TEAM:-

REPORT:-

For the second successive week we found ourselves with a pitch cancellation following another downpour yesterday. Our planned Scottish Cup Tie falling victim to the weather at 8am this morning. However all was not lost as an alternative fixture had been arranged and so we travelled out to Ellon to tackle Ellon Thistle. Thistle have a past Halli member in their ranks in the shape of Ali Ryrie, who had featured in our Cup Winning side in 1993. Ally's potential match winning capabilities are well known to many of our team and we knew that we would have to work hard to keep him in check. The park at Ellon it must be said was near to perfect given the rain in the past hours as we lined up with Michie in goal, Fulton, Shaw, Robertson and N.Milne in defence. Keith and N.Wood on the flanks with Longmuir paired with the returning E.Milne in the middle of the park. Up front we had G.Woods and Merchant. Our subs were Marlow, Sim, Quirie, Murdoch and England. The wind was close to gale force as we started the match and it was the home side that had the advantage of the wind as it gusted straight down the park. It was obvious that a 'dig in performance' was going to be required to get us through the first half, and in the main that is exactly what we produced. We defended stoutly to thwart attack after attack from the home side even finding time to create a couple of chances ourselves. Indeed we should have been one up when G.Woods was picked out by Robertson, the striker missing the great chance because he had to get the ball onto his right foot. As it was this was to prove a costly miss as moments later Ellon went in front. Longmuir lost out in the middle and N.Milne had left his man in acres of space out wide. The homester cut inside unchallenged to beat Michie.(H.T1-0) We now had the advantage and we were encamped in the Ellon half for 45 mins. That’s ok but it is goals that count and we set up and missed at least 3 good opportunities. G.Woods and N.Wood missing the best of them. Michie kept us in it with a great stop, but the keeper sent a weak kick out in 88mins. The ball was flung forward and Michie was beaten at the near post.(F.T.2-0) A sickening conclusion to a match which we should have taken something from. That said the effort was first class, however if no goals are scored then the chances of a result are diminished. Topman Michie for great handling in hard conditions.