Aberdeen U18s 2 Hearts 0
CAS U18 Elite League
Cormack Park
Friday 18 October 2024
Aberdeen Under 18s battled to earn a 2-0 win over Hearts at Cormack Park on Friday afternoon, as they continued their fine run of form in the CAS League.
The sides went in 0-0 at the break but second half goals from Joseph Teasdale and Fraser Mackie ensured the points stayed in the North-East.
Report
There were two changes to the side that beat Kilwinning Rangers 5-1 in the Youth Cup last time out. Lewis Carrol returned to the heart of the backline, and Fletcher Boyd returned to the U18 fold – they replaced Timothy Akindileni and Jack Searle, the latter took a spot on the bench for the visit of Hearts. Fresh off the back off a hat-trick last week, Mackie led the line up top.
The first half was a low-key affair at Cormack Park with the wind machine turned on and in full effect, making it a difficult afternoon for free-flowing football.
Boyd delivered a great cross into the box that found the lurking Mackie inside the six-yard box, his effort eventually scrambled behind. One of few other first half chances came the way of Boyd next, the midfielder found himself through on goal and probably should have elected to cut the ball back, but the No.10 tried his luck, the ball almost squeezing under Tas in the Hearts goal.
Ellis Clark almost opened the scoring with an awkward cross-cum shot that looked like it could have been enroute to the top corner, his effort just about tipped over the bar.
One of few Hearts chances fell the way of 8, his shot well high off his intended target.
There was a chance apiece to the end the half, Boyd denied by a good save when he was through on goal. Up the other end, Rodrigo Vitols produced an excellent stop from close range to keep the score level going in at the break.
Half-time, Aberdeen 0-0 Hearts.
The opening goal of the contest arrived in the 56th minute in scrappy and fortuitous fashion, but the goal counted all the same. It was Teasdale who would it, he bundled the ball over the line with the deftest of flick from close range. The visitors furiously appealed for a foul in the build-up, but it was all in vain, and the goal stood.
Just over the hour mark Oliver Green was introduced at right back, he replaced Victor Enem.
Carrol was forced into some excellent defensive work to deny a leveller as he cleared off the line just when it looked like Hearts might have finally found an equaliser: The Dons surviving the scare.
Mackie passed up on a golden chance to get a second when he got on the end of Teasdale’s cross, his first time effort ballooned over the crossbar.
Aberdeen continued to defend resolutely in what was far from a classic 90 minutes of action and they got their reward in the form of a second goal to send the contest beyond any doubt near the end.
Mackie raced through on goal and despite a flurry of fouls as the Hearts defenders tried everything in their attempts to stop the Dons striker, the No.9 remained composed and stroked the ball into the bottom corner to seal an important three points at Cormack Park.
Next up for the young group is the UEFA Youth League fixture against Puskas Academia at Pittodrie on Wednesday night, kick-off 7:45 at Pittodrie for what promises to be a big night of action under the floodlights.
STATS
Aberdeen: Vitols, Enem (Green 62’), Ross, Carrol, Clark, Masson, Macike, Boyd, Teasdale, To, McDonnell
Subs not used: Searle, Rothnie, Chickomo, Simpson
GOALS: Teasdale 57’ Mackie 87’
BOOKED: Boyd 42′ To 69′ Ross 75′
Hearts: Tas, Burn, Radcliffe, Glasgow, Osborne, Muirhead, Mulholland, Gillies, Robb, Banks, Hogarth
Substitutes: Lyon, Plesiewicz, Selfridge, Sanders, Kelly
