Inverurie Loco Works 2 Aberdeen Development Side 1 Aberdeenshire Shield Round 1 Harlaw Park Tuesday 12 November | 7:45PM.
A dogged Inverurie Loco Works side came from behind to defeat a young Aberdeen Development side 2-1 at Harlaw Park on Tuesday night to advance into the 2nd round of the Aberdeenshire Shield.
Fraser Mackie had the Dons ahead on the night but an equaliser before half-time and a late penalty sealed Aberdeen’s fate on a bitterly cold night in Aberdeenshire.
The side that fell to defeat in Hungary less than a week ago were bolstered by the return of loanees Findlay Marshall, Dylan Lobban, and Blair McKenzie. Dylan took the armband for the Harlaw Park clash – in the opposite XI there was a place for the trio’s former U18 teammate, Milosz Ochmanski.
The Dons looked like they were in a no-nonsense mood early on in the cup tie and Locos were forced to survive a series of early corners as Aberdeen continued to probe for an opener.
It didn’t take long for the early pressure from a corner to pay off and Mackie was alert and ready at the near post to divert a smart ball into the roof of the net from close range to open the scoring.
The hosts began to come to life around the 15-minute mark – Jay Halliday and Daniel Agnew both tried their luck from inside the box, both thwarted by a sea of brave Aberdeen blocks. Halliday continued to look lively down the flank, his effort from a tight angle found itself just about off the post and away to safety.
An equaliser did come the way of Inverurie after 30 minutes, a cross fumbled by Rodrigo Vitols who did his best to pick up the pieces and recover, but Cole Anderson was alert like any good striker would be to send the ball over the white line.
As Aberdeen looked for a second goal it was Mackie who found himself through on goal, his effort well over. Findlay Marshall was next to try his luck, his effort from distance looked a threat, eventually ending up finishing off target.
Half-time. Inverurie Locos 1-1 Aberdeen.
Scott Anderson made one change to his side at the break – Inverurie boy Dylan Ross was introduced for his homecoming clash, he replaced Victor Enem.
Locos dangerman Halliday was forced off not long after the restart, Callum Duncan introduced in his place.
As the game creeped over the hour mark real chances of quality for either side were beginning to become more and more of a rarity. An Inverurie cross was palmed back into the middle of the penalty box by Vitols, but there were no takers. Seconds later another inviting cross sailed into the area, and although it would have required only the deftest of touch, it passed the Railwaymen by.
And then, in the blink of an eye, the cup tie looked to have come to life. A deep freekick from Lloyd Robertson was floated perfectly into the box, the following header from Callum Dingwall crashing off the crossbar. The Dons countered immediately through Cammy Wilson who went alone and opted to shoot, his effort off the post.
Aberdeen continued to probe for what looked like what could be a winner. Ross charged up the left flank and saw an effort blocked. Not long after Marshall came close, his attempt off the post. Ross came close again on the 80-minute mark, he took down Wilson’s switch off play and unleashed a powerhouse of a shot which came back off the bar.
Up the other end Anderson found himself relatively free inside the penalty box, his effort that looked goal bound was bravely cut out by the sliding Alfie Stewart. The introduced Duncan had a golden chance to try and win the tie for the hosts with a free kick from a dangerous area on the edge of the box, his effort over.
Locos had a penalty in the 88th minute of the contest after Anderson had gotten the better of Akindileni. The extremely experienced Paul Coutts stepped up to send his side into the 2nd round, and the midfielder made no mistake, his effort powered into the bottom corner.
Aberdeen hit the woodwork once more before full-time, summing up a frustrating evening on the road.
After it had looked like a series of penalties in a shootout would decide the outcome of the tie, the Young Dons were dealt a cruel twist right at the death, and they bowed out of the Aberdeenshire Shield.
Full-time, Inverurie Locos 2-1 Aberdeen.
Inverurie: 1. Louis Amann, 2. Thomas Reid, 3. Milosz Ochmanski, 4. Calum Dingwall, 5. Mark Souter, 6. Paul Coutts, 7. Nathan Meres, 8. Lloyd Robertson, 9. Cole Anderson, 10. Jay Halliday, 11. Daniel Agnew
Substitutes: 23. Sam McCafferty, 14. Callum Duncan, 15. Blair Smith, 16. Josh Buchan, 17. Kacper Bednarowski, 18. Aidan Wilson, 19. Reuben Skea, 20. Cole Donaldson
Aberdeen: 1. Rodrigo Vitols, 2. Victor Enem (Ross 46′), 3. Timothy Akindileni, 4. Lewis Carrol, 5. Blair McKenzie, 6. Findlay Marshall, 7. Cameron Wilson, 8. Alfie Stewart, 9. Fraser Mackie, 10. Fletcher Boyd, 11. Dylan Lobban
Substitutes: 12. Zak To, 14. Cooper Masson, 16. Joseph Teasdale, 17. Dylan Ross, 18. Ellis Clark
