In a way it was a game of two half’s at Christie Park on Tuesday evening as Paul Sheerin’s young side dominated the first forty-five against their Highland League opponents but after the interval they could not add to the goal tally.

After the game the Aberdeen Coach spoke to Andrew Shinie:

“In fairness to Huntly, in the second half they put two strikers up top and gave us more issues and they were more direct. For the first fifteen to twenty minutes of the second half they changed the dynamics of the game and our response to that was not overly great.

“But once the half wore on we started to dominate again. Connor Barron and Max Barry came on and started to get on the ball.

The pleasing aspect to tonight was the clean sheet.

“I mentioned that again at half time. It can be difficult when you are 4-0 up and you come out and subconsciously you are not quite at it. And that showed but once we got going again and got on the ball we started to show our quality.

“Lewis Duncan was very close to getting on the end of a few things, Dangana should score, Hanratty had a great effort which hit the bar.

“Again we are creating a lot of chances which was pleasing. We were clinical in the first half and we gave ourselves a cushion.

“So pleased we overcame a difficult spell at the start of the second half, pleased with the clean sheet and pleased with the four goals and some of the football we played during that first half period.”

There were some very good goals. Chris Antoniazzi showed the class he has when he netted the first. Michael Ruth produced a composed finish for his first and a great left footed shot for his second whilst Kevin Hanratty deserved to get his name on the scoresheet.

“Kevin has done great and I was very pleased with Michael Ruth.

“In previous games he has been playing off Bruce rather than straight up top, so it was good to see him tonight right in the thick of it and getting in good areas and getting on the scoresheet.

“From his point of view it is really pleasing as well.”

Next up for Aberdeen is the trip to England to face Blyth Spartans with the Texo Challenge Trophy at stake in Sunday’s clash at Croft Park. (1500 KO)

On Wednesday 31st July 2019 (2000 KO) they travel to play Deveronvale in the First Round of the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup, their first competitive outing.

Then an Aberdeen Colts side will play Brora Rangers at Dudgeon Park on Tuesday 6th August in their Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup first-round tie (1945 KO)

Looking ahead to Sunday’s game, Paul knows how good a challenge and preparation it will be for his boys.

“We know a fair bit about them with Blyth being stronger opposition. We have been able to do our research and we can get a look at certain bits of their play, so we know what they are all about and we know physically it is going to be tough for us, depending on the team we take down.

“Hopefully we will get a couple from the first team squad that go away to Georgia. That will help.

“It will be tough though.

“The physicality will be tough, dealing with that.

“If we are able to deal with that, then hopefully we should be ok.

“This will be a proper learning experience, no disrespect to the Highland League teams that we have played in the last couple of weeks. A proper test, similar to the Elgin one. It will get us a chance to see how far we have come since our first game.

“I keep asking for improvement and I believe every game there has been that.

“That is pleasing.

“But this is a proper test and a really tough game.”

“But this is a proper test and a really tough game.”