Dramatic late winner ensures young Dons advance in Cup

Aberdeenshire Cup

2nd Round

Balmoor Stadium

8pm KO

Aberdeen 3 | Reid 20′ 29′ 90+2′

Keith 2 | Stewart 4′ Elphinstone 18′

An Aberdeen Development side came from two goals down to beat Keith by three goals to two on Tuesday evening to advance to the semi-final of the Aberdeenshire Cup on a bitterly cold night at the Balmoor Stadium.

A hat-trick courtesy of Aaron Reid sent the young Dons on their way to victory in dramatic fashion, after a setback saw them two nil behind after twenty minutes before Reid stepped up to grab a quick double before sealing victory in injury time.

Scott Anderson was able to name a team for the 2nd round tie that involved a mix of Under 18’s and out on loan Dons, including Blair McKenzie, Brendan Hamilton, Dylan Lobban, Adam Emslie, Findlay Marshall, Aaron Reid, Alfie Bavidge, and Alfie Stewart. Tom Ritchie was the man between the sticks for Aberdeen, Kai Watson and Fletcher Boyd the Under 18s representatives.

As the heavens opened on what was already a bitterly cold night in Peterhead, it was the Highland League outfit who claimed an early lead through Jake Stewart, who was able to convert from close range after Aberdeen had given the ball away in a dangerous area.

Despite falling behind, the young Dons had started the tie brightly. Reid went close to levelling when he got on the end of Emslie’s cross, but the on loan Formartine man was denied by the feet of his namesake in the Keith goal.

Keith then doubled their advantage just before the 20-minute mark. Micheal Ironside lifted an audacious effort over Ritchie, only to be denied by the crossbar. Fortunately for the maroons the ball wound up at the feet of Gavin Elphinstone who managed to send the ball over the line at the second time of asking.

Almost immediately the young Dons responded with a goal to reduce the deficit. Reid was handed a gift from the keeper, passing the ball straight to the forward, who was able to stay composed and apply the finish his team needed.

The Dons soon had a leveller, Reid able to grab his second in the process. Picking the ball up in a wide area, the forward worked his way inwards before releasing a powerful drive from the edge of the box, 2-2.

The ‘away’ team responded well to Aberdeen’s equaliser and had a chance of their own to retake the lead, but Ritchie was alert and able to turn Murray Addison’s effort behind for a corner, which would come to nothing.

All the goal mouth action was largely contained to the first thirty minutes, and the sides went in level at the break.

Half time Aberdeen 2 Keith 2.

Dons captain Lobban kick-started the half when he tried his luck with a long range free kick but his effort was turned behind. The set piece was followed up by a couple of Dons corners, both unsuccessful.

The Aberdeen pressure showed no sign of relenting. Stewart flashed a dangerous ball across the Keith goal which could only be scarpered behind.

Timi Akindileni was the first to be introduced off the Aberdeen bench, the towering defender introduced in the place of Fletcher Boyd after 64 minutes.

In a rare second half chance up the other end, Ritchie was called into action to make an impressive reaction save to deny Stewart a second and a third for his side.

As the game threatened to head towards the dreaded penalty shootout as the number of quality chances for both sides slowed down dramatically, it was Aberdeen who were able to grab the all-important goal at the death.

In the dying embers after over 90 minutes of football had already been played Hamilton’s excellent cross was met by the head of Reid to claim his hat-trick, put his side in front and book his team a place in the semi-final of the Aberdeenshire Cup.

Keith, who had finished the game strongly and can feel unfortunate going behind, pushed hard in the final minutes, looking to find an equaliser but the young Dons held their nerve to see out what was left of injury time to complete the comeback victory. The young Dons will now play Formartine United FC or Inverurie Loco’s in the semi-finals.

Full time, Aberdeen 3 Keith 2.

Aberdeen:

30. Tom Ritchie 6. Kai Watson 5. Blair Mckenzie 10. Fletcher Boyd (Akindileni 64′) 3. Brendan Hamilton 7. Alfie Stewart 8. Dylan Lobban 2. Adam Emslie 11. Findlay Marshall 17. Aaron Reid 9. Alfie Bavidge

Subs:

12. Timothy Akindileni 14. Ellis Clark 15. Fraser Mackie 16. Cammy Wilson 1. Rodrigo Vitols (GK) 20. Reuben Smillie (GK)

Keith:

1. Craig Reid 2. Murray Addison 3. Josh Buchan 4. Lewis Coull 5. Ryan Robertson 6. Craig Gill 7. Gavin Elphinstone 8. Connor Killoh 9. Jake Stewart 10. Nathan McKeown 11. Micheal Ironside