Aberdeen U18 5 Kilmarnock U18 1
CAS U18 Elite League
Cormack Park
Friday 6th December 2024
Aberdeen U18s proved far too strong for Kilmarnock on Friday afternoon at Cormack Park, with Cooper Masson hitting a sensational hat-trick from midfield for the Young Dons – Ellis Clark also contributing a fine double on what was a successful afternoon for Scott Anderson’s side.
For their final home match of the year, the young Dons made one change to the side who defeated St Mirren on the road last week, Cooper Masson coming in for Dylan Ross.
The opening passages of play were fairly back and forth, with Aberdeen producing good plays from the wings.
In the 19th minute, the Dons grabbed their first goal of the game. A long ball from defence was picked up on the left hand side, Cooper Masson was given the time to get into the middle of the box and slot past the keeper for 1-0.
Just a minute later, Aberdeen grabbed a second when Ellis Clark makes the most of lack defending to grab his first of the game.
Timothy Akindileni thought he got the third 24 minutes in when his firm header from a corner was cleared off the line.
In the 25th minute, it became 3-0. A clever through ball was picked up by Masson who calmly hit the ball to the keeper’s far post to put the Dons well up early on, the midfielder grabbing a second in the process.
Three became four in the 44th minute after Fraser Mackie was fouled outside the box.
Clark whipped in a fantastic free kick to the top right for his second of the afternoon.
Half-Time: Aberdeen U18s 4-0 Kilmarnock U18s
In the 58th minute Kilmarnock were screaming for a penalty after their striker went down in the box. The referee saw nothing in the challenge, however and waved play on.
The visitors were reduced to ten men in the 61st minute after Euan Bowie received a second yellow for a late challenge.
Kilmarnock did pull a goal back in the 66th minute when a cleverly worked corner found its way into the box for Barlow to tap in past captain Rodrigo Vitois.
Aberdeen nearly grabbed an instant goal back from a venomous long range strike from Enem. His effort rattled the crossbar.
Aberdeen wrapped up the game in the 89th minute. Fraser Mackie skipped his way into the box and played it to Masson to hammer a shot into the goal, claiming a hat-trick in the process.
Three points for the Dons who play their final matches of the year next week, with away trips to Queen’s Park on Tuesday in the SFA Youth Cup and Motherwell on Friday in the league to round-off 2024.
Aberdeen: Vitois, Enem, Carrol (84′), Akindileni, Clark, Masson, Mackie, Boyd, Teasdale (84), To (66), McDonnell
Subs: Douglas, Green (84′), Searle (84), Stephen (66)
Goals: Clark 20′, 44′, Masson 19′ 25′ 89′
Kilmarnock: Coutts, Burgess, Gilmour, Bowie, Barlow, Traynor, Brannan, Cooper, Allan, Marchant, Burke
Subs: Martin, Eaglesham, Law, Hamilton, McMillan, Duruh
Goals: Barlow 66′
