Denmore Park, AAFA Premier Division, 8/4/25
HR Nicolls Amateur Football Club
Founded – 1953
Nickname – N/A
Honours – AAFA Division One – 1958/59. AAFA Division Two – 1956/57 and 2000/01. AAFA Division Three – 1955/56. AAFA Division One (North) – 2006/07 and 2021/22. Bowie Cup – 2001/02. Stephen Shield – 2006/07 and 2010/11. White Cup – 2014/15.
Random Fact – The club entered a partnership with ground sharing Junior outfit Hall Russell JFC in the summer of 2025. They were previously known as Nicolls XI and Nicolls Amateurs.
With a host of gallivanting watching random fitba since I have been home this time, it felt great watching my favourite team again. Especially in such a convincing win against a team they really had to beat. As much as I love the random games, watching fitba with an emotional attachment cannot be beaten. Thistle in their maiden season in the Premier Division are not safe but are heading for it by grabbing points here and there. Going into this they were eight points clear of bottom club HR Nicolls. Win this and it would be safe to say the Jags would be clear of bottom spot although not mathematically. (2 go down). As it happened this was a canter in the end. Turning up 10 minutes late as I was seeing the Wee Wee Man to his bed I had already missed a goal for the good guys. Taking up watching the game with my ex Thistle (and Juveniles) team mate Mikey Wild he gave me the low down. Nicolls had started well but once Thistle scored it rocked them. On the goal Mikey said it was clearly offside . The goal was scored by Michael Moffat who was assisted by Lewis McLaughlin but Moff’s run was from an offside position. Once I had turned up the vast majority of the play was in the Nicolls half with Thistle pushing for a second. They almost had it when a McLaughlin effort was saved well at his right post by home keeper Elis Whyte. It was at a good height for him to turn round the post nit he did his job convincingly. The keeper had no chance with the Jags second soon after. A corner was swung in by Zach Boon and it seemed to just drop on to the bonce of Daryl Webster who made no mistake from 12 yards. Nicolls must have been kicking themselves with the combination of Webster being no giant and the marking being loose to put it lightly. A poor goal to give away. With the floodlights now on giving me a first view of the these beaming beauties at Denmore and these things do the job and then some. Extremely bright, unlike neighbours Hermes (who were also playing) whose pylons do the job and no more. Thistle were dominating this game and at times leaving Nicolls to chase shadows which led to numerous fouls on Ellon men, although Menace did hand out one himself too. Thistle could not get a third before the break despite their best efforts but were very comfortable at the break.
HT 0 v 2
Thistle were given a fright in the opening moments of the second half when Nicolls cut through them with ease, offside but missed by ref Ian Innes, no matter though, Archie Lawrence-Clark got in behind too easily to set up Liam McKenzie who beat Jags keeper Johnson but his effort went wide. A let off. This initiated a chain mistakes from Thistle who were wobbly for a spell but it was’t to last and they were back in business for the rest of the match. If I have a criticism of this performance it was not clinical enough, the score could have been a lot higher with misses from McKenzie who sent an effort over the bar which almost interfered with the Hermes v Bridge of Don Thistle match. Stu Martin who was one on one but thwarted by Whyte. I would have bet my house on the striker finishing it too. But there were also some cracking balls put into the box which were not converted. Thistle did manage a third and was it a theft? From our position it was hard to tell but did suspiciously look so. A ball was played to Moffat on the edge of the box who with his back to goal flicked an couple of keepy-ups and on the turn sent a powerful effort under Whyte, the ball squirmed through the keeper and Shawn Bruce toed the ball in on the line. Was it going in anyway? I really couldn’t tell but I am glad the big striker got on the score sheet. I am a huge fan of the guy. The reason being I am a big fan of old fashioned football and he is a proper throwback of a centre forward, big, solid, puts himself about and must be a nightmare to play against. A fucking cracking player and always impresses when I watch the Jags. Ellon continued about their task but it was just the three in the end complete with a welcome clean sheet. A big result, one which leaves Nicolls in great difficulty. With Tollbooth, Great Western United and Insch all losing tonight it has to be said, a fine midweek Ellon Thistle. Saturday throws up a bloody tough test with Kincorth visiting the Meadows.
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 69
Pie – N/A
Pint – No time as putting wee wee man to bed
FITBAWBAG 