young Dons finish the season in 2nd spot after great comeback
SPL U20 League | Inverness CT U20 2 v 3 Aberdeen U20 | Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness | 1pm KO
O’Neill 8 og, Sutherland 18: Smith 33, 57, Campanile 69
Aberdeen U20s finished their season this afternoon in Inverness with an excellent comeback and secured second spot in the Clydesdale Bank Youth League.
Neil Cooper’s young side went two goals down midway through the first half. Duncan Shearer’s side have themselves been having a very good campaign and seemed on course to complete another victory over the Dons – Aberdeen have struggled against the Highland side at this level in recent years. However the Dons deservedly pulled a goal back through Cammy Smith just after the half hour mark and that gave Aberdeen a lifeline going in at the break and after a superb second half performance they ran out 3-2 winners.
Aberdeen actually started the game quite well but somehow they found themselves two goals down. Stephen O’Neill was unlucky when he tried to clear a corner and sliced the ball into his own net. Then Sutherland added a second with a good finish.
Aberdeen created a number of chances as the first half wore on but when the excellent Stephen O’Neill went through one and one with the keeper and put his shot inches past the post you thought it was going to be one of those days. Then Jamie Masson put in a cross for Alan O’Sullivan and although the striker got in ahead of the defender he could only put the ball over the bar.
On 33 minutes though Aberdeen got themselves back into the game. Stephen O’Neill linked up well with Cammy Smith and the striker took a good touch before coolly putting the ball into the net.
At half time in a pre-planned move Neil Cooper replaced Storie and Masson with McMahon and Campanile and the substitutions help changed the game.
Aberdeen started the second half very strongly and passed the ball about really well. They were dominating proceedings when they grabbed the equaliser on 58 minutes. It was a great bit of play wide on the right by Marcus Campanile who dipped his shoulder which gave him half a yard on the defender and he whipped in a great cross which was met by Cammy Smith for his second of the afternoon. Cammy’s header was very similar to the goal he scored against the Inverness CT first team at the same ground.
The Dons continued to create chances and eventually they took the lead on 69 minutes. It was a great bit of play by Stephen O’Neill and he again linked up with Cammy Smith down the left hand side. Cammy then put a great cross to the back post and Marcus Campanile scored with a great header.
The last 15 minutes were very competitive as Inverness tried hard for an equaliser but Aberdeen held on for the win and end what has been a fantastic season for the youngsters.
A very happy Neil Cooper spoke to RedWeb after the game.
“We played particularly well in the second half. The performance during the second period was more like us.
“The performance typified what the boys are all about and the way they have been all season. Even at 2-0 down it did not affect them. They kept going and kept playing football and managed to turn it around. The work rate and attitude of the players all season has been first class as has their performance levels.
“We have scored 77 goals which is more than any other team in the league by quite a long way. We also have one of the best defensive records.
“I could not be more pleased with all the boys.”
“Before the game I said I was going to change it as I wanted to give Matthew McMahon 45 minutes and I also decided I was going to give Marcus 45 minutes as well. With 25 minutes to go I also put Scott Ferries on for Alan O’Sullivan. Scott and Matthew have been out for a long time and both have worked really hard to get themselves fit again. We are looking forward to having them fully fit next season.”
Team: Twardzik, Murray, Duguid, Gibbons, McKenna, Rumsby, Masson, Storie, Smith, O’Sullivan, O’Neill
Subs: Rogers, McMahon, Campanile, Ferries
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