match report
Pre-Season Friendly | The Haugh’s | 8.00pm KO | Full Time
Turriff United 3 | Gray 43′, Gauld 62′, Mckenzie 85′
Aberdeen U20s 6 | Ferries 4′, Smith 9′, 21′, O’Sullivan 24′, O’Neill 43′, Shankland 57′
Aberdeen U20s started their pre-season campaign with a very impressive victory over Highland League side Turriff United this evening.
With a number of the 20s in action for the first team at Buckie; Rogers, Murray, McKenna and Storie as well as McManus, and with Duguid and Rose unavailable through injury it meant it was a very young side that lined up at The Haughs but all the players impressed including all the new boys that have joined Neil Cooper’s squad this season.
The young Dons lined up with Burns in goal, Jones at left back. Campanile at right back and Gibbons and Rumsby in central defence. The midfield trio were Ferries, O’Neill and McMahon with Smith, Shankland and O’Sullivan up front. To emphasise how young a team it was Craig Burns, Michael Jones and Lawrence Shankland were all making their debuts and Scott Ferries was playing his first full game for the side after having to endure a night season last year due to injury.
In the early stages the home side dominated and Turriff forced a couple of corners but the Dons defence did just enough to hold them out. Then with the Dons first attack of the game on 4 minutes they opened the scoring. Cammy Smith had a fantastic run down the left, showing real pace and power. He got to the by-line and cut the ball back for Shankland but the defender did just enough to stop him. The ball though broke to a free area in the box and Scott Ferries was the first to react and he showed good composure to coolly slot home. It was a great moment for Scott, a first goal whilst making his first start.
On 9 minutes the Dons doubled their lead. Stephen O’Neill swung in a corner which found Shankland at the back post. He cleverly knocked it back across goal and found Cammy Smith who took one touch then hammered the ball into the roof of the net.
On 12 minutes Smith could have had another one but was controversially flagged offside when through one on one with the keeper. O’Sullivan was in an off-side position but was not interfering with play whilst Smith had timed his run perfectly. A few minutes later O’Neill put a free kick just over the bar. The midfielder was by now running the game and dictating the play. Stephen had an outstanding game in the centre midfield position.
The Dons then added two more goals in quick succession from free kicks. On 21 minutes Cammy Smith added his second with a great free kick which went past the wall and low into the corner. Cammy looked really sharp all night was very impressive. Then on 23 minutes O’Neill’s free kick from the right was diverted in by O’Sullivan with a clever touch.
It really was a stunning performance to be four up at this stage, and the finishing was absolutely clinical. Just after the half hour mark O’Sullivan had to be replaced by Michael Jones after suffering a dead leg. On 39 minutes the Dons made it five with the best goal of the game. Stephen O’Neill again picked the ball up in the middle of the park. He strolled forward, cut inside his marker and then curled a fantastic effort into the corner of the net. A fantastic goal.
Just before half time the Highland League outfit pulled one back. The Dons failed to deal with a cross ball and Nicholas Gray pounced to score.
After the interval Lawrence Shankland hit the bar with a volley from a tight angle. Then on 51 minutes Shankland had another effort which the keeper saved well but Jones was on hand to tap in. The linesman though had his flag raised. It looked a very close call. On 57 minutes it was six. Stephen O’Neill was again the instigator. He flicked the ball past Mike McKenzie with a clever turn and then left him for dead. He then played a superb low through ball and Shankland poked the ball home. It was a clever finish as he hit it early before the keeper could set himself. The Dons summer signing from Queens Park had a very encouraging debut.
McKenzie should have pulled one back after a mix up at the back but blasted over and then on 62 minutes Turriff did pull a goal back when substitute Stephen Gauld walked the ball into the net. There had been a collision in the penalty box which had taken both Rumsby and Burns out. It looked a free kick.
On 64 minutes Smith and McMahon came off and were replaced by Scott Wright and Richie Petrie. The Dons still created a few chances. A delightful pull down from Shankland set up Jones but he blasted over and a fine run by Ferries then set up Shankland but he also put the ball over. On 85 minutes a slack pass at the back gave the ball to McKenzie and with the keeper out of position his first time effort sailed into the net from distance to make the full time score 6-3. Despite that a very encouraging performance so early in the season.
teamlines |
Dons U20s : Craig Burns, Marcus Campanile, Michael Kelly, Scott Ferries, Kieran Gibbons, Scott Rumsby, Alan O’Sullivan, Matthew McMahon, Cammy Smith, Lawrence Shankland, Stephen O’Neill.
Subs Michael Jones, Scott Wright, Richie Petrie
