match report
MATCH: Aberdeen U20s 1 St Johnstone U20s 4
COMPETITION: SPFL U20 League
DATE: Tuesday 10th September 2013
VENUE: Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead
KICK-OFF: 6pm
Aberdeen U20s went down by 4 goals to 1 this evening in Peterhead. Again it was a very young Dons side with a whole host of youth players missing – McManus, O’Neill and Rumsby are on loan, Storie was on international duty yesterday for Scotland U18s against Holland in a closed doors game and by all accounts was very impressive. Cammy Smith was away last week and Craig Duguid is injured. The young Dons lined up with Weaver in goal. Campanile at right back, Gibbons left back with Rose and McKenna in central defence. McKenna played despite also being involved with Scotland yesterday. The midfield three were Murray, Masson and Wright with Ferries pushing forward from midfield to support Shankland and O’Sullivan up front.
On six minutes St Johnstone took the lead through the impressive Craig Thomson. He hit a fine curling effort from the edge of the box that gave Nicky Weaver no chance. A minute later the Dons almost equalised when skipper Murray, playing in the middle of the park, burst forward. He hit a shot which looked to be heading into the corner of the net but keeper Mark Hurst in the saints goal made a great save, tipping the ball onto the bar. It was the first of about 6 top class saves that the stopper made. From the resulting corner the Dons had two great chances to get an equaliser, first after a goalmouth scramble Wright almost poked the ball home and then O’Sullivan headed over.
On 10 minutes St Johnstone had a strong penalty claim turned down, then on 16 minutes Caddis did well down the right and put in a dangerous cross but there are no takers. After a quieter period in play, Shankland on 23 minutes had a strike after fine play by Murray although it was a comfortable save for Hurst. Then a minute later David Robertson, making his comeback after recovering from a broken leg, hit a snap shot which forced an excellent save from Weaver down to his right.
The Dons then dominated the possession for the rest of the half and on 36 minutes were very unfortunate not to take the lead. The ball was played back to Scott Ferries and his shot was going in but a defender deflected the ball over the bar. Great defending, but the Dons were very unlucky again. A minute before the break left back Gibbons played a great ball cross the face of goal and Shankland was not far away.
After the break the Dons finally got themselves back on level terms on 55 minutes. Jamie Masson swung in a great corner and Campanile bravely headed home from about six yards. A goal they thoroughly deserved. The goal lifted the home side and they started to play some good football. On the hour mark they put a great move together and Murray managed to get a shot on target but it was straight at Hurst. The Saints though then broke forward and retook the lead. They managed to get in behind the Dons defence and the ball was cut back to Thomson who hammered the ball past Weaver from about 10 yards.
Neil Cooper made a double change with Jones coming on for O’Sullivan and McKenna being replaced by Petrie. On 67 minutes though it was three. After more poor defending substitute Dwayne Coultress came in at the back post unmarked to put the Saints 3-1 up.
The Dons to their credit never gave up. On 73 minutes Ferries did really well to close down his man and win the ball before setting up Shankland. He was one on one with the keeper but his powerful shot was well saved by Hurst. Then the keeper made another very good point blank save to prevent an own goal. On 75 minutes a fine run and shot by Murray, who was the pick of the Aberdeen players again. His shot though produced another very good save by Hurst, this time diving low to his right.
As Aberdeen threw players forward a mistake at the back on 76 minutes allowed the St Johnstone striker Kane to nip in and score a forth. Again Weaver had absolutely no chance. On 77 minutes Scott Wright hit a drive, Hurst at full strength managed just to tip it round the post. A minute later the keeper then saved again from Shankland one on one.
Although this was a poor Aberdeen performance they came up against a very good goalkeeper. On another night it could easily have finished 4-4.
RedTV | Post match reaction with Neil Cooper. To listen please click here
RedTV | highlights to follow
Aberdeen: Weaver, Gibbons, Rose, McKenna (Petrie 64), Campanile; Ferries, Masson, Murray, Wright, O’Sullivan (Jones 62), Shankland. Unused Subs: McMahon, Dunbar, Robertson
St Johnstone: Hurst; Steeves, Gilchrist, Kitchen, Gray; Brown, Thomson, Robertson (Coultress 46); Kane, Easton, Caddis (Taylor-McKenzie 83) Unused Subs: Stevenson, Flynn, Norrie
