Ellon is now at the top of its qualifying section and has earned a home quarter final tie against Forres Thistle.

Following Banks o' Dee's crushing 9-2 defeat of Buchanhaven Hearts the team will now enter into a play-off with Sunnybank for the second qualifying place.

Ellon started on the front foot with keeper Ricky Horne tipping over a Derek Craigie chip for a corner. At the other end Richard Bowman almost came unstuck, but managed to gather the ball on the byeline under severe pressure.

Ricky Horne brought off another good save to hold on to Keith Robertson's header off a Scott Clark cross. Stuart Craib broke forward for Formartine but his low cross cum shot went past the far post.

Ellon went ahead after quarter of an hour when Scott Clark's long diagonal pass picked out Derek Craigie who moved in to drill the ball into the far corner. The home side almost doubled its lead three minutes later, but Keith Robertson's header off Scott Robison's cross came back off the post. Jim Ellis followed up, but Ricky Horne recovered well to smother his effort.

A minute later Derek Craigie laid off a Scott Clark pass into the path of Keith Robertson whose volley was tipped over by Ricky Horne for another corner.

Ellon was looking more threatening in front of the goal at this stage and the Formartine defence did well to keep out a Keith Robertson header then Jim Ellis' second attempt at the expense of a corner. John Chalmers met the cross but his header flew over.

Just before the half hour mark Cammy Bryce released Steven Gunn on the left. His cut back picked out Derek Craigie but on this occasion the striker's first touch let him down and Ricky Horne reacted quickly to mop up the threat.

Ellon had a let off when Ross Forsyth just failed to make contact with a free kick from Stuart Shinnie which flew across the face of the goal. Mark Young then threatened to break clear for Formartine but John Chalmers eventually won their tussle and was able to clear the danger.

Ellon were first to threaten after the break with John Chalmers releasing Cammy Bruce but Ricky Horne made another good save.

The home side gave itself a two goal cushion in the 59th minute when Cammy Bruce was considered to have been fouled in the box and Derek Craigie gave Ricky Horne no chance with his spot kick.

Scott Robison shot wide from a Jim Ellis cross then a ricochet off the referee set up a Formartine attack, but Craig Yule dragged his shot wide when he really had time to settle himself. A minute later the Formartine striker was in position to touch home a cross from the right to set up a nervous last four minutes of normal time for the home side but Ellon was able to see out the remaining time and stoppage time to earn its quarter final place.

Ellon United get down back down to league duty next Saturday with a trip to face Culter, the kickoff is at 2.30pm.

The winning numbers in Ellon United's weekly Lucky Six Draw were 4, 5, 7, 10, 11 and 14 and with no one picking the full set the prize money for next week's draw will be 31100 with the selection 6 from 18. The winners of the £10 consolation prizes were D Anderson, E West, A Rennie and M Turner.