Club Academy Scotland U18 League Rangers 2 Aberdeen 3 Rangers Training Centre

The Aberdeen Under 18’s looked to extend their fine run of form and keep their spot at the top of the league as they took on Rangers Under 18’s at Rangers Training Centre.

The first chance came in the second minute at Alfie Bavidge picked the ball up on the right-hand side and drove down the wing. He then cut the ball back to Liam Harvey whose shot went just wide.

A near identical chance came for the Dons in the fifth minute, as Bavidge drove down the right-hand side once again, but this time crossed it over to Brendan Hamilton. Hamilton hit the cross on the half volley perfectly and forced a great save from Mason Munn.

Aberdeen’s early pressure paid off in the sixth minute as a high press on a Rangers goal kick meant Findlay Marshall could poach the ball off the Rangers centre back and calmly fire Aberdeen into the lead.

Only five minutes later, Aberdeen doubled their lead after Bavidge dribbled the ball into the box and managed to poke the ball under the keeper, but the shot hit the post. However, Adam Emslie was there to collect the rebound and fire home.

Rangers first chance of the game came in the sixteenth minute as Christopher Eadie was slipped through and allowed him to get a shot away on his right foot that goes just past the post.

Rangers managed to find an opening in the nineteenth minute as Tyler Pasnik managed to beat the high press of Aberdeen and slot the ball past Blessing Oluyemi and into the net.

The home side then managed to level the game in the thirty first minute after some nice passing play on the edge of the Aberdeen box which left Archie Stevens free. Stevens shot was well saved by Oluyemi away for a corner, however the resulting set play was bundled into the net by Stevens.

Going into half time break, the Dons knew they would need to show grit and determination to gain the lead again after losing the momentum to a strong Rangers side.

HT. Rangers 2 Aberdeen 2

Aberdeen got an early chance in the second half as a corner taken by Brendan Hamilton bobbled about the box and found the foot of Marshall. His shot however went just over the bar.

Aberdeen continued to knock on the door and in the fifty ninth minute Bavidge picked the ball up and cut inside. He managed to get a low hard strike off which just went past the post.

It wasn’t long however until Aberdeen found an opening.

In the sixty-fifth minute, some close control from Bavidge gave him the space he needed to squeeze a shot under the keeper. The shot tricked into the goal off the left post. Not his prettiest goal of the season, his 30th in the league, but one of his most important.

Aberdeen had the lead with twenty-five minutes to go.

It was then Rangers turn to attack, this time the ball was played down the line to Pasnik who drove into the box and got a shot off that was really well saved by Oluyemi to keep the game in Aberdeens favour.

Aberdeen managed to capitalise from the high press again as a short goal kick to the centre back was intercepted by Marshall, but his shot this time was well saved by Munn.

Rangers pushed really hard for an equaliser in the final few minutes.

Towards the end of the game they had a great chance to score as Stevens met a through ball and tried to lob Oluyemi. However, a strong hand from the Aberdeen number one saw the ball parried away for a corner. The resulting corner was whipped in and met by the head of Kristian Webster, and it rattled off the crossbar and away to safety.

The match ended 3-2 to the Dons and they extend their unbeaten run and spot at the top of the table by another game. A really hard fought victory for Stuart Duff’s side, who are in action at home to Hibernian next Friday.

FT. Rangers 2 Aberdeen 3STATS

Aberdeen: Oluyemi, Hamilton, Watson, Enem, Mckenzie, Marshall, Emslie (Wilson 34), Lobban, Harvey, Bavidge, Pirie. Subs Fatona, Murray, Mercer, Kondolo, Boyd, Smillie.

Goals: Marshall 6, Emslie 11, Bavidge 65

Bookings: Pirie 76

Rangers: Munn, Hutton, Newton, Grant, Webster, Rice, Nsio, Curtis, Eadie, Stevens, Pasnik. Subs Scott, McKay, Mulindwa, Mandey, Wilox, Roberts, Halliwell.

Goals: Pasnik 19, Stevens 31

Bookings: Nsio 72, Grant 83