Ellon22
Gordonians17
Ellon hauled themselves off the bottom of Caledonia 1 with a 22-17 win at the Meadows at the expense of fellow-strugglers Gordonians but it was not enough to prevent coach Duaine Lindsay from resigning just five months in the post.
After a tense game Lindsay told his players he could no longer continue, citing lack of support from senior management at the club.
“It has been a great privilege to work with the guys in the squad. I wish them well. They have the ability to survive but I am sorry to say senior management at the club seem not to share my ambitions for Ellon,” said the 42-year-old Lindsay, who has no other job lined up but is likely to return to Vietnam where his wife has a teaching post.
Ellon’s former Grammar prop Nicki Fraser said: “I am devastated by Duaine’s decision to leave. He has done so much for the team. His coaching methods were paying off. This win today was for him. I wish him well in whatever he does.”
Club vice-president Gareth Evans would not be drawn on the coach’s criticism.
He said: “Duaine has been good for the club but we must now apply ourselves to avoiding relegation.”
In the dour struggle on the pitch Ellon led 7-5 at half-time before pushing further ahead just after the break but were never able to shake off an Aberdeen side now dangerously close to the relegation area.
The sides shared six tries, but ultimately it was the place kicking of home stand off Jake Wills which saw Ellon through.
Gordonians president Jim Sugden was disappointed to lose out and said: “‘It was never a good game. We finished strongly and the losing bonus point could be vital for us. We won’t go down.”