match report
Clachnacuddin 0 v 2 Aberdeen U20s FT | 3.00pm KO | Grant Street Park
Neil Cooper’s side produced another excellent victory this afternoon in Inverness. Once again the Aberdeen U20s had a very young team out today and were up against a very good Highland League outfit, with Clachnacuddin finishing 5th last season in the League.
Scott McKenna was away with the full side, as was Cammy Smith although Declan McManus and Craig Murray were given a full 90 minutes in Inverness. The young Dons lined up with Murray at right back, Michael Kelly at left back with Gibbons and Rumbsy in central defence. In midfield they lined up with Ferries, O’Neill and Campanile and McManus, Shankland and O’Sullivan were up front.
The first half was very even with both teams having half chances. McManus and Shankland went close and at the other end Clach saw an effort headed over. The second half was a similar type of game with the Dons again enjoying more of the possession but the final pass was just letting them down. The grass was quite long which made it difficult for the Dons to pass the ball at speed, which you need to be able to do to get in behind teams in the final third.
On 65 minutes the home side were awarded what appeared to be a soft penalty but they failed to convert when the ball went past the post. They were made to pay for the miss when on 71 minutes captain Stephen O’Neill swung in a great corner and Scott Rumsby attacked the ball brilliantly and headed home, although the keeper will feel he might have done better. Late on the Dons made the game safe with a very good goal. Declan McManus, who was unlucky with a couple of chances in the second half, made a good run down the left and got in behind the defence. He has then cut it back for Lawrence Shanklin who showed good awareness and finished well.
Neil Cooper told RedWeb “I am very pleased with the boys. Their attitude was fantastic. They set a high standard with their performance against Turriff in midweek but they matched it with another top performance against a good side.
“There were a lot of really good performances this afternoon. Stephen O’Neill was superb again. Kieran and Scott again did very at centre half together. We started Craig Murray at right back and then put him into the centre of midfield where he was excellent. Marcus Campanile can also play in midfield and is equally comfortable at right back. It is good to know that there are opinions there if I need to move things about.”
Team: Burns, Murray, Kelly, O’Neill, Rumsby, Gibbons, Ferries (Jones 71), Campanile, McManus, Shankland, O’Sullivan (McMahon 60). Subs: Wright, Petrie
