Fraserburgh F.C. v Aberdeen Development Team Aberdeenshire Cup (Round 1) Bellslea Park Wednesday 6th August. Kick-off, 7.45pm
Fraserburgh 0 | Aberdeen 2 | To (15′), Dorrington (30′), Rubezic sent off (32′)
An Aberdeen Development side travelled to Bellslea Park to take on Fraserburgh FC in the Aberdeenshire Cup. The Dons named a strong line-up containing a mixture of first-team players and youngsters out on loan this season.
It was the Dons who progressed to the Aberdeenshire Cup Quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2–0 win over Fraserburgh. First-half goals from Zak To and Alfie Dorrington put the Dons in control before Slobodan Rubezic’s red card reduced them to ten men. Despite pressure from the hosts after the break, Aberdeen held firm, with goalkeeper Nick Suman and a disciplined backline securing the clean sheet in a professional display.
Report:
The home side kicked things off, but it was the Dons who saw most of the early spells of possession.
Slight miscommunication between Nicky Devlin and Alfie Dorrington provided the first chance of the fixture to Scott Barbour as he nicked the loose ball just inside the Aberdeen box. Nick Suman spared the blushes of his teammates as he rushed out of goal, made himself large, and managed to get a foot on the shot that was destined for the back of the net just five minutes in.
The Dons seemed to have dusted off any cobwebs after the early scare as they nearly opened the scoring five minutes later. Dylan Lobban’s run inspired an attack deserving of a goal. The left-back on the night carried the ball from defence into midfield before finding Zak To whose flick into Alfie Stewart would allow Ester Sokler the space to be found in behind the Broch defence to strike into the path of Joe Barbour.
The deadlock was broken on the quarter-hour mark after Stewart and Devlin linked up down the right wing. Devlin, who captained the Dons on the evening, picked out To’s late run into the box, which the midfielder cushioned past Barbour with a first-time right-footed shot.
Fraserburgh wasn’t up for lying down and nearly had their equaliser moments later. A Lewis Duncan free kick from about 25 yards would force Suman back into action as he sprang to his top right corner to keep his side ahead.
The Dons nearly had their 2nd as Dorrington would pick out Joseph Teasdale with a delicious ball in behind. The speedy winger waited for the bounce before lifting the ball over Barbour. A goal seemed imminent until Ross Aitken raced past his keeper to make a goal line clearance, sending him crashing into the goalmouth for his efforts.
The resulting corner would see Aberdeen find their second as Stewart’s set play was met by Dorrington at the back post whose header looped back across goal and nestled into the bottom right corner.
In a similar fashion to the opener, Fraserburgh looked to respond immediately. In the 32nd minute. Barbour would find himself in the clear after giving chase to a long ball. The striker would smartly cut across Slobodan Rubezic, who was the last defender. The Montenegro international pulled Barbour down just past the edge of the centre circle and earned himself a red card for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
With five left of the half to play, the home side piled on the pressure. Greg Buchan would lob Suman from long range, but his effort bounced down off the crossbar, inches away from the goal line. Moments later, Scott Barbour would be in the thick of things again as his strike from just inside the penalty areas forced a low stop from Suman.
Half Time Fraserburgh FC 0 –2 Aberdeen Development XI
A quadruple substitution at half-time would see the Dons adjust for the sending off as Jamie Mercer and Gavin Malloy came into the backline. Cooper Masson and Peter Ambrose would also take to the field.
The latter would nearly make an instant impact as he looked to square up Teasdale for an easy tap-in, however, captain Kieran Simpson would be there to make the interception. The defender’s touch would bobble back to the Nigerian, who would flash an attempt just wide.
On the hour mark, Bryan Hay nearly pulled one back for the home side as he nodded past Suman, but an instinctive clearance from Masson would help to ensure his keepers on his clean sheet thus far.
As with the mad advantage, Fraserburgh attacked with more purpose in the second period but lacked that final pass in the decisive moments. The Highland League side’s line would progressively push up as the minutes on the clock continued to tick on.
Lewis Duncan looked the most likely to get his side back into the game as he had the composure to set up Jake Garden, who unleashed a powerful effort which whizzed past the post.
Paul Young would be next to test the hands of Suman as he would force a tipping save from the new signing.
The Dons’ fitness was truly tested playing the entire half and more with a man down, but the Dons kept their shape and would see out the rest of the match to earn themselves a place in the Quarter-finals of the Aberdeenshire Cup.
Full Time: Fraserburgh 0 –2 Aberdeen Development XI
Fraserburgh: 1. Joe Barbour, 3. Bryan Hay, 5. Kieran Simpson (C), 6. Paul Young (Watt 82’), 7. Jamie Beagrie, 11. Scott Barbour, 16. Greg Buchan (Strachan 70’), 19. Callan Gray (Butcher 70’), 20. Joshua Hawkins, 22. Ross Aitken (Garden 58’), 24. Lewis Duncan (McKay 82’)
Substitutes: 21. Edward Flinn (GK), 10. Liam Strachan, 12. Jake Garden, 14. Logan Watt, 17. Sean Butcher, 18. Flynn McKay, 25. Dylan Robertson.
Yellow Cards: Hay 50’, McKay 93’
Aberdeen: 13. Nick Suman, 2. Nicky Devlin (C) (Mercer 45’) 6. Aaron Cummings, 7. Joseph Teasdale (Stephen 76’), 10. Zak To, 19. Ester Sokler (Ambrose 45’), 26. Alfie Dorrington (Malloy 45’), 29. Kjartan Mar Kjartansson (Masson 45’), 30. Alfie Stewart, 33. Slobodan Rubezic, 38. Dylan Lobban
Substitutes: 41. Rodrigo Vitols (GK), 4. Cooper Masson, 5. Jamie Mercer, 11. Tristan Stephen, 17. Dylan Ross, 18. Noah McDonnell, 20. Jack Searle, 21. Gavin Molloy, 32. Peter Ambrose
Goals: To 15’ Dorrington 30’
Red Cards: Rubezic 32’
