YFS
Ellon Meadows have become the first Ellon team since 1989 to win the Frank Waugh Memorial Trophy after a thrilling 4-2 victory against Banchory.
Banchory twice held the lead thanks to goals from Sean Findlay and substitute Iain Riddell but Ellon pegged them back both times through Harry Stuart and Scott Firth. Firth them scored again late on to make it 3-2 and Jack Craig rounded off the scoring to secure Ellon the trophy.
Banchory and Ellon were originally due to meet in the semi-final of the competition before Colony Colts and Bervie Caley pulled out. This meant both teams hadn’t played a competitive fixture in two months. Ellon’s last league game was an 8-3 defeat to Banchory on the 22nd of March. While Banchory’s last game was a 3-3 draw with Newmachar United on the 29th of March.
Despite that, Banchory didn’t start the match like a rusty team. They were much the better team in the opening 10 minutes and were rewarded for that with the opening goal. A perfectly timed run and pass set Sean Findlay free and under pressure he poked the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net from 16 yards.
Usually a goal galvanises a team but it did the opposite to Banchory who stopped playing after going ahead. Ellon capitalised on this and equalised just minutes later. Scott Firth wouldn’t give up on a lost cause of a ball on the right wing and he did brilliantly to win the ball back and pull it back for Liam Willox who set up Harry Stuart and he curled the ball into the top corner from the left of the penalty area.
Both sides then missed good chances.
Banchory’s Findlay blasted over from within the 18-yard box and his strike partner Thomas Shand could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper from eight yards.
And at the other end Banchory goalkeeper Bruce McCombie had to be at his best to deny goal bound half-volleys from outside of the box from both Ross Mitchell and Matthew Taylor.
Just before half time Banchory had a goal disallowed for offside. Ewan Christie broke the offside trap and squared the ball for striker Shand who rolled the ball into the empty net. The linesman flagged for the goal scorer being offside despite the ball being pulled back for him.