Inverness 4-1 Aberdeen Development Team The KDM Evolution Trophy | League Phase | Matchday 2 Tuesday 26th August. Kick-off, 7.45pm Sarens PSG Stadium
Aberdeen Development XI returned to action in The KDM Evolution Trophy on Tuesday evening, meeting League One opposition after last week’s 3–1 victory away to Banks O’ Dee in the Aberdeenshire Cup.
The young Dons were aiming to respond after their opening-day defeat to Peterhead, and the tie offered another chance to test themselves against senior opposition. Inverness Caledonian Thistle arrived with a rotated side, their attention already turning toward a crucial clash with League One leaders Alloa Athletic on Saturday.
Ryan Duncan returned to the XI for the first time since an injury against Ayr United cut short his loan spell with Queen’s Park. Dons loanees Alfie Bavidge and Alfie Stewart had combined to good effect in the win at Links Park on Saturday afternoon, but both were unavailable to play against their parent club.
A Chanka Zimba hat-trick saw Inverness Caledonian Thistle run out 4–1 winners in The KDM Evolution Trophy. The Dons struck first through Tristan Stephen’s early finish, but Inverness grew into the contest, levelling before the break and taking control in the second half.
Report:
Inverness carved out the first opening of the night within three minutes, Chanka Zimba forcing Rodrigo Vitols into a save from the edge of the area.
Aberdeen responded almost immediately. After a tentative start, the match burst into life when Cooper Masson drove forward and released Ryan Duncan on the overlap. Duncan’s early delivery was met by Tristan Stephen, who guided a first-time left-footed strike into the top corner to give the Dons the lead after nine minutes.
The home side nearly levelled things just moments later in a similar fashion. James Clark delivered a teasing cross into the box that found Matthew Strachan, but the defender’s stretched effort lifted narrowly over Vitols’ crossbar.
Caley Thistle struck back soon after. Liam Sole carried the ball from deep, drifting past Dylan Lobban and Noah McDonnell before whipping a low cross across the face of goal. Zimba arrived in the right place at the right time, smashing home the equaliser in the twelfth minute.
Inspired by their leveller, the hosts began to dictate proceedings, playing a large portion of football in the Dons’ half. A header from a corner flew just over, while Sole himself came close with a drive that skimmed past the post midway through the half.
Sole continued to torment the Aberdeen back line, this time bursting in behind and squaring for Zimba, who seemed destined to score. Only a superb goal-line block from Lewis Carroll denied the striker his second of the evening.
The final chance of the half also fell to the Caley Jags. Jordan Alonge surged forward in a four-on-two break, threading a dangerous cross to the back post. With attackers lining up to convert, Lobban’s last-ditch sliding interception redirected the ball over the bar, ensuring the sides went in level at the interval.
Half Time: Inverness CT 1– 1 Aberdeen Development XI
The second half picked up right where the first had ended, with Liam Sole at the heart of Caley’s attacking play. Barely a minute after the restart, the winger cut inside and unleashed a powerful strike that cannoned off the post, before Aberdeen scrambled clear.
Moments later, a foul by Masson on Robbie Thompson presented the hosts with another chance. Sam Thompson stepped up to take the free-kick, but his curling effort drifted wide of the target.
With his side under increasing pressure, Stuart Duff turned to his bench just after the hour mark, introducing Samuel McLean and Oliver Green in search of fresh energy.
The Dons were forced to dig deep. Ross, Carroll, Masson and McDonnell threw themselves into challenges, blocks and tactical fouls, doing just enough to frustrate their opponents and keep the score level as the game entered its final twenty minutes.
Eventually, the resistance was broken. On 76 minutes, Longstaff found space with a clever run and cut the ball back for Zimba, who took a touch to steady himself before calmly finishing low to Vitols’ right for his second of the evening.
Longstaff continued to torment the Aberdeen defence with tricks and close control, spinning Teasdale before whipping in a superb cross for Zimba. This time, the striker’s header was straight at Vitols, who held firm.
But there was no denying the Zambian forward a hat-trick. Archie Kerr flashed a low ball across the face of goal, and Zimba arrived to convert from close range on 82 minutes.
Substitute Billy McKay added his name to the scoresheet late on, racing onto a deft trivela pass from Longstaff and sliding home at the far post to round off the evening for Caley Thistle.
Full Time: Inverness CT 4 – 1 Aberdeen Development XI
Inverness CT: 21. Logan Ross, 2. James Clark, 5. Remi Savage, 8. Adam Mackinnon (Kerr 72’), 12. Mitchell Robertson, 15. Matthew Angus Strachan, 16. Robbie Thompson, 20. Liam Sole (Longstaff 60’), 23. Jordan Alonge, 24. Samuel Thompson, 27. Chanka Zimba (McKay 86’)
Substitutes: 1. Ross Munro, 3. Oscar MacIntyre, 6. Daniel Gerrard Devine, 9. William McKay, 10. David Wotherspoon, 11. Luis Longstaff, 14. Calum John David Macleod, 18. Joseph Chalmers, 29. Archie Kerr
Goals: Zimba 12’, 76’, 82’, Mckay 88’
Bookings: Zimba 45’ Mackinnon 71’
Aberdeen: 1. Rodrigo Vitols, 2. Dylan Lobban (Green 60’), 3. Dylan Ross, 4. Lewis Carrol, 6. Cooper Masson (Chikomo 75’), 9. Joseph Teasdale, 10. Tristan Stephen, 11. Zak To, 12. Aaron Cummings (McLean 60’), 17. Noah McDonell, 23. Ryan Duncan (Searle 45’)
Substitutes: 20. Theo Simpson, 14. Jack Searle, 15. Oliver Green, 16. Samuel McLean, 19. Bradley Chikomo
Goals: Stephen 9’
Bookings: Masson 53’
