Scottish FA Youth Cup – Round 4 Friday 24th January 2020 Aberdeen FC v St Johnstone FC Kick-off: 4.00pm Balmoral Stadium, Cove
The Aberdeen U18s went unbeaten in the first half of the season and have set themselves up for challenging for honours during the second part. In the CAS Elite Under 18s League Barry Robson’s side won nine games and drew one, scoring an impressive 29 goals along the way.
And on Friday they will play St Johnstone at home in the Quarter Finals of the SFA Youth Cup. The game at Cove kicks off at 4.00pm. The young Dons recorded a narrow 2-1 win over the Saints in the league at the end of November.
In the other ties Kilmarnock will play Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, it is Rangers v Partick Thistle and Heart of Midlothian v Greenock Morton.
To help prepare for some vital games coming up, the U18 players went on an Erasmus+ funded trip to Colina Verde in Portugal. Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
We spoke to Aberdeen U18 captain Connor Barron about the winter training camp and the aspirations for the remainder of the season:
“The trip was very good. We were away for just under two weeks. During that time we had double sessions most days and also had two games. It was tough but the boys came through it well. we all feel the benefit for the work we put in.
“The weather was on average 16 degrees every day so it was ideal. It was the right temperature to train in. The facilities were all very good. There were also a couple of cultural trips which allowed us to experience new things.
“The trip was very intensive and we could all focus just on the training. There were no outside distractions. It was a case of working hard and then getting your rest in when you could. It was 100% football.
“It is the longest trip I have been on with the club. I am used to being away with Scotland when we have had European qualifiers but it was different being away with our team mates. We were able to spend a lot of time together and bond as a squad. Everyone was in with each other and it was very good preparation for the second half of the season.
“The games helped to break up the trip. Both games were against local sides. The first game we lost but we were playing against an older side. It was quite a tight match. We had quite a lot of the ball but mistakes led to their goals. The second game we won comfortably. It was good to get some minutes into the legs ahead of the Youth Cup game on Friday afternoon.
“We have been working on a new style of play for the second half of the season so we were able to try out a few things. We were working on a new formation throughout the trip. The games helped a lot with that.
“The alterations should help us and the focus is now on the cup game. We want to do as well as we can in this competition having got to the final and semi-final in recent seasons. We also want to keep our league form going. It should make for an exciting few months. Rangers were also staying in the same complex and they will be one of our main challengers in both competitions.
“I would not say that the cup will take priority over the league even although it is more high profile. Since the start of the season we have felt confidence about what we can do. We know we have a very strong team at U18 level this year. We all knew we had the ability to go and take teams like Celtic and Rangers on. We had a number of injuries but managed to keep the winning going which shows the strength we have got with this group. The Portugal trip allowed everyone to get back to full fitness.
“For me personally my aspirations as captain are win the league and the cup with the 18s and continue to impacting on games with goals and assists, something I have managed to do on a regular basis so far.
“I have scored 10 goals in nine games from midfield during the first half of the season.
“I also want to start pushing myself into becoming a regular starter for the reserves. I want to keep pushing for the first team also. I need to keep impressing in games and believe if I do that I can make it into the first team squad. You have to set yourself goals and be ambitious if you want to make it in football.”
SFA Youth Cup
Results so far:
06/12/2019 | 3rd Round | Aberdeen 4 – 2 Montrose
A stoppage time double from skipper Connor Barron helped the young Dons to an extremely hard fought victory over a spirited Montrose side earning Barry Robson’s kids a place in the quarter finals of the Youth Cup. Report click here
08/11/2019 | 2nd Round | Aberdeen 11 – 0 Clachnacuddin
Aberdeen moved safely into the next round of the SFA Youth Cup with a comfortable victory over Highland League side Clachnacuddin at the Balmoral Stadium. Report click here
