Forfar Athletic 0 Aberdeen Emerging Talent Squad 3 KDM Evolution Trophy Matchday One Station Park Tuesday 11 August, 7.45pm KO
An Aberdeen Emerging Talent Squad travelled to Station Park on Tuesday night for their first game of the KDM Evolution Trophy. The Dons went out of sight in the first half thanks to an early Cooper Masson strike and two penalties from Ayoub Mouloua. A professional second half showing saw the Aberdeen keep their clean sheet to earn themselves a deserved three points on matchday one. Report: The Dons kicked off proceedings with intensity, pressing Forfar into some early turnovers. In attempt to counteract this, Forfar twice looked to hit balls over the top into their right channel, but Mercer easily saw the ball out on both occasions.
The Don’s first real attack ended in the opening goal. After some nice build-up play involving Ayoub Mouloua and Zak To, Forfar would give away a corner. A poor clearance from the home side saw the ball trickle out to Cooper Masson, who was lurking on the edge of the box. The midfielder raced unto it and sweetly hit a first-time strike into the bottom left corner, kissing the post on its way in leaving no chance for McCallum.
Searle was next to get a shot away after breezing past Aaron Lynas. With no options in the box, the winger raced into the box himself to shoot, but the angle was too tight to curl past McCallum. To was the standout in the opening half hour, winning possession, driving forward, and looking to create chances. He was brought down in the box by Callum Wilson winning Aberdeen a penalty. Summer signing Mouloua coolly dispatched from 12 yards into the bottom left corner doubling the Dons’ lead. The home side struggled to create anything substantial only registering their first shot on the half hour mark. Adam Brown’s corner was met by the head of Mackenzie Lemon but his effort flew over Vitols’ crossbar. Minutes later, a moment of superb athleticism was shown from young Andrew Fasanya to help extend his side’s lead. He chased down a Mackenzie Lemon in at frightening pace before bodying the fullback to regain possession, cutting it back to Nicky Devlin on the underlap who was brought down in the 18 for another penalty.
Mouloua took again and calmly slotted in the exact same spot as his first making it a brace for him and 0-3 Aberdeen after 37 minutes.
Forfar struggled to find a response before the break with Aberdeen heading into halftime three goals to the good. Half-Time Forfar 0-3 Aberdeen. The Dons made a double change at halftime as Mouloua was denied an attempt for the match ball with Teasdale replacing the new man. Joel Okhuoya was also introduced in place of Devlin. The Loons were gifted a sight at goal when Masson was dispossessed on the edge of the box, but Arnott left Vitols untested as snatched at his shot. Fasanya continued to trouble Lemon, repeatedly using the space left in behind him. The fullback chopped down the youngster earning himself a place in the referee’s book.
The home side switched to a front two in the second half as Scott Shepherd and Martin Rennie came into the game. Forfar opted to hit them both with long balls, mostly dealt with by Carrol and Mercer. Forfar did manage to get a few more shots off following their changes, but they were all from range and over. Chances did not come as easy for Aberdeen as they did in the first with Forfar managing to tighten things up at the back with their change of formation. With that, the Dons managed the closing periods of the game well working hard to keep their clean sheet intact. Forfar had two late free kicks and a corner but failed to find their consolation rounding off a professional display from Aberdeen. Full-Time Forfar 0- 3 Aberdeen.
Reaction from Stephen Craigan: “Really pleased for some of the players, they haven’t played a lot of minutes recently, so you’re aware of that coming into the game. “You’re also playing against a team who are in decent form in League 2, good physicality about them, good dynamism about their team. “The way we set the tone in the game was terrific. That’s the one thing you get when you work with young players, it’s the fearlessness. You love that enthusiasm and energy that they have. “Sometimes what we overlook is the quality that they showed, the composure when they needed to, but also when they got into the final third, they were looking to penetrate, they were looking to hurt the opposition. “Andrew Fasanya's enthusiasm was infectious. The quality that he brings, the excitement amongst his teammates and amongst Aberdeen fans over him, you could see it. “I spoke to Ross MacLean (Forfar midfielder), He says the difference from Aberdeen's performance here last year to this year is incredible – night and day.”
STATS: Aberdeen: 41. Vitols, 2. Devlin (Okhuoya 45’), 4. Carrol ©, 5. Mercer, 6. Masson, 7. Fasanya, 8. Cummings (Pocklington 83’), 9. Mouloua (Teasdale 45’), 10. To (McLean 70’), 14. Searle (Duncan 75’), 15. Frame Subs: 1. Simpson, 12. Duncan, 16. McLean, 17. Pocklington, 18. Okhuoya, 21. Teasdale, 25. Hulse Goals: Masson 11’, Mouloua 22’, 37’ Bookings: Duncan 90’ Forfar: 1. McCallum (Stafford 54’), 2. Lynas, 5. Allan ©, 7. MacLean (Corr 63’), 11. Brown (Shepherd 45’), 12. Alston (Rennie 54’), 15. Lemon, 16. Arnott, 17. Richardson, 18. Wilson, 22. Gadsden (Haddow 45’) Subs: 21. Stafford, 9. Shepherd, 10. Rennie, 14. Maller, 20. Haddow, 24. Corr, 25. Whatley Bookings: Lemon 56’
