match report

 

SPFL Youth League | Aberdeen 1 Ross County 3 | Balmoor Stadium

Aberdeen u20s went down to a 3-1 defeat this evening at home to Ross County in Peterhead. To make matters worse Nicky Low was carried off after about 35 minutes with a bad looking injury.

The Dons this evening lined with Craig Burns in goal. Craig Murray was at right back with Joe Shaughnessy and Michael Rose in central defence and Scott McKenna at left back. Nicky Low was in midfield along with youngsters Scott Wright, Michael Kelly, Kalvin Orsi and Michael Jones. Declan McManus was up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ross County had first team players Tony Dingwall, Marc Klock and Darren Maatsen in their starting XI.

The young Dons started well and could have scored in the first minute but McManus’ effort was half blocked. Aberdeen deservedly went ahead on 19 minutes when after a throw-in Scott McKenna put in a good cross. Jones did well to flick it on and Murray coming it at the back post finished it off with a good header.

However Neale Cooper’s side equalised on 24 minutes when Tony Dingwall scored after Kyle MacLeod had shown good strength on the right to beat his man and square the ball for the unmarked Dingwall who had time to pick his shot. Just after the half hour mark the visitors went two ahead. A free kick was half cleared but the lively Maatsen picked the ball up on the left and delivered a good ball. Kyle MacLeod made a run across the defenders and his header beat Burns. Another disappointing goal from the Dons point of view. Minutes later Declan McManus was desperately unlucky not to score but Connor Hall in the County goal made a very good save. Then Aberdeen should have had a penalty when Nicky Low was tripped just as he was about to shoot in the box. To make matter’s worse Nicky suffered a bad looking injury and had to be carried off. We don’t know yet the extent of the injury. He was replaced by Alan O’Sullivan. As the Dons pushed players forward Ross looked threatening on the break and just before half time Maatsen really should have done better when he was played in but the striker blasted his shot over.

HT

Aberdeen came out strongly in the second half and were very unlucky once again not to get on level terms when first McManus thumped the cross bar and then from the rebound O’Sullivan did exactly the same. Sometimes you just know it is not going to be your night.

The game was very competitive throughout with tackles flying in left right and centre. Referee Callum Spence tried to let the game flow as much as possible but it the 62 minute he adjudged, with the aid of his linesman, that Kelly had fouled MacLeod on the edge of the area. It is questionable whether it was a foul, never mind whether it was inside the box. MacLeod himself stepped forward to take it and put Burns the wrong way.

After that the Dons tried to get back into the game but did not really create any chances of note, whilst County had chances to add to their lead, Maatsen blowing the best of them when he rounded the keeper but failed to pick out MacLeod.

RedTV | Highlights and Post Match reaction with Neil Cooper on now.

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Aberdeen: Burns, Murray, McKenna, Kelly, Shaughnessy, Rose, Wright, Low (O’Sullivan 35), McMannus, Jones, Orsi

Subs Tait, O’Sullivan, Dunbar, Robertson

Ross County: Hall, Miller, Porritt, Crown, MacLean, Mackillop, Ferries, Dingwall, MacLeod, Klok, Maatsen

Subs McCarthy, Grimes, Lyall

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Please see details of our upcoming U20 fixture below:

MATCH: Aberdeen U20 v St Mirren U20

COMPETITION: SPFL U20 League

DATE: Wednesday 7^th May 2014

VENUE: Glebe Park, Brechin

KICK-OFF: 6pm