Paul Sheerin spoke after the young Dons 6-1 win over Banks O’Dee in the Quarter Finals of the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup on Wednesday. They win now face Formartine United away from home in the semi-finals after they defeated fellow Highland League outfit Huntly 2-1.

 

The Game

“First half was good.

“We played well and had a few chances. I thought we maybe could have got it forward quicker at times because their line was quite high and we obviously got a couple of goals from that.

“Overall, relatively pleased with the first half.

“Then the early goal in the second half puts us on the back foot.

“The game then became a bit more frantic that we hoped it would have been.

“We were in the same position last year – 3-1 up and they came back and managed to beat us so we were very guarded against that when we spoke to the players at half time. And then before you now it you come out and it is 2-1.

“I felt there was a nervousness with our defending at that time.

“The sending off then has a major bearing on the game as there is a double whammy with Bruce scoring the goal. After that I thought we controlled the game. We could then have asked a few more questions and got the ball forward quicker at times as we were quite comfortable in possession and we moved them about. I just thought we could have done that with a bit more purpose.

“We were also a bit sloppy as we allowed them more opportunities then we would have liked but sometimes that happens when you are up against ten men and a few goals up.

“Subconsciously you start to think the game is won.

“It is difficult to stay concentrated. That was something we spoke about after the game, just concentrating a bit more and practising good habits at all times.

“I can’t complain though with the overall score and the performance at times was pleasing.

Physicality

“I do think we stood up well to the physical test.
And that is important when you come up against Junior or Highland League sides.

“We were more fortunate tonight than maybe some games we have had in the past because we had Miko and Seb in the middle of the park and they give you that physical presence and also we had Bruce up top. He knows the game and has a bit more knowhow. He is more streetwise.

“Bruce is probably in the dressing room beating himself up that he has not scored four! But he was very clinical. When you get him in those areas of the pitch you are confident that he will score more often than not.”

Learning

“We spoke about last year. We looked back at the game and we also watched Banks O’Dee on Saturday so we gave them total respect as we do with all teams.

“It is always a learning curve for us.

“We learned from what happened last season.

“This season there have been games when we have let teams in and been punished. For example at Brora there was a spell when they scored three goals in 12 minutes when we were still very much in the game.

“And we had a battering at Elgin because of our naivety. So we are just trying to learn from these experiences and that is what we will keep doing.”

Next Round

“The plan is to try and win any competition you enter.

“It will be difficult. Formartine United will be equally as hard as the Brora game so we know it will be very tough to win it, but we will try and do that with this young group.

“You want them to get in the habit of recognising the importance of trying to win competitions.”

Schedule

“We will have plenty of games coming up despite pulling out of the Reserve League. We are in this competition, the Aberdeenshire Cup, as well as the Aberdeenshire Shield. We are also in the SPFL Reserve League Cup and we are also going into a new competition which will kick off in about four weeks time.

“We will play against Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Brentford and Huddersfield. It is something a bit different for us. Coming up against the English sides was appealing, playing against a different style of football and seeing how they work.

“We will have more control over when the games are scheduled so I think it will work better than last season.”