Peterhead FC 4-0 Aberdeen XI Balmoor Stadium Pre-Season Friendly (Rory McAllister Testimonial Match) Wednesday 9th July 2025
Summary:
An Aberdeen XI made the short journey up the road to Balmoor on Wednesday evening to take part in a well deserved testimonial for Rory McAllister. There were also eight former Dons named in the Peterhead squad. After a goalless first half where the young Dons had the better of the few opportunities on offer, Stuart Duff’s side more than held their own for large parts of the second period. The League One side then took control late on, with Jack Brown scoring twice before Jason Brown and Oliver Colloty sealed a 4–0 win in the hosts’ final pre-season outing. Still a very encouraging performance from the youngsters in red who will all be heading out on loan shortly. Congratulations to Rory on his testimonial and best wishes to Peterhead for the season ahead.
Report:
A well-deserved rapturous applause for McAllister preceded events on a warm evening. The home side kicked things off for what looked to be an enjoyable game of football.
Aaron Cummings and Findlay Marshall linked up early for the first chance of the match. A neat one-two would see Marshall’s shot blocked by Flynn Duffy.
A wayward pass from Jack Newman would find its way to Bradley Chikomo five minutes in, but the striker’s rushed shot could only see the feet of Duffy, who recovered excellently.
You did not get the sense of a friendly affair, with neither side leaving any ball up to chance. The Blue Toon were especially physical as they looked to play off of McAllister’s hold-up play. The striker initiated his side’s first chance as his neat lay-off to former Don Peter Pawlett saw the midfielder find Cieran Dunne on the left wing. His cross was inch-perfect, locating the lurking McAllister at the back post who could only head over.
As play continued, Peterhead grew more comfortable in possession, playing their way up field on numerous occasions midway through the first period. Max Barry nearly capitalised as he would rifle an effort from distance, forcing a save from Rodrigo Vitols. The newly promoted side continued to apply pressure as McAllister found room in the box but sliced his effort high into the side netting.
The story of the first period was Dunne’s battle with Jack Searle down the wing. Searle, who is a winger by trade, was deployed at wingback on the night and had a handful of defending to do. The young Don showed real selflessness, helping Cooper Masson and Noah McDonnell out on the defensive end of proceedings.
Alfie Stewart looked the most likely to make things happen for Aberdeen as he began to dictate the tempo towards the end of the first half. His chipped ball into Teasdale gave Newman something to think about before the half’s closure.
Half-Time Peterhead FC 0–0 Aberdeen XI
Half-time substitute Zak To would nearly make an instant impact as he found himself free on the edge of the box to force a diving stop from Newman. To would again be involved just a minute later as his right footed cross flashed across the box narrowly missing the foot of Teasdale.
A quick free kick by the home side warned the Dons to keep switched on as Guthrie found himself in the clear. The winger opted to pass into the path of McAllister rather that to take shot on himself.
Some intricate play between Stephen, To, and Searle would earn Aberdeen a free-kick right on the edge of the Peterhead penalty area. Stewart, who captained his side of the night, stood over it and smartly struck under the Blue Toon’s wall, forcing a reaction save out of Newman.
The Dons looked rejuvenated after the Guthrie let off as they began to control things, limiting Peterhead to very little in the final third.
Jack Brown came inches away from the opener with 15’ to play. He was the recipient of a Danny Simpson cross in which the midfielder met with a diving header which whiskered agonisingly close to scoring.
Brown bagged two goals in quick succession shortly after for the home side. The first came from a defensive mix-up which allowed the midfielder to latch onto the loose ball left by Carrol and McDonnell. The substitute would round Simpson to tap home into an empty net.
Brown’s 2nd came similarly to his first, but with an even better finish. The midfielder would race past tired legs in midfield to slot into the bottom left hand corner in the 81st minute.
Aberdeen ran out of steam and Peterhead put past any hope of a comeback with their third in quick succession as Jason Brown headed home from Guthrie’s corner.
Another header this time curtesy of Oliver Collotey would meet the palm of Simpson, but find its way into the back of the net to seal the victory for The Blue Toon in their final pre-season fixture of 2025.
Full Time: Peterhead FC 4 –0 Aberdeen XI
STATS:
Peterhead FC: 1. Jack Newman, 2. Danny Strachan (Mackie 82’), 3. Flynn Duffy, 4. Caleb Goldie (Ross 46’), 8.Andy McCarthy (Brown 66’) 9. Rory McAllister (Colloty 53’), 11. Cieran Dunne, 15. Dylan Forrest (Smith 82’), 17. Cameron Smith (Brown 46,), 19. Peter Pawlett (Carnwath 66’), 77. Max Barry (Guthrie 46’)
Subs: 13. Barry Thomson, 5. Jason Brown, 7. Craig McGuffie, 12. Jack Brown, 14. Adam Carnwath, 22. Sebastian Ross, 23. Fraser Mackie, 25. Oliver Colloty, 29. Arran Smith
Goals: Jack Brown 79’ 81’ Jason Brown 86, Colloty 88’
Unused Subs: 13. Barry Thomson,
Aberdeen XI: 1. Rodrigo Vitols (Simpson 78’), 3. Dylan Ross (Green 64’), 4. Lewis Carrol, 6. Cooper Masson, 8. Alfie Stewart, 9. Joseph Teasdale, 10. Findlay Marshall (To 46’), 14. Jack Searle, 15. Aaron Cummings, 17. Noah McDonnell, 19. Bradley Chikomo (Stephen 46’)
Subs: 20. Theo Simpson, 30. Conner Douglas, 2. Oliver Green, 11. Zak To, 18. Tristan Stephen, 21. Jay Henderson
Unused Subs: 30. Conner Douglas, 21. Jay Henderson
Bookings: Stephen 49’ Carrol 75’
Reaction from Stuart Duff:
“For large portions of the game we held our own against a really, really good level of opposition. They have been promoted to League 1 and we knew it would be a big task for the guys to go out and play against seasoned, experienced players. Individually and from the team collective there was some really good positives to take from that. Albeit, 4-0 is a sore score line but we’re looking at the bigger picture here, I thought there was some individual performances throughout that team that was excellent for such young players, who are 15,16, 17 years old, to actually handle this occasion on a good surface and against a good team is credit to them. There are plenty of positives.
“We knew our players were capable of playing to a certain level with and without the ball. I thought our structure out of possession was really good. They worked for each other, there was a willingness, there was a composure, we saw a bit of character to take the ball in tight areas. There was some really, really pleasing things that we saw tonight. We need to work on conceding goals and the timing of them. We’re trying to say to the younger players its a mentality thing when it comes to that stage. It’s all a learning curve because they have not played against this type of opposition at all.
“There was enough on show tonight to show that boys can play at men’s senior football at that age. That is the path and structure that we’ve went down and that is where we will support the boys. Playing games like this, against these type of opposition is far better than playing against a CAS U19 teams who the boys have all played against year in, year out. It’s a bigger picture thing. There is some really good things to take away from tonight, it’s a mentality thing losing the cheap goals at the end.
“We believe that playing against this type of opposition, more often will benefit the players to be ready and challenge for the first team earlier. Having seen what I have seen tonight gives me so much encouragement because it shows we can handle it. The physicality isn’t there, the little darks arts aren’t there but I couldn’t be prouder of the boys tonight. Up until 75 minutes tonight I thought we were outstanding, I really enjoyed watching them and that is what I expect to see from them. I am sure there will be better to come we have some tricky games coming up but again against really good opposition.”
