Match: Banks o’Dee 0-2 Aberdeen B Competition: Aberdeenshire Shield (Quarter-Final) Venue: Spain Park Date: Wednesday 10th December. Kick-off, 8pm
Summary:
An Aberdeen B side faced Banks o’ Dee FC in the Quarter-final of the Aberdeenshire Shield on Wednesday evening. The sides played each other earlier this campaign with the Dons winning 3-1 en-route to their Aberdeenshire Cup victory.
First team players Kenan Bilalovic, Mitchel Frame, Kjartan Mar Kjartansson, and Peter Ambrose all featured on the night whilst midfielder Alfie Stewart, who is on loan at League 1 leaders Inverenss CT, returned to captain the side.
Aberdeen secured their place in the Aberdeenshire Shield Semi-final with a confident 2–0 victory over Banks o’ Dee at Spain Park. A first-half brace from Ambrose put the Dons in control, and despite a stop-start second period, the side managed the game professionally to see out the win and keep a well earned clean sheet. The result sets up a Semi-final meeting with Deveronvale.
Report:
It was almost the perfect start for Aberdeen as they carved out the first opportunity after 40 seconds. Dylan Ross found Mitchel Frame in space on the left. Frame played a cushioned first time cross across the box for Ambrose who just mistimed his effort.
Three minutes later Ambrose would make no mistake as he latched unto a short clearance, firing low and hard into the bottom left corner to give the Dons an early lead.
Alasdair Stark’s delivery nearly saw the score levelled. Ramsey Davidson expertly brought the ball down under pressure in the box before spinning and forcing a diving save from Vitols.
The host’s looked to suck in Aberdeen and hit them on the break, often looking long for the pace and power of Liam Duell and Ethan Morgan.
The pair weren’t for the want of trying as they contested every every ball in the air and in behind the young Dons defence.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen attacked down the wings, especially down the left with Bilalovic and Frame causing the Banks o’ Dee backline all sorts of problems.
From that flank, the second of the evening came. Stewart picked out Frame’s overlap. The flying fullback’s first-time square across the box was latched unto by Ambrose, who had enough time to touch, set himself, then strike viscously into the bottom left again – his second of the night.
Half Time: Banks o’ Dee FC 0- 2 Aberdeen B
Proceedings resumed and neither side made any changes.
With their two goal advantage, Aberdeen didn’t come flying out the blocks in the 2nd half, affording to pick their moments to attack.
The game became a stop start affair as frequent substitutions, fouls, and injuries halted the flow of the game.
Lewis Carrol couldn’t continue after trying to play through a niggle. Noah McDonell came on in his place.
Zak To linked up with Frame to create the first half chance of the second half in the 70th minute with a crisp 1-2 making room for Frame to gallop into. His cross was blocked.
Zack Stephen nicked the ball from Joseph Teasdale and drove into space, delivering a left footed cross into his centre forwards. Duell connected but only slightly, redirecting the ball into his strike partner Morgan. His swivelled effort forced a save from Vitols.
Frame was on fire and nearly got a deserved goal for it towards the end. Tristan Stephen’s hold up play gave the Frame room on the left wing, and when received, thundered his effort over the crossbar from inside the box.
Banks o’ Dee’s second shot on target in the half came from Sam Pugh. His free kicked looped over the Dons wall and earned his side a corner late on.
Aberdeen stood firm to clear and keep their clean sheet as they progressed into the Aberdeenshire Shield Semi-final. The Dons will play Deveronvale for their chance to play in yet another final this season.
Full Time: Banks O Dee FC 0-2 Aberdeen Development
Banks o’Dee: 1. Mattew Duncan, 2. Alasdair Stark (Brown 81’), 3. Zack Stephen, 4. Jevan Anderson, 5. Mark Reynolds (Lewecki 60’), 6. Joseph McCabe, 7. Sam Pugh (C), 8. Nathan Cooney, 9. Ethan Morgan (Watson 81’), 10. Ramsay Davidson, 11. Liam Duell (Bavidge 73’)
Subs: 12. Matthew Mackie (GK), 14. Jack Brown, 15. Kacper Lewecki, 16. Sam Bavidge, 17. Magnus Watson
Bookings: Duell 23’, Davidson 61’, Cooney 79’
Aberdeen B: 1. Rodrigo Vitols, 3. Dylan Ross, 4. Lewis Carrol (McDonnell 60’), 6. Cooper Masson, 8. Alfie Stewart (C), 9. Joseph Teasdale (Cummings 79’) 14. Jack Searle (To 57’), 15. Kenan Bilalovic (Green 79’), 21. Mitchel Frame, 22. Kjartan Mar Kjartansson, 32. Peter Ambrose (Stephen 79’)
Subs: 20. Theo Simpson, 16. Heath Duncan
Bookings: Masson 53’
Goals: Ambrose 3’, 35’
