Banks O’ Dee FC 1 Aberdeen Development Side 3
Spain Park
Aberdeenshire Cup Round 2
Wednesday 20th August 2025
Summary:
An Aberdeen Development Side booked their spot in the Aberdeenshire Cup Semi-finals with a 3–1 win over Banks O’ Dee. Aaron Cummings opened the scoring before Lachie MacLeod’s stunning volley pulled the hosts level, but a second-half brace from Joseph Teasdale proved decisive as the young Dons set up a last-four clash with Buckie Thistle on September 3.
Report:
It was almost the perfect start for Aberdeen as Aaron Cummings played through Dylan Lobban on the overlap. The captain cut the ball back to his fullback partner, Dylan Ross, whose powerful effort was blocked by the Dee’s defence less than a minute in.
Aberdeen dominated the early periods, enjoying a good portion of possession. The front two of Joseph Teasdale and Tristan Stephen looked to stretch the home side’s backline. Cooper Masson played through the latter in the 10th minute. The forward cut in on his right foot and looked to curl his effort into the bottom corner; however, a last-ditch stretch from Alasdair Stark diverted the ball into the path of Zak To, who poked just wide.
Max Alexander stung the palms of Rodrigo Vitols from the edge of the box with a low strike on 13 minutes, keeping the Don’s defence on their toes.
The deadlock was broken after 18 minute. Stephen placed a firm but fair challenge on Joseph McCabe, leaving the fullback floored for the foreseeable. With no whistle from the referee, Stephen played on, driving into the box and cutting the ball back to Cummings, whose shot would deflect off a Dee defender and in.
Lobban enjoyed a stellar first period, driving Aberdeen forward from his right wing-back position. The number 2 battled with Zack Stephen all half and had him beat most times. Stephen did get the better of Lobban in the 33rd minute as his mazy run saw him enter Vitol’s box before smashing his shot over.
The home side equalised with 5 minutes of the half remaining. Magnus Watson clipped a delicious ball in behind the Dons’ defence for Lachie MacLeod to race onto. The striker unleashed a thunderous volley into the top right-hand corner, leaving Vitols with no chance to get a hand to it. A goal any forward would be proud of.
As the half closed out, Banks O’ Dee gained the momentum and nearly took the lead. Mark Gilmour danced through the young Dons’ defence before attempting to play through Magnus Watson, but the pass was ever so slightly overhit.
Half Time: Banks O’ Dee FC 1 – 1 Aberdeen Development Side
The second half did not exactly start with fireworks. Both sides played themselves up the park but lacked the penetrative passes needed to unlock either defence.
A short corner routine straight off the training ground nearly saw the visitors take the lead. Ross would play the ball to To, whose disguised turn gave him the space to turn and cross. Teasdale’s headed flick would clip the crossbar for what was the first real chance of the second half.
Aberdeen took the lead just after the hour mark with a devastating counterattack. Following a Banks O’ Dee free kick, To would bring the ball down and drive from the edge of his box to the edge of the centre circle before playing Tristan Stephen down the right. Stephen played through his strike partner with the deftest of touches, allowing Teasdale enough time to compose himself and calmly dink over Daniel Hoban, putting his side up 2-1 in the 63rd minute.
Teasdale nearly returned the favour a minute later as he stood up Zack Stephen, beating him for pace and squaring into the other Stephen, but the usually clinical forward fluffed his lines, miskicking the ball at the vital moment.
The dangerous duo was at it again as Stephen wriggled his way past three defenders before forcing a save from Hoban. The Banks O’Dee keeper could only parry into the path of Teasdale, who remained alert enough to follow the ball in and tap in for his double in the 70th minute.
Hamish MacLeod looked lively for the hosts, taking on Noah MacDonnell and Oliver Green at every opportunity. His finest moment saw him play a brilliantly weighted through ball to Watson, who sliced the chance wide of Vitols.
A late double substitution for the Dons was enough to run the clock down and see out the remainder of the evening. This result sees Aberdeen into the Semi-final of the Aberdeenshire Cup. They will face Buckie Thistle away on the 3rd of September.
Full Time: Banks O’ Dee FC 1 – 3 Aberdeen Development Side
Reaction from Stuart Duff:
“It was an encouraging night. It had its challenges, which is really important for these young players to go through that. I think they showed such a level of maturity that we’ve not seen from previous young teams from Aberdeen at times.
“I think it kind of all came together tonight. They showed what they’re capable of. I think a lot of this is down to the boys having played men’s football out at their loan clubs. You could see the little bits of gamesmanship, the game management, the physicality, the timing of it. So, a lot of positives to take from tonight, but we will certainly be looking to sharpen up in certain areas.
“The game management of our younger players was encouraging. They take the emotion out of the game, take the sting out of the game, all those little bits of experience that they’ve learned at their loan clubs. To put that together tonight was really encouraging for me to see because many teams have come here in the past, and we’ve always been called quite young and quite weak at times.
“I think tonight showed a different side to them, which is probably the most encouraging thing. And that’s not taking away what we did with and without the ball. I thought some of the spells in the game, we really controlled it. We set a tempo, and we showed a bit of quality within the final third in the second half.
“We will see what happens at Buckie. We will approach it as another game, that will be our focus.”
STATS:
Aberdeen: 1. Rodrigo Vitols, 2. Dylan Lobban (Green 60’), 3. Dylan Ross, 4. Lewis Carrol, 6. Cooper Masson, 9. Joseph Teasdale (Maclean 88’) 10. Tristan Stephen (Chikomo 80’), 11. Zak To, 12. Aaron Cummings, 14. Jack Searle (Duncan 88’), 17. Noah McDonnell
Substitutes: 20. Conner Douglas, 15. Oliver Green, 16. Samuel MacLean, 18. Heath Duncan, 19. Bradley Chikomo
Bookings: Green 90+3’
Goals: Cummings 18’, Teasdale 63’, 70’
Banks O’Dee FC: 1. Daniel Hoban, 2. Joseph McCabe, 3. Zack Stephen, 4. Mark Reynolds, 5. Alasdair Stark (Selbie 70’), 6. Mark Gilmour, 7. Sam Pugh, 8. Kacper Lewecki, 9. Lachie MacLeod (Hunter 70’), 10. Magnus Watson, 11. Max Alexander (MacLeod 63’)
Substitutes: 12. Matthew Duncan, 14. Andrew Hunter, 15. Alex Balfour, 16. Nathan Cooney, 17. Jason Selbie, 18. Hamish MacLeod, 19. Jack Brown, 20. Matthew Mackie
Goals: MacLeod 40’
