match report

Clydesdale Bank Youth League | Motherwell U20s 0 Aberdeen U20s 4 | KO 2.00PM Fir Park

Low 4 (pen) 67, McManus 32, Smith 76 mins

Aberdeen U20s got back to winning ways this afternoon at Fir Park with 4-0 victory over Motherwell that would have impressed the new management team who were watching on. Neil Cooper’s side played some excellent attacking football against a strong Motherwell team that included eight players with SPL experience.

The Dons lined up Twardzik in goal, Murray at right back, Duguid at left back with Rumsby in central defence alongside Scott McKenna who was making his first start at this level. In midfield were Low, O’Neill, Masson and Pawlett with McManus and Smith upfront. On paper it was certainly looked a very attacking line up.

The first effort on goal came after three minutes when Higginbotham was able to turn at the edge of the area but his shot was comfortably saved by Twardzik. Then a minute later the Dons took the lead. Peter Pawlett burst into the box and was tripped by Angol. The referee pointed straight to the spot despite the protests from the home players. Captain for the day Nicky Low took responsibility and placed the ball into the corner of the net.

The goal settled the young Dons and despite a lively hard pitch they found their passing range. On 9 minutes McManus played a clever ball round the corner for Murray to run onto. He burst forward and his pace took him past all the cover defenders. He got a shot in but it was from a tight angle and Hollis saved. Two minutes later Motherwell had their first attack of the game and won a free kick in a dangerous area. The ball was played in but Rumsby and McKenna did well to clear. Then Motherwell had another good chance when they worked some space down the right. McCafferty got in behind Murray but his shot was straight at Twardzik who handled well. On 20 minutes Pawlett was booked after giving the ball away and then tugging at a shirt as he tried to recover. Then a minute later the same player was on the end of another crisp move but was flagged offside. It looked a close decision.

On 22 minutes Kallum Higginbotham created space for himself on the edge of the box. He had time to get a shot away and his effort appeared to be going in before McKenna made a brilliant block. Then from the resulting corner the Dons had a major let off. The ball broke to McHugh in the area and his shot was also going into the net before Rumsby this time made a great block. The ball rebounded though and hit Duguid who was also coming across the cover. The ball then bounced off the post and into Dan Twardzik’s arms. A bit of a let off but good defending as well. Disappointingly Duguid injured himself when trying to make the last ditch tackle and had to be replaced by Gibbons. Jamie Masson went back to fill in at left back. Erwin then got the better of two defenders and put a powerful shot inches wide.

Although Aberdeen were defending well, the home side were slightly on top at this stage so it was slightly against the run of play when Aberdeen scored a bizarre second goal. The ball was played in from the right and Declan McManus’ looping header went very high but it looked a comfortably enough catch for the keeper. Hollis appeared to misjudge the flight of the ball in the air and when he eventually caught the ball he had lost his bearings and the ball was over the line. In hindsight the keeper should just have punched it away from the danger area. There was some debate as to whether the ball was already over the line or whether the keeper caught it and then took the ball over – regardless Declan McManus was claiming his 23rd goal of the season! Although it was the linesman who gave the goal none of the Motherwell players complained about the decision. The goal stunned everyone in the stadium and it certainly deflated the home side. On 38 minutes Peter Pawlett fired just over from 30 yards and then McManus was caught offside after another fine passing move.

At the start of the second half there was another major talking point for the large crowd. Well central defender Adam Cummins gave away a free kick about 25 yards out. He seemed unhappy with the decision and after a brief altercation with the referee was shown, what looked like, a straight red card. His complaints must have gone too far and he was sent off for dissent. At that stage, with 45 minutes still to go, it was pretty much game over.

Aberdeen kept hold of the ball well and started to create openings against the 10 men. On 51 minutes Murray played a good ball in from the right. McManus timed his run to the near post to perfection but his shot just went wide. Then two minutes from a similar area Pawlett put a good cross in and this time McManus won a header but again it was off target. Nicky Low then had an opening at goal but his low shot was saved by Hollis at the second attempt. Then two minutes after that, more joy for the Dons down the right. Full back Murray went on one of his long winding runs. He made it all the way into the box but from a tight angle fired over. The Motherwell born youngster did not have much of the goal to aim at so had to go for power.

On 67 minutes Aberdeen did get a deserved third goal. Jamie Masson played a great ball forward and Nicky Low beat the offside trap. Nicky was one on one with the keeper and his initial effort was blocked. From the rebound Nicky decided to go the aerial route. He brilliantly lobbed the ball over the keeper and defender who was getting back. From a tight angle it was a great finish.

Credit to Motherwell as they never gave up and there were competitive tackles flying in till the end. A few minutes after the goal McHugh did well to create an opening but his shot was brilliantly blocked McKenna. The young defender had a very good game up against some experienced players. On 72 minutes Pawlett had another chance but his powerful shot was saved by Hollis on his knees. Then on 76 minutes the Dons grabbed a fourth. Steven Saunders the last defender trying to clear a through ball. The defender dallied on the ball and Cammy Smith was quick to get in and put him under pressure. Cammy then dispossessed the last defender before calmly rounding the keeper and placing the ball into the empty net.

In the closing stages Pawlett took a knock and was replaced by O’Sullivan. It did not look anything serious and he should be ok for the weekend. The final action saw Aberdeen fall asleep at a free kick which allowed Erwin a free shot a goal but from point blank range Twardzik made an excellent save. The keeper looked very assured all afternoon.

This was a very good Aberdeen performance which puts Neil Cooper’s side back up to second in the table.

Aberdeen : Twardzik, Murray, Duguid (Gibbons 37), O’Neill, McKenna, Rumsby, Pawlett (O’Sullivan 81), Masson, McManus, Smith, Low Subs: Rogers, Hamilton, Close, Campanile, Szemis.

Motherwell : Hollis, Kerr, Francis-Angol, Cummins, Saunders, Carswell, McCafferty, Erwin, McHugh, Higginbotham, Leitch Subs Stewart, Neill, Thomas, Shirkie, Higgins.

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RedTV | highlights of the game please click here

Neil Cooper interview please click here

Declan McManus interview please click here