Hibernian 2 Aberdeen 4 Club Academy Scotland Under 18 League Hibernian Training Centre 29th March 2024
It was a Good Friday on the road for Aberdeen Under 18s as they closed out March by recording an impressive victory by four goals to two against a strong Hibernian side at their East Lothian training base.
The young Dons fell behind in the clash before two goals in each half sent them on their way to securing all three points, Joseph Teasdale grabbing a brace for his side.
Teasdale took the place of Oliver Green in the XI for the second trip to the Hibernian Training Centre of the season. In the dugout for the trip to Ormiston, Stuart Glennie supported Stuart Duff with Scott Anderson unavailable for the league tie.
There were chances a plenty at both ends during the early stages of an action packed first half. Macintyre was first for the hosts, his low cross claimed by Vitols.
The young Dons countered instantly, and Cammy Wilson was able to feed through Fraser Mackie, who calmly rounded the keeper but saw his effort come back off the woodwork as he hurtled towards goal.
There really wasn’t much in the game at this stage: Fletcher Boyd picked up a lose Hibs pass and had a shot saved, Clelland responded with a good ariel chance after finding space inside the box, his header going wide.
It was Hibs who opened the scoring however after 22 minutes – Macintyre’s cross was bundled home. There was a moment of confusion, it had appeared the linesman had his flag up, but the goal was given, and the Dons were behind.
Aberdeen had a golden chance to level when Boyd ran a great distance and set Teasdale in on goal, but Mallon was equal to it and produced an excellent stop.
The equaliser did soon come, and it was Teasdale who grabbed it, albeit in strange circumstances with the goal coming out of nowhere. Hesitancy in theHibs defence was pounced on by Ellis Clark who did really well to win the ball back, with it breaking to the young forward to apply the finish and level the fixture.
The Dons were really in their groove following the equaliser, Teasdale passed up a chance to make it two goals in two minutes, but his shot was saved. Not long later the forward ran the channel really well and was able to tee up Cooper Masson to strike a powerful effort at goal, turned behind at full stretch.
From the corner Aberdeen did deservedly grab their 2nd goal. Ellis Clark’s corner kick wound up at the back post and with the ball lose Fraser Mackie flexed his striker instincts to pounce and at the second time of asking, poke the ball beyond the white line, and give his side the lead going into the break after a tightly contested 45 minutes of football.
HT. Hibernian 1 Aberdeen 2
From kick-off Hibernian raced up the park and clattered an effort off the Aberdeen woodwork, but it wouldn’t take long for the Dons to assert their dominance on the second period, although they were again aided by another impressive defensive showing.
Less than five minutes into the half Timothy Akindileni rose highest in the box to flick a glancing header beyond the keeper, the Dons defender able to get on the end of a well delivered dead ball courtesy of Clark.
The game then hit a period that was much quieter than what had taken place in the half period, as Hibs tried to look for a route back into the game. Boyd should have done better with an effort from around the ten-yard mark, his attempt saved by the feet of Mallon.
A fourth goal arrived for the Dons after 72 minutes. An excellent move started with Wilson whose searching ball was raced onto by Boyd, the Aberdeen number ten able to then send an excellent cross into the box which was pounced on by Teasdale and smashed off the bar and into the net.
Hibs did eventually find the back of the net during the second half, but it was too little too late for the hosts, substitute McMurdo’s long-range strike had an enough swerve to beat Vitols.
The closing ten minutes were expertly handled by the Aberdeen youngsters, who finished the game with an even younger selection of players on the park after four subs were made in the closing stages to allow gametime for all outfield substitutes, and cap off a successful evening out for the young Dons who had nine 2008 born players involved in a big win on the road.
STATS
Aberdeen: Vitols, Watson, Carrol, Masson (To 90’), Clark (Kondolo 89’), Akindileni, Ross, Boyd (Green 90’), Mackie (Stephen 89’), Wilson, Teasdale (Searle 88’). Sub not used: Smillie.
Booked: Clark 88’
Goals: Teasdale 36’ 72’ Mackie 43’ Akindileni 48’
Hibernian: Mallon, Wright, Whittaker, Bulloch, Hastie, McAllister, Clelland, Macintyre, McDonald, Calder, McGrath
Subs: Kitchin, Aitken, McMurdo, Gillie, McSporran
