The Meadows, AAFA Premier League, 23/8/25
Me still 358, 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 fully expected to be sitting in the hoos this afternoon as the Wee Man was not himself yesterday with a stonking sore head and just general grottyness. Then at 13.10 with a spring in his step, “are we going to the Ellon game”. So off we nipped eastward to my hometown for a game v the current league leaders. Discussing the score predictions neither were confident. The reasons being, firstly the AAFA Premier League always has a gap in quality between the top teams and the rest, there is one already apparent this early in the season. Cowie have been in the upper ends for a while now so this was always going to be a big ask for the newly promoted Ellon Jags. You also have to take into consideration, the difference in starts. Cowie came into this P6 W6 F31 A2. While Ellon have five points from six games in their maiden Premier League season. Then on arrival things were not made much better. Speaking to my old man he informed us missing today were last seasons joint top scorers Michael Moffat(already knew that) and Callum Donald. But on top of that left back Brodie Stewart, poacher Stuart Martin and arguably the best player in the team David ‘Deej’ Coutts who had a hamstring injury. But there were others too. Not great coming into the game. The start to the game was also not great and Cowie hit the woodwork in the first two minutes after Shaun McDonald got his head to a corner. A stramash in the Ellon box then came but incredibly the men in black threw everything at it with at least four blocks, Cowie just could not get it past an Ellon leg. But it was looking ominous for Ellon and the opener was surely not far away. It wasn’t and it was a gift. A ball over was not controlled by Cruickshanks , Kerr couldn’t pick up the second ball and Cowie man McDonald made no mistake this time as he stepped on to the ball and fired a fine finish past Johnson who was left with no chance. It was 0 v 2 in a couple of minutes later when what can only be described as horrific defending across the board left Cameron Chyla free and with a simple finish through Johnsons legs. Thistle were looking like the proverbial deer in the headlights here and I feared this could be a potential cricket score being run up. It should have been a cricket score but Cowie were extremely wasteful in the box. Some of their efforts were harder to miss the target than score yet they were managing, and luckily from an Ellon point of view as the game was not totally away from them. Given the amount of chances being created, another Cowie goal was inevitable and another early Christmas present was handed to them when a free kick was swung into the box from the left with a free header at the back post continuing the blitz. Ellon were needing half time and soon. Before it came, more Cowie chances were squandered leaving a number of cars in the upper car park needing a panel beater. I am sure Cowie will agree, some of the finishing was woeful. This could have been heading to double figures by half time. Cowie punished Ellon but they could have capitally punished.
HT 0 v 3
After the break Ellon seemed to turn up. They were getting the ball down and playing a bit. Something that completely lacked in the first half. Shawn Bruce had a big chance to put the cat amongst the pigeons early doors when after a good turn he didn’t quite get the right contact on the ball. The best chance for the home side yet. This got the tails up a bit and to be honest there was some good fitba played, but it didn’t last. After a shocking challenge on Lewis McLaughlin from Michael Keller the game was held up and killed the momentum. The tackle saw the first foot win the ball but the second foot came long after in studs up motion through the Ellon mans legs. This wasnt momentum, this was nastiness. A red card for sure. But again like numerous tackles from behind throughout the game, referee Derek Taylor waved it away. On top of this given the treatment Shawn Bruce was being subjected to all game that was going unpunished while Cowie were getting every wee thing, I am not surprised the away side took advantage of it. That’s experience for you, something Ellon are clearly lacking, but we will get to that. As mentioned, with the lengthy stoppage for the injury to Lewis, Thistle lost their way and in doing so conceded a fourth when another slack goal was handed to Cowie. A run down the right was not dealt with despite numerous opportunities to send the winger into the Ellon United pitch, this seeing a cross to an open McDonald who wont get an easier finish this season. Four goals and all four avoidable. In amongst the fourth Aaron Bisset collided with keeper Johnson receiving a head knock ending his game. The Cowie goals were all from defensive errors but Ellon’s certainly was not. Take a bow Shawn Bruce. Goal of the season for me so far. A ball in from the right found the big striker then with touch he set himself up perfectly 18 yards out and unleashed a screamer into the top corner. Ross in the Cowie goal didn’t even dive it was such a superb hit. But it was irrelevant in the grand scheme of things and Cowie nabbed a fifth and keeping up with tradition Ellon handed it to them when they allowed the easy wide play cross approach work once again for the Stonehaven men. This time Shaun McDonald and Cameron Chyla were queuing up at the back post to tap in. I don’t even know who scored it as I think when the ball was played in I was already looking at the sky thinking “for fuck sake boys”.
A strange game. Cowie won and rightly and convincingly so. They are a very decent outfit. But there were positives in amongst the negatives. On the bad side, all five goals were avoidable. You will never get away with that in the Premier and especially against the quality of Cowie Thistle. The experience lacks a bit. As a team it is far too quiet, very little claims, very little organising and no harassing the ref about everything(all these points not aided by the lack of Deej). All of this Cowie were constantly at. There is also absolutely no nastiness or cuntery in the side. Something that the aforementioned upper end of the league have in abundance. Take the tackle on Lewis today was a prime example of this. It’s all too nice from Ellon. But on the positive side, Shawn Bruce up top is a player for sure and a throwback number 9. I like the look of him. Aaron Bisset was possibly the best Thistle player before his enforced departure, also clearly a tidy player. Then the football that was played at times was good to watch, albeit not sustained for long periods. The team has youth in it, it is a newly assembled squad but there is clearly talent there. They have a bit of the Aberdeen’s about them, some real quality but not quite getting it right just now. Some think Thistle will go straight back down. I am not one of them and I am the most negative human being I know. A do-in and ultimately a defeat at the end of the day it may be but one to learn from.
Entrance – Both free
Attendance – 51
Pie – £3.50, Coffee,water, Snickers and Crunchie
Pint – Didnt bother as Serie A starts today and needed back
Score Predictions – Me 0 v 3, Wee Man 1 v 3
Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 2 v 1 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 