Queen’s Park U18s 2-0 Aberdeen U18s Club Academy Scotland U18 Elite League Lochinch Sports Complex Tuesday 8th April
Aberdeen made their second trip to Glasgow in the space of five days as they took on Queen’s Park in league action on Tuesday afternoon.
Manager Scott Anderson made two changes to his starting line-up from a 2-0 loss to Rangers on Friday, with Oliver Green coming in to replace Jack Searle and Tristan Stephen taking the place of Fraser Mackie.
Despite a valiant performance, the Dons fell to a 2-0 defeat, as strikes from Connor Falls near the end of either half proved decisive.
Report
Aberdeen enjoyed possession in the game’s infancy, and looked to work a series of short corners although their efforts were of no avail.
After the visitors won a free kick in a dangerous wide position, Ellis Clark’s shot went straight into the wall. Cooper Masson did well to break up the result counter-attack from Queen’s Park.
Rodrigo Vitols then made a steady high-claim after the hosts looked to play a long ball in behind, as the Dons’ number one was called into action for the first time.
Vitols was involved once more as Aberdeen created their first real opportunity. The keeper played a terrific pass over the top of the Queen’s defence, but Dylan Ross couldn’t beat Milosz Sliwinski one-on-one.
Moments later, Vitols was forced into a fine stop as Finn Coyle Morrow failed to beat the Dons’ stopper after Jay Henderson lost possession just outside his own penalty area.
Some neat Aberdeen interplay on the left wing saw Zak To flash a dangerous ball into the box on the half-hour mark. Tristan Stephen couldn’t find a clean enough connection to get his shot on target, though.
Godspower Oguama found some space in the Dons’ box a few minutes later, but his effort dragged wide of Vitols’ goal.
The Queen’s Park centre-forward was then brought down in the box seconds after. Referee Chris Little didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. Connor Falls stepped up and scored with conviction to put the Spiders ahead just before the break.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 1-0 Aberdeen
Just after play resumed for the second 45, Queen’s Park threatened to double their advantage. Kai Williamson could only find the post after the ball fell his way at the back post. Henderson did well to prevent the Spiders from scoring from the rebound.
Samuel Payne, introduced by Aberdeen on 53 minutes, made an almost instantaneous impact from the bench. He found some space on the right-hand side and flashed a teasing delivery across the face of goal, but no one was there to connect.
Payne threatened once more as the Dons sought a leveller. The winger twisted and turned out wide before, yet again, playing the ball across the face, only for it to be dealt with adeptly by the Queen’s Park rear-guard.
Despite Aberdeen’s hunt for an equaliser continuing into the final 15 minutes, the hosts remained a threat going forward. Indeed, Dons goalkeeper Vitols was booked after complaining to the referee following a corner.
Queen’s Park knew they had to dig in to maintain their advantage in the closing stages, with Aberdeen’s pressure mounting.
After a long ball forward, however, Falls found himself in behind the Dons’ defence. The attacker slotted calmly past Vitols to double the hosts’ advantage and wrap up the three points, despite several claims of offside from the Aberdeen ranks.
Despite the visitors looking for a consolation late on, Queen’s Park maintained their two-goal advantage and emerged victorious.
Full-time: Queen’s Park 2-0 Aberdeen
Aberdeen: Vitols, Green, Ross, Carrol, Henderson (Searle 67’), Clark (Chikomo 67’), Masson, Stephen (Payne 53’), Teasdale, To (Cummings 90’), McDonnell.
Unused subs: Simpson.
Bookings: Vitols 77′
Queen’s Park: Sliwinski, Clarke, Burke, Fisher, Reid, Williamson, Falls, Collie, Oguama, Morrow, Murray-Smith.
Subs: Campbell, Thomson, Maclachlan, Matheson, Lees, Murray, Riddell.
Goals: Falls 42’, 84’.
Bookings: Fisher 7’, Thomson 90’.
