match report
Arbroath v Aberdeen U20s | Gayfield Park | KO 7.45pm
Yao 15, Milne 50, Cook 80
O’Neill pen 17, Shankland 21, 43
A depleted Aberdeen U20s put in another excellent 90 minutes this evening at Gayfield as they drew 3-3 with Second Division side Arbroath.
The young Dons started the game well but went 1-0 down after 15 minutes when the ball was played into the back post area and Yau managed to get on the end of it.
They deservedly equalised two minutes later when Scott Ferries showed some good feet in the box. He cut the ball back to Lawrence Shankland who was brought down. The referee awarded a penalty and Stephen O’Neill, who was excellent again tonight, hit a spot kick into the top corner.
Then only four minutes later they took the lead. The Dons second goal was a great effort from about 30 yards. Summer signing Lawrence Shankland hit it across the keeper and the ball flew into the corner. It was some strike.
The third goal was again set up by Ferries who linked with Shankland. The striker beat the defence beat curing the ball low into the keepers corner. Another very good goal and Lawrence has now scored four goals in the three pre-season games.
After the break Arbroath came out strongly and pulled a goal back on 50 minutes. The Dons failed to track a run into the box. Although Danny Rogers saved the initial shot Milne was the first to react and he made the score 3-2.
That gave the home side a lift and Rogers was forced to make a couple of good saves but the Dons continued to pass the ball about well and Shankland was unlucky not to get his hat-trick when he hit a fantastic shot from about the half way line. The keeeper was beaten but lucky for him it just went wide. It was some hit.
Maybe the Dons tried to play too much football and that resulted in them losing an equaliser when they gave the ball away down the flank and were caught out. With players still out of position a cross came in and Alan Cook made a good run in front of his marker to put the ball in at the near post.
Ex Don and Arbroath manager Paul Sheerin was able to change half his side to freshen things up in the second half but Neil Cooper did not have that luxury and in the end the fresh legs made the difference. Still this was a very good performance from the 20s, against a side that drew with Celtic at Parkhead in the Scottish Cup last season.
Neil Cooper told RedWeb “We knew it would be the hardest game so far. I can have no complaints about the score. It was a good game.
“Michael Kelly is only 15 and Michael Jones is only 16, Scott Wright came on and he is only 16 as well. The boys did really well playing against good experienced professionals. They had the likes of Graham Bayne, Steven Milne, Bobby Linn and obviously Paul Sheerin who came on in the second half.
“Our older players led by example. Stephen O’Neill was different class, as was Craig Murray. Gibbons and Rumsby both had good games again and Shankland led the line really well. Our younger lads learned from them and that led to a very good overall performance.
“They passed the ball superbly and also showed a lot of character.”
Team:
Subs Burns, Petrie
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