game then inevitably levelled out and it was a gift if truth be told. A kick out from keeper Johnson was short and the ball was turned over fast with Nicolls immediately on the attack. A cross in from the right picked out Lee Milne for a simple tap in. I turned to Wee Man and said “Nicolls will this now”. With ten minutes to go there was surely time for a winner. But incredibly it was for the good guys and against the run of play. A late corner saw Deej knock it down at the back post and with numerous touches by the feet of both sides including one from Martin the ball crept in. 2 v 1 Ellon Thistle in the 96th minute. Who actually scored it we don’t know, highly likely an OG in amongst a raft of bodies but who cares. Deej led the celebrations as a full team celebration piled up with the big man yelling “get it right up you you toonser bastards” The full time whistle came and so did a bit of ugly scenes. While the Nicolls committee and players like Max Reid and Daniel Masson shook hands like normal people do a certain Nicolls man scudded the match ball at Thistle manager Les from a handful of yards, bearing in mind there were women and very young children behind Les, dick manoeuvre number one. Dick manoeuvre number two soon followed when the same player then attempted to chin Les but failed miserably. Next thing you know there was a melee on the pitch with said player disappearing quick leaving his team to deal with the aftermath. The three points stayed at the Meadows and were more than welcome after a tough start to life in the Premier.
Wee Man and I watched the last few minutes of the Ellon United v Buchanhaven game and one of the Peterhead punters asked who Thistle were playing and said they were glad of the home win as “that yellow boys were arseholes”. Not all of them but he had a point to an extent. On the topic of the Hearties it was good to catch up with club legend Pipey at full time. 47 years he has been associated with the club. These people are worth their weight in gold to non-league clubs
Back to the point at the top. It is games like this that make you love fitba when you support a team as opposed to watching as a neutral as we do more often than not. A whole range of emotions over 90 minutes, kicking every ball, losing your voice and who doesn’t love a last gasp winner especially when you see your old man at the final whistle punching the air vigorously. Marvellous. I also guessed the score and am in an early season 2 v 0 lead.
*The Juniors is still the Juniors, rangers are still dead and the shop next to my folks is still the Mace. So by that method, Nicolls XI are still Nicolls XI to me despite their moniker change.
Entrance – Both Free
Attendance – 43
Pie – £3.50, 2 x water, Crunchie and Snickers
Pint – £4.90, Tennent’s, New Inn
Score Predictions – Me 2 v 1 , Wee Man 0 v 1
Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 2 v 0 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 