North Section Superleague

With a great win and Banks o Dee behind us from last week, there was high expectations to carry that good form into this game, how wrong can you be !

It was to and from for the first few minutes but after only 8 minutes we were a goal down after another mistake. This time, from nothing we lost possession in the middle of the park, the ball was played out down the left where they broke and crossed a simple low ball into the box that was easily finished off, such a simple goal was criminal especially after we had the possession. The lasd tried to come back into it and on 12 minutes Richie put in a ball from our right at waist height that Dane met but couldn’t guide it past their keeper. On 19 minutes Dane turned provider when he got the ball in the middle outside their box, laid it in for Stevie to run onto but it was just too close to the goal line to drag it back. Just after Zander collected the ball on the left, cut inside on the edge of their box but his shot was weak and the keeper easily held. Two minutes later we got a corner on the left and Stevie put is a great ball just under the bar but nobody could get close to put it away.  Then Dane crossed from the right onto Zanders head but again it went over. On 26 minutes Ellon got a chance at the edge of our box where Bruce managed to block a goal bound shot for a corner, that corner came over but wasn’t cleared and Scott had to make a great save just under the bar to keep it out. Just on the half hour another brilliant corner from Steve was not put away, far too many missed chances were racking up by now !  This proved to be the case when only a minute later Ellon broke down the left, got into the box and finished off easily 0 - 2. On 39 minutes Jason had a netbuster of a shot from 20 yards the keeper saved well but we didn’t pick up the loose ball in the box and it was hacked clear. Then just before half time Dane again got a shot off in the box but it was cleared again.

Half time and so many chances but no real efforts on goal, it was also depressing to see some great runs down the wings but when the ball was put into the danger area, there was nobody there.

The ads came out for the 2nd half and straight away Zander got the ball on the left, cut into the box but his shot was saved for a corner. Another one taken, this time onto Danes head and he buried inside the near post 1 - 2.  To be honest there was sod all in the 2nd half to write about ! Richie had a shot well over after 11 minutes, Ellon had a couple of gifts after 20 minutes they somehow spurned but when they did break they looked far more dangerous Instead of too much ball play they just put it wide or over the top and we couldn’t see that was the way forward. Far too many times we were caught in possession in the middle fo the park where they had 5 in midfield but instead of stretching play we insisted on trying to play to feet down the middle and with the state of the pitch it was impossible to do and the ball was either given away or cleared every time. Right at the end, as if to prove the point another long ball down wide left was past our defence and although he looked at least 5 yards offside (right in front of the linesman as well!) it wasn’t given and it was in the back of the net.

This 2nd half display was just as bad as the Bonnyrig game except luckily Ellon weren’t good enough to really punish us. I doesn’t hide the fact there were far too many players not working anything like as hard as last week and despite the chances we had in the 1st half, their keeper didn’t really have to make many saves. With only 5 attempts on target today that tells the story, it was shite.

Grahams Report

Match Stats

MAUD LOSE OUT IN LOCAL DERBY

After last weeks game Maud looked to continue on a winning run, sadly it was  not to be. Poor defending and basic mistakes were to cost Maud dearly. The game started off quite even until the 4th minute when an Ellon attack cut in from the right and a snap shot by Gunn flew over the bar. In the 7th minute a mistake by McDonald allowed Ellon to break up the right wing. Sending in a lovely cross it was left for Annand to finish off to put Ellon into the lead. Maud's Ballard should have levelled from a great ball in from Ligertwood but failed to gain proper control of the ball spoiling his shot. Ballard turned provider in Maud's next attack putting a through ball for Whyte to run onto but sadly could only fire into the side netting .After sustaining some pressure from Ellon, Maud won a throw in from the right. Taken by Whyte onto McDonald whose cross in was headed over by Middleton under pressure. Again attacking play by Maud saw Ballard win a ball out on the right flag, crossing in, it was met by A Davidson and headed over the bar. A great timed tackle by B Davidson conceded a corner which was whipped in and sent flying goal wards forcing a finger tip save from Cowe tipping over the bar. In the 32nd minute Ellon doubled their lead when a mistake by McDonald allowed Ellon to break up field through Maud's defence and a cross in to the danger area for Bruce to finish off. Ligertwood was unlucky when Bowman cleared his shot only for it to deflect off the post and out for a corner to nothing. A great save by Bowman as Ballard closed in but came off second best this time. 

Coming out for the second half Maud immediately forced a corner from the left. Whipping in a wicked ball Ballard rose above and nodded in to pull one back for Maud. Two minutes later Maud had another chance when from another corner crossed in but this time Bowman handled well under pressure from Middleton and controlled the danger. A poor clearance by Cowe fell to Petrie who cheekily tried to chip over Cowe but he redeemed himself and forced the ball over to concede a corner which came to nothing. Ellon defended well and survived a Maud attack and managed to break with a diagonal ball out left with the final shot going just past the post. Cowe committed to closing down the striker who jinxed past him but Usher saved the day with a good clearance. Ellon's Bruce should have got his brace when under no pressure shot past the post. Play went from end to end in what was turning into heavy conditions and finally in the 88th minute when poor marking and a dubious offside decision not given by the far side linesman allowed Ellon's Cadger through on goal with Cowe being helpless to stop the shot which sealed the points for Ellon. A poor display by Maud who need to motivate themselves now for next weeks game at home to FC Stoneywood in the North Regional Cup tie with a 1.30pm K.O. 

Thanks to Ted for taking this (and loads of others!).

Dane scoring our only goal against Ellon (Dane if you want a bigger copy EMAIL ME HERE so I can send it to you.