Club Academy Scotland U18’s League | Ayr United 0-0 Aberdeen | Friday 19th October 2018 | Townhead Park, Cumnock

The young Dons had to make the long trip down to Cumnock this afternoon and were left disappointed when they were held to a goalless draw.

Despite having to endure a four and a half hour bus journey to Ayrshire, Aberdeen started the game quite brightly and had a number of chances in the opening twenty minutes. Lewis Duncan had a half chance when he was able to get a couple of strikes on goal. Then Ethan Ross burst into the box before squaring it for Sean Linden but he was crowded out.

On a really tight pitch Ayr sat in and looked to frustrate the young Dons and on the main the tactic worked.

Aberdeen pushed hard after the break and had the better of the chances but Ayr, who looked to hit on the break, also had a couple of good opportunities in the second half. In the end though neither side was able to make the breakthrough and both had to settle for a point.

After the game U18s coach Scott Anderson said:

“It was a poor performance.

“We did not do enough to win the game. We did not do enough in the final third. We were a little too passive.

“We needed to be more aggressive to find a final ball, or with that pass from the middle of the park, or with that header in the box from a corner kick.

“If we had managed to get the first goal then it is a completely different proposition for Ayr, but credit to them as they work hard to frustrate us. We needed to be more aggressive to get ourselves in front.

“A disappointing performance to be perfectly honest.”

Aberdeen: Mair, Strachan, Power, Dalling, McLaughlan, Barron, Robertson (Alexander 68), E Ross, Duncan, Linden, Shanks (Booth 75). Sub: Leiper GK, Turner, Hanratty