Fraserburgh 1 Aberdeen Emerging Talent Squad 1 KDM Evolution Trophy Bellslea Park Tuesday 25 August, 7.45pm

An Aberdeen Emerging Talent Squad drew 1-1 with Fraserburgh on Tuesday night in the KDM Evolution Trophy.

The Dons XI featured six players to have ran out for the first team: Nick Suman, Mitchel Frame, Kenan Bilalovic, Findlay Marshall, and the returning Mats Knoester who took a big step on his journey back to competitive senior action.

Lewis Carrol and Joel Okhuoya made up the backline, Cooper Masson (who captained the side), Zak To, and Jack Searle completed the XI.

The Broch named a rotated team, with Club veterans Ryan Sargent and Scott Barbour amongst the substitutes.

Aberdeen looked lively in the opening ten, knocking the ball about well, albeit without being able to test Sim in the Fraserburgh goal. A sharp counterattack from a Fraserburgh free kick was spearheaded by Fasanya and Searle, both ultimately unable to get an effort away.

The blistering pace of Fasanya was causing all sorts of problems for the hosts, the Dons forward winning a penalty on 13’ after being hauled to the floor by Strachan while baring down on goal.

Marshall stepped up to take, Sim dived the wrong way, Marshall converted. 1-0.

A mix up the back not long after opened the door for a quick Fraserburgh equaliser, Frame able to make a smart challenge to avert any danger.

Searle and Frame linked up nicely on 24’ to fashion up a shot on goal for the full-back, his effort held.

Fasanya won a free kick in a dangerous looking area just before the half hour mark. To stepped over it, the on-loan Peterhead midfielder only able to blast over the bar on this occasion.

Not long after, Watt and Mahoney both tried their luck at goal while Aberdeen tried and failed to properly clear their lines, the ball eventually scarpered to safety after a flurry of blocks. With the game entering a period of becoming quite end to end, Sim made a smart stop to deny a second Dons goal.

Sim was called into action again on 36’, the ‘keeper just about able to get his fingertips on a Fasanya header to send it over the bar.

Masson went down with a head knock before the half was out, the midfielder eventually cleared to continue.

Half-time: Fraserburgh 0-1 Aberdeen.

One pre-planned Aberdeen change at the break: Jamie Mercer replacing Knoester.

Marshall was on the hunt for more goals to begin the half, first a header over, then a powerful effort at a tricky angle denied by Sim.

A big stop from Suman next, the Aussie keeper making an excellent save to prevent Watt from levelling after the no.14 found himself with just Suman to beat.

The Broch managed to find the equaliser on 53’, Watt and McKay combining to work their way through the Aberdeen defence, eventually squaring to Gibb who squirmed an effort beyond the scrambling Suman from close range for his first goal in senior football.

Joseph Teasdale was introduced just after the hour mark, Bilalovic withdrawn. Fraserburgh called on their bench not long after, the duo of Sargent and Barbour part of the group who joined in the action. A spell of Aberdeen pressure on 71’ culminated in Masson blasting over from the edge of the box.

Another half chance on 76’, this time Fasanya collecting Searle’s pass, his effort well held.

A series of Broch corners in quick succession brought a couple of oo’s and aa’s from the home support as the ball fizzed around the six-yard box, but there was no takers as both sides looked for a potential winner. Aaron Cummings replaced Cooper Masson on 86’.

More corners at both ends in the closing stages, but no late drama, and no winner.

Spoils shared on matchday two in the KDM Evolution Trophy.

Full-time: Fraserburgh 1-1 Aberdeen.

Reaction from Stuart Duff

“Another good exercise for the younger players. From a first-team aspect, there’s guys there that probably needed the minutes, like Mats in the first half, it was a good exercise for him.

“The younger players, it’s difficult to come up here to a completely different environment. These are the types of games that we want to get into the younger players, so they’ve got an experience of playing in these conditions, where they are very effective.

“So, credit to the guys. From our point of view, a worthwhile exercise, no injuries, a lot of fitness, and minutes in the tank for a lot of guys that haven’t had minutes. So, kind of a happy point, I think we’ll take that, and a lot of stuff that we can individually and collectively improve on. A good day.

“It’s really good for the younger players to play alongside the senior players, for that experience, like Mats in the first half, Findlay Marshall, Mitchell Frame, who I think all applied themselves correctly.

“Their experience of communication, we’re trying to align the team, so they’re almost playing to the first-team philosophy, which I think is important as well, and the younger players are getting a sample of that more and more with the KDM games."

STATS Fraserburgh: 1. Greg Sim, 2. Will Sim, 10. Liam Strachan, 14. Logan Watt, 18. Flynn McKay, 19. Alex Gibb, 24. Lewis Duncan, 25. Dylan Robertson, 26. Alexander Johnston, 27. Angus Robbie, 28. Matthew Mahoney Substitutes: 23. Eddie Flinn, 3. Bryan Hay, 6. Paul Young, 9. Ryan Sargent, 11. Scott Barbour, 12. Jake Garden, 16. Greg Buchan, 20. Joshua Hawkins Aberdeen: 13. Nick Suman, 3. Mitchel Frame, 4. Lewis Carrol C, 6. Cooper Masson (Cummings 86'), 7. Andrew Fasanya, 10. Zak To, 11. Jack Searle, 15. Kenan Bilalovic (Teasdale 61'), 17. Findlay Marshall, 21. Mats Knoester (Mercer 46'), 22. Joel Okhuoya Substitutes: 1. Theo Simpson, 5. Jamie Mercer, 8. Aaron Cummings, 9. Joseph Teasdale, 12. Heath Duncan, 16. Sam McLean, 18. Max Pocklington, 19. Jay Henderson, 22. JJ Hulse

GOALS: Marshall 13' Gibb 52'

BOOKED: Bilalovic 36' Mahoney 39' Duncan 45' Hawkins 71'