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SPFL Youth League | Aberdeen U20 2 Dundee Utd U20 1 | Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead | KO 1pm

McKenna 19, Magennis 41; Connolly 63

Aberdeen U20s beat Dundee Utd U20s by 2 goals to 1 this afternoon in an entertaining game in Peterhead. Scott McKenna and Josh Magennis scored goals in the first half. Dundee United improved after the break and pulled one back. In a very high tempo match there were chances at both ends towards the end but the Dons held on for their fifth win in six games.

The win was marred though by a bad looking injury to U20 captain Stephen O’Neill.

The Dons this week lined up with Rogers in goal, Murray at right back with Rose and McKenna in central defence. Chris Clark continued his comeback, this week playing at left back. In midfield it was Stephen O’Neill, Cammy Smith, Jamie Masson and Scott Wright with Lawrence Shankland and Josh Magennis upfront.

After a quite opening period the first half chance of the game fell to the Dons when Smith broke into the box and played the ball back to Shankland however the United defence did well to get out quickly and block. On 16 minutes Craig Murray ran down the right and put in a terrific cross which Josh Magennis very nearly got on the end of. The Dons were now well on top and opened the scoring on 19 minutes. United never really cleared a Dons corner. The ball eventually found its way out to Masson and he swung in a good cross which the United defence failed to deal with. Magennis won the ball in the six yard box and McKenna pounced to slot the ball home.

Aberdeen continued to dominate and on 21 minutes a fine Shankland through ball set skipper Stephen O’Neill free. His cross beat the keeper Joe McGovern and landed up clipping the back post before rebounding to safety. On the half hour mark Stephen went close again when he picked the ball up about 20 yards out and hit a great shot which was heading into the top hand corner but McGovern managed to get something on it. Five minutes later O’Neill had to be substituted after what was a very bad looking tackle. The player received treatment for sometime before being taken off and replaced by Alan O’Sullivan. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

The Dons made their dominance tell on 40 minutes when they grabbed a second. Once again they had joy down the United left side. After a corner Craig Murray picked the ball up in a good area and had time to put over a superb cross which found Magennis and he planted a fine header into the net which gave McGovern no chance.

HT

The second half was a completely different game to the first. United came out strongly and throughout the second period made it a very competitive game. The Dons certainly did not perform as well though.

On 52 minutes the impressive Aiden Connolly set up an opening for Jamie Montgomery but he put the shot over. A good chance wasted. On the hour mark the Dons created a couple of chances when Magennis laid the ball off to Masson and his shot was deflected just wide. From the resulting corner Magennis managed to get a shot away on the turn but McGovern saved.

A minute later though United got themselves back into the game.

After a good move which was not tracked by the Aberdeen midfielders, the ball was worked to Aiden Connolly. Aiden, son of former United player and Alloa Assistant Manager Paddy Connolly, beat his man before beating Rogers with a low shot. A very good finish.

From that point on the game could have gone either way. On 68 minutes Rogers made a good block from a Mark Russell shot after the Dons had given the ball away in a dangerous area. On 71 minutes Aberdeen made a change when Masson was replaced by Campanile.

The final 15 minutes were extremely open as played raged from end to end. On 76 minutes Shankland headed a Magennis cross over. A minute later Smith set up O’Sullivan but did not get his shot right and it went wide. On 78 minutes Tumility put a shot just wide for United and on 85 minutes O’Sullivan and Magennis missed half chances. On 86 minutes Aberdeen had a major let off. Somehow Montgomery found himself in acres of space inside the box but thankfully for the Dons he put his effort just past the post. On 87 minutes Shankland got in behind the United defence but his shot was very well saved by McGovern. In the final minute United won themselves a free kick midway inside the Dons half. The Dons have lost three late goals from set pieces this season but on this occasion they defended well and Henry saw his weak shot drift past the post.

The referee then blew for full time.

RedTV | match highlights please click here

RedTV | Neil Cooper post match interview please click here

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Aberdeen | Rogers, Murray, Clark, Smith, McKenna, Rose, O’Neill (O’Sullivan 35), Masson (Campanile 71), Magennis, Shankland, Wright

Subs: Burns, McMahon, Duguid, Jones

Dundee United | McGovern, Gilmour, McLaughlin, Ballantyne, Harwood, Hendry, Montgomery, Smith, Connolly, Fraser, Smith

Subs; Anderson, Russell, Tumility, Soutar

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RedImages |

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We can confirm the details for our forthcoming U20 match as follows:

MATCH: Ross County U20 v Aberdeen U20

COMPETITION: SPFL U20 League

DATE: Tuesday 3^rd December 2013

VENUE: Grant Street Park, Inverness (Home of Highland League side Clachnacuddin)

KICK-OFF: 6pm