United went in front from an early penalty and then a quick fire double strike just on the half hour mark put the visitors into a commanding position, as Longside were left to rue their missed chances.
Life should then have been made a lot more d
ifficult for the home side when they were to just ten men before the interval.
A freak goal three minutes after the break was scored when keeper Michael Thomson netted direct from a huge kick out, and should have put Ellon on their toes.
But, United allowed Longside to come at them far too easily, and could have paid the price. Fortunately, United hit the home side with another two strikes on the break, before an opportunist goal from Ben Danton. The striker ran clear on to another long kick out from his keeper, and reduced the deficit with 25 minutes of play remaining.
United took only four minutes to go ahead when the lively Keith Reid was fouled in the box, and Scott Henry drilled home the spot kick. Richard Bowman had to be alert a couple of minutes later to prevent Longside from drawing level through an own goal, with the United keeper forcing the ball way for a corner.
A home free kick was headed behind for a corner, which was comfortably dealt with by the Ellon defence, but it was a different story from another Longside corner in the 14th minute. The low cross was somehow missed by everyone and fell to Herbie Craik, with the goal at his mercy, but the central defender was unable to take advantage, as Bowman collected easily.
United turned the screw in a devastating two minute spell. Keith Reid converted a cross from a corner with an acrobatic overhead effort, then the striker laid a ball back into the path of his strike partner Cammy Bruce, whose first time effort flew just over. Ellon's third goal was delayed by less than a minute when Calum Annand's free kick was met by Matty Edmond. His volley back across the goal was pounced on by Cammy Bruce to put United 3-0 ahead in the 30th minute.
The home side were given a mountain to climb in the 41st minute when Muir Murray got himself red carded, and Ellon almost pressed home their advantage two minutes later, when Steve Gunn met a corner, but his glancing header went wide.
United disappointed for long spells after the interval when they sat back and allowed Longside's ten men to dictate play. The visitors were served with an early remainder that they still had a game on their hands when a 48 minute kick out from keeper Thomson went too far ahead of his strikers. The ball bounced in front of Richard Bowman, with the United keeper appearing to slip as he came out, and the ball bounced high over his head and into the empty net.
Ellon hit back with Atholl Cadger finding Matty Edmond, whose shot hit the side netting. Two minutes later United could have been in trouble again when they were caught on the break but Richard Bowman parried Robert Ritchie's near post effort behind for a corner.
United were giving Longside far too much of the ball at this stage, but the home side were unable to cash in and were again given a finishing lesson when Matty Edmond released Ryan Petrie, who lifted the ball over the advancing Michael Thomson to restore United's three goal cushion. Ellon showed Longside the route to goal again four minutes later, when Atholl Cadger put Matty Edmond through to finish in the far corner.
Longside pulled another goal back in the 70th minute when United failed to deal with another long kick out from keeper Thomson with Ben Danton running through unchallenged to slip the ball beyond Richard Bowman.
Neither side was able to add to the scoreline in the closing 25 minutes, leaving United with a good final score and a welcome three points from a traditionally very tight fixture.
United travel to Peterhead to tackle Buchanhaven Hearts this Saturday, KO 1.30pm.
ELLON UNITED: Bowman, Annand, Craib, Allsop, Henry, Forsyth, Cadger, Gunn, Bruce, Reid, Edmond,. Subs: Irvine, Paterson, Morrison, Petrie, Robertson, Clark, Chalmers.
LONGSIDE: Thomson, Stainton, Beddie, Wheeler, Craik, Panton, Wood, Reid, Danton, Ritchie, Murray. Subs: Geddes, Davidson, Cowie, Brown, Ross, Black, Campbell.
