Aberdeen U18s 12 Dunbar United U18s 1
Cormack Park
Scottish Youth FA Cup
Friday 24th October 2025
The Young Dons made their return to Cormack Park as they hosted Dunbar United in the 3rd round of the Scottish Youth Cup. The visitors who play in the East of Scotland Development League travelled 162 miles for Friday night’s fixture.
Aberdeen’s youngsters delivered an impressive performance under the Cormack Park lights, booking their place in the fourth round of the Scottish Youth FA Cup with an emphatic 12–1 victory. Stephen, To, Teasdale, and Henderson were all on target in a dominant first half, before Fraser, Duncan, Chikomo, and McLean added to the tally after the break with the latter capping off the night with a superb hat-trick.
Report:
The Young Dons started brightly and were rewarded for their early pressure when Jack Searle put on the burners to beat Ruaridh Jackson for pace down the left wing. His low cross was met by Tristan Stephen, who got himself in front of Fergus Finlayson to smash home the opener inside two minutes.
Sam McLean then earned his side a free-kick on the edge of the box, which he stood over himself. His curling effort had Santangeli scrambling, whiskering just wide of the post.
Aberdeen doubled their lead in the 15th minute from a short corner routine. To received the ball from McLean, drove to the edge of the area, and unleashed a powerful strike that stung the palms of Santangeli. The keeper got a touch but couldn’t keep it out, and the referee wisely played advantage after To was fouled in the build-up to allow the goal to stand.
The skipper was involved again moments later, trying his luck from a similar position. His strike from distance was parried by Santangeli, but Teasdale reacted quickest to follow up and sweep home Aberdeen’s third in the 18th minute.
Stephen made it 4–0 just before the half-hour mark to get his brace. Searle’s quick feet opened up space past Fraser Munro down the flank, and his cut-back found Stephen, who took a touch before rifling a vicious effort into the roof of the net — leaving the Dunbar United defence with no chance.
Another short corner produced Aberdeen’s fifth just before the break. To and McLean combined neatly before McLean stood up a cross to the back post, where Henderson, Stephen, and Chikomo were all waiting. It was Henderson who rose highest to head home the final goal of the half.
Half Time: Aberdeen U18s 5 -0 Dunbar Utd U18’s
The first chance of the second period fell to the home side, with Jack Searle once again at the heart of it. The winger glided past Rory Ambrose and slipped in Chikomo, whose low effort was saved by Santangeli. Moments later, Searle played the striker through again, but this time Chikomo’s left-footed strike flashed just wide of the post.
Aberdeen grabbed their sixth of the evening in the 57th minute after a superb spell of buildup play. Aaron Fraser found Stephen in the box, and after creating space with a clever feint, the striker unselfishly backheeled the ball into the path of his midfielder, whose strike found its way into the net.
The Seasiders pulled one back on the hour mark, much to the frustration of Conner Douglas in the Aberdeen goal. A long clearance from the visitors turned into an opportunity as miscommunication between Green and his backline allowed Jamie Brown to pounce on the loose ball. The striker drove forward and, one-on-one with Douglas, disguised his finish brilliantly, shaping to go right before curling calmly into the bottom-left corner.
From the restart, a hopeful long ball found Chikomo in space. Holding off Munro, the forward swept a left-footed finish across Santangeli and into the far corner to restore the six-goal cushion just a minute later.
Four minutes later, they struck again, this time through Sam McLean, who was enjoying a fine evening. The winger whipped in a dangerous cross from the right that evaded everyone and nestled straight into the bottom corner to make it 8–1.
Substitute Heath Duncan made an immediate impact, adding his name to the scoresheet soon after coming on. Searle cut inside and fired from distance, forcing Santangeli into a parry that fell kindly for Duncan, who reacted quickest to poke home Aberdeen’s ninth.
McLean then added an exquisite 30-yard free kick into the top-right corner in the 76th minute. Just two minutes later, he completed his hat-trick. Chikomo recovered possession, Stephen threaded a neat pass through, and McLean smashed his finish high into the roof of the net to make it 11–1.
The visitors were forced to see out the final five minutes with ten men after substitute Kieran Paterson was unable to continue following a collision with Oliver Green.
Aberdeen took full advantage, and Duncan grabbed his second of the night in the 88th minute. JJ Hulse went on a mazy run down the right wing before cutting the ball back to Duncan, who once again showed his hunger to get into the box and poked home the twelfth and final goal of the evening.
STATS:
Aberdeen FC U18s: Douglas (GK) (McCulloch 60’), Green, Henderson (Okhuoya 58’), Fraser (Duncan 58’), McLean, Teasdale (Hulse 46’), Stephen, To (C) (Gauld 60’), Searle, McDonell, Chikomo
Substitutes: McCulloch (GK), Carrol, Okhuoya, Duncan, Hulse, Gauld
Goals: Stephen 2’, 28’, To 15’, Teasdale 19’, Henderson 40’, Fraser 57’, Chikomo 61’, McLean 66’, 76’, 78’, Duncan 71, 88’
Bookings: Green 80’
Dunbar United U18s: Santangeli (GK), Ambrose (Paterson 55’), Mohammed, Munro (C), Brown, Finlayson, Forrest, Maxwell (Henderson 70’), Miller (Craigie 55’), McVey (Brydon 55’), Jackson (Weir 70’)
Goals: Brown 60’
Substitutes: Craigie, Paterson, Weir, Henderson, Brydon, Craigie, Walker
Bookings: Henderson 72’, Brown 75’
