Peterhead 4-2 Aberdeen Development Team The KDM Evolution Trophy | League Phase | Matchday 1 Tuesday 12th August. Kick-off, 7.45pm Balmoor Stadium
The greater experience of Peterhead was the deciding factor as they withstood a second half fightback from the young Dons to take all three points on offer at Balmoor Stadium.
The Aberdeen Development squad opened their KDM Evolution Trophy campaign on familiar territory as they paid a second visit of the season to Balmoor Stadium where they had played in Rory McAllister’s Testimonial last month.
With a new look format for the competition, formerly the Challenge Cup, the Pittodrie young guns will also visit Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Montrose, Forfar Athletic, Elgin City and The Spartans over the coming three months in the opening phase.
Stuart Duff had Paul Coutts and Nicky Devlin alongside him in the technical area as he named a young team for the match with nine of the club’s loaned out players named alongside keeper Rodrigo Vitols and skipper Dylan Lobban. The Blue Toon squad featured no fewer than eleven players who had previously played for the Dons at various levels.
Peterhead enjoyed the bulk of the early possession, but Alfie Stewart had the first chance of the game as he burst forward from midfield, his final effort lacking the power to trouble Blessing Oluyemi in the home goal. Stewart picked up a knock but was able to resume after treatment. He was in the thick of it again soon after threading a ball through for Tristan Stephen but again Oluyemi was alert.
Peterhead’s first effort on goal came from big Kiwi Under 20 international striker Oliver Colloty on nine minutes, Vitols dealing comfortably with the twenty yard shot. Two minutes later Vitols produced a fine save with his feet to deny his old team-mate Fraser Mackie.
Mackie came very close to opening the scoring on 17 minutes, smashing a neat Niall McGinn cutback off the bar when he really should have hit the target. The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute after a disputed corner kick. McGinn’s flag kick was headed into his own net by Jamie Mercer under pressure from Jason Brown.
The home side were turning the screw on their younger opponents and Adam Carnwath was only a yard too high with a fine try from distance.
On 28 minutes they had a chance to double their advantage when Carrol tripped Seb Ross in the box, but Vitols produced a brilliant save diving to his right to push Colloty’s penalty kick to safety.
Some lovely football from the Blue Toon in 33 minutes saw McGinn set Ross free on the left side of the box and his cross was bundled home at the second attempt by Colloty, the man from Auckland atoning for his earlier penalty miss.
Aberdeen pushed to get back into the game and Oluyemi did well to block an angled drive from Stewart, Stephen just unable to get on to the rebound.
On 40 minutes, Jamie Mercer was withdrawn from the action and Jay Henderson came on to slot into his place in the Dons rear-guard. The half time whistle blew to end a first half dominated by the senior team who were good value for their lead.
Half time – Peterhead 2 Aberdeen 0
Jack Searle and Aaron Cummings came on after the break replacing Zak To and Dylan Ross. Meanwhile Goldie and Towler took over from Jason Brown and Wilson in central defence for the home side.
Jack Searle halved the deficit in the 50th minute smashing an unstoppable shot past Oluyemi, just the sort of impact Stuart Duff would have asked of his subs.
The young Dons were pushing hard for an equaliser and Dylan Lobban wasn’t too far off target with an audacious effort from near the half-way line after a mishit clearance by Oluyemi.
Peterhead came close again on 58 minutes, Mackie almost getting on the end of a dangerous ball across the face of goal from Jack Brown.
The Dons drew level in the 62nd minute, Tristan Stephen sliding the ball home after a great cross from the left by sub Jack Searle. A terrific fightback from the youngsters.
Cooper Masson was booked for a foul on Seb Ross a couple of minutes later quickly followed by Dylan Lobban as both sides chased for the next goal in what was a thoroughly absorbing contest.
Two more ex Dons entered the fray on 72 minutes as Kieran Shanks and Max Barry came on for the home side while Bradley Chikomo replaced Stephen. Barry was straight into the action pouncing on a short back pass, his run halted by Vitols but the ball broke kindly for veteran McGinn to roll the ball into an empty net.
Oluyemi produced a fine stop from Carrol as the Dons refused to lie down but they were caught on the break on 77 minutes, Shanks racing through on to McGinn’s fine pass to sweep the ball past Vitols and just inside the post.
A rash challenge from Henderson earned him a booking just before Sam McLean came on for Teasdale for the final ten.
Cooper Masson saw a deflected effort go just wide then Oluyemi almost dropped a Stewart corner into his own net but there was no more scoring and Peterhead claimed the points.
Some good performances from the Aberdeen youngsters which augur well for the future but ultimately the greater experience of Peterhead, in particular Player of the Match Niall McGinn, shone through.
Full time –Peterhead 4 Aberdeen 2
Peterhead:- Oluyemi, D Strachan, Duffy, Jason Brown (C) (Goldie 46), Colloty, Jack Brown, Carnwath (Barry 72), Wilson (Towler 46), McGinn, Ross, Mackie (Shanks 72).
Unused Substitute- Newman (GK), R Strachan, Jordon Brown.
Aberdeen B:- Vitols, Lobban (C), Ross (Cummings 46), Carrol, Mercer (Henderson 40), Masson, Stewart, Teasdale (McLean 81), Stephen (Chikomo 73), To (Searle 46), McDonnell.
Unused Substitute- Douglas (GK), Green, McLean.
Goals:
Peterhead – Mercer own goal 20, Colloty 33, McGinn 74, Shanks 77
Aberdeen – Searle 50, Stephen 62
Bookings:
Aberdeen B – Searle 64, Lobban 65, Henderson 80
Referee – Joel Kennedy. Assistant Referees – Kevin Buchanan and Harry Bruce.
Crowd – 584
