Mineralwell Park, AAFA Premier League, 30/5/26
Cowie Thistle Amateur Football Club
Founded – 1985
Nickname – Thistle
Honours – AAFA Premier Division – 2023/24 and 2025/26. AAFA Division One East – 2001/02 and 2016/17. AAFA Division 5 – 1989/90. Aberdeen FC Trophy – 2000/01 and 2017/18. AAFA Association Trophy – 1999/00, 2008/09 and 2023/24. AAFA North of Scotland Cup – 2023/24. Premier Trophy – 2023/24 and 2025/26. Edmond Trophy – 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2013/14. Frank Waugh Shield – 2021/22. Patterson Cup – 1990/91
Stonehaven is a place I really like, so any opportunity to get down fitba or non-fitba related are seized upon when they appear. I would have moved there if I was more educated on the subject when I was looking to leave Ellon back in the day. Ifs and buts but this was a definite, a second fitba related visit in a week and a half was on the cards today with Ellon Thistle travelling for their penultimate game of the season against the champions of the AAFA Premier League this after watching Stonehaven JFC next door last week . This meaning pre-match lunch/pint/ice cream which seems to be the norm for a Saturday visit to the Hive. I fancied the Marine in my usual fixed ways but as we were doddling in the Stoney sun from Minarelwell Park to the town centre talking about how Stoney has everything and is generally ace, Wee Man noticed Number 44 just off the square and asked to go there as “it says bar” which I don’t know if that’s a good thing coming out of an 11 year olds mouth. But once in he explained it was closer to the Ice Cream shop than the harbour. A fair point to be fair and I had never been in so an added bonus personally. Fish and chips for me and a steak for him went down a treat, but something else that needs to be pointed out is the friendliness of the staff there. Really nice folk. Ice cream next from a busy Giulianottis for Wee Man only as I was fit to burst after the haddock recently devoured. Back north and down the brae towards the park home to not one but two top flight champions this season. Are any other top division champions as close in Scotland?Arriving early enough for a kick aboot in the goal before the teams were out to warm up much to the delight of the young one but to make his day even more memorable we were gifted a Cowie Thistle water bottle each by a fine upstanding Cowie citizen. A great gesture from the club, unexpected but gratefully received by us. Cheers guys. Not long after it was the usual tri-generational blether as Dad appeared after the paperwork was done. This breaking the news that Ellon’s recent squad woes were worse than ever today. (Score predictions out of the window as it was that bad).There were less fit players than the last few games, and not one, not two but three keepers in the starting eleven, one who is the guts of 50 and retired(Morris), one who is retired (Law) and the number one was outfield(Johnson). This complete with two subs who were long term absentees warming the bench in case of emergencies. Not ideal when you are heading to the unbeaten champions and lets be honest most likely to get beat with a full squad let alone a team full of plasters.
I’m not going to write much on the match as it was a training exercise for the home side and I am sure they would agree. But I will just praise both teams mostly instead. Firstly Ellon Thistle, the main team in our lives these days, fair play to all involved today, many teams would have scratched this but through determination and phone calls pleading for help, there was an XI to play. Admirable. A keeper desperate not to play again, (you know its true Mo), a striker out for ages and the other two keepers outfield and the rest of the issues. You can’t fault the effort of anyone on the pitch. Yes they got pumped and were down 4 v 0 at half time but they were there to get pumped and again there is definitely admiration in that. On the home side, they are champions for a reason. That’s a quality amateur team who can play some excellent fitba and are a team littered with cracking players. You don’t reach the Scottish Cup semi if you are mugs.
Cowie clearly wanted to keep the unbeaten record in tact and went at Ellon from the off taken an early lead via a Dean Henderson effort(cross maybe) which took Morris by surprise and lobbed him. They kept at Ellon pulling some decent saves out of Morris. A second came through a free header for Frazer Caretti. A third was not long after when Cameron Chyla ran clean through after Ellon were hit with a swift through ball after losing possession in the middle. There was no letting up and Morris was called into action on numerous occasions, notably from a Henderson header where he pulled off a stunning stop. It was four before the half when another free header hit the net. This time Conran Wilson. A tough but not unexpected half.
HT 4 v 0
The second half was a lot better from Ellon. They seemed to have calmed down and maybe accepted their fate on the day. This leading to some decent football being played at times and even introducing the Cowie keeper Euan Rose into the game with a few stops. They were even robbed of a pen when a Shawn Bruce effort was stopped by a wayward hand but the ref wasn’t interested. Academic it may have been but still a fucking rubbish bit of refereeing. Cowie added a fifth and sixth, the former being a shit pinger into the top corner from Jack Stewart and the latter a tap in from Craig Buchanan off another tidy save from Morris(He may want to retire forever but a great shift from the man once again, despite the six past him). Six scorers, three points and a total of 64/66 points for the season. Cowie more than deserved the trophy presentation after the match(funny as Ellon Thistle were told last season that presentations happen at the AGM only). Cowie will surely have made their way to the Station Hotel for a few league season concluding celebratory scoops after. While Ellon still have a game to to go before they can see the back of the season*. Cowie still have the Association Trophy final v Rattrays XI to come.
For Wee man and I that will be the end of Thistle for 2025/26 as I head to work again and will miss Banchory at the Meadows. I am interested to see the summer goings on as I think as whole there is a good squad there which needs a couple of reinforcements and if rumours are true there are some decent players lined up. So if anyone from the team is reading, stick it out and have a proper crack next season with a better team in a season which cannot possibly be as disrupted as this one#.
Something else of note, today was Ellon manager Les Forbes last game as boss as he steps down. This man deserves immense credit. Took the team up two divisions in two seasons and kept the team in the Premier, despite it being a farce this season+
*Cowie finished their league campaign today while Ellon have one to go. Cowie have pretty much made the semi or final of all cups they have entered this season but yet finish in the league before Ellon who went out early of all but one cup.(If i remember correctly). How is this even possible? Oh that’s right 161 days without a league game among other things. Farcical
#As above
+As above
Entrance – Both Free
Attendance – 96
Pie – £5, Pie, coffee, crisps, sweeties
Pint – £4, Number 44 Lager, Number 44 Bar and Restaurant
Score Predictions – Me 3 v 0, Wee Man 4 v 0 (to be noted these were guessed prior to seeing the Ellon squad)
Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 3 v 3 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 