Aberdeen Development Team 2-2 Formartine United (Aberdeen win 4-2 on penalties) Aberdeenshire Cup Final Harlaw Park Friday 3rd October
Harlaw Park played host to the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup Final between Aberdeen B and Formartine United. Aberdeen – 35-time winners of this competition defeated all of Fraserburgh, Banks o’ Dee, and Buckie Thistle en-route to Friday night’s final. Meanwhile, Formartine United got past Inverurie Loco Works, Turriff United and Huntly.
Similar to the Semi-final, Stuart Duff named a mixed XI containing some first-team squad members. Peter Ambrose, Mitchel Frame, Kjartan Mar Kjartansson and Dylan Lobban all starting in Inverurie.
Neighbours Dylan and Graeme Rodger captained the sides on the night.
Storm Amy brought swirling winds but couldn’t stop the contest starting in Inverurie. Aberdeen raced into a two-goal lead through Peter Ambrose and Kjartan Mar Kjartansson, before Formartine hit back in the second half via Scott Adams and Aaron Norris to snatch a draw from a fighting 2nd half performance taking the game to penalties.
Goalkeeper Rodrigo Vitols was the hero after his penalty saves allowed Tristan Stephen to take the 5th and final penalty to win the cup for the Dons for the first time in 21 years in a truly enthralling Aberdeenshire Cup Final.
Report:
Despite the early weather concerns the game kicked off as normal. Storm Amy showed early signs of its involvement in the affair as the ball rolled twice away from Zak To at kick-off.
United were handed the first chance of the game via a free kick on the edge of the box. Tyler Mykyta stood over it and struck a thunderous effort at Vitols, however, the Latvian punched to safety.
Stuart McKenzie was warned of the windy conditions early on as his goal kick nearly gifted the Dons their first chance. The keeper’s attempted goal kick flew high and back in the way of his defence, which Ambrose smartly sniffed out to follow in, but McKenzie collected.
17 minutes in, a deep Lewis Carrol cross proved a challenge for Rhys Thomas and Scott Ross as they both rose to challenge Ambrose to the first ball in the box. A fortunate ricochet would reward Ambrose for his will to rise, seeing the ball drop for the striker who coolly slotted down to McKenzie’s left.
Graeme Rodger nearly gave the Pitmidden side an instant response forcing a save from Vitols from long range.
Following the Rodger scare, Aberdeen settled better into their shape and began to dictate the tempo of the game. Cooper Masson sat at the base of Aberdeen’s back three deciding when his side attacked, but the youngster also showed real maturity in his reading of the game.
Hamish Ritchie played a perfectly weighted through ball which split not only the Dons midfield but also their defence, matching the run of Rory McAllister but Masson’s awareness and desire meant he was on hand to make a last ditch interception before turning round and kickstarting the next Aberdeen attack.
The very next attack saw the game’s next goal. Zak To received the ball on the half turn before driving down the left wing. He stood up Luke Emmet beating him twice before picking his head up to see the late run of Kjartan Mar Kjartansson who made no mistake with his finish, striking through the ball to beat McKenzie at his near post in the 29th minute.
Shortly after, Formartine got a chance of their own, this time, from a set piece. The ball popped up to Marc Lawrence after some slight panic defending from the Dons. The defender’s strike would again call Vitols into action who flung himself to his right to make the crucial save.
That was unfortunately Lawrence’s last meaningful action as Formartine were forced into an early substitution as the centre back made way for Scott Adams 36 minutes in.
The half closed out with Formartine United and Aberdeen attacks breaking down in the final third.
Half Time: Aberdeen Development XI 2-0 Formartine United
Stuart Duff showed bravery with his half-time change bringing on striker Tristan Stephen in place of Kjartan Mar Kjartansson.
Formartine began the second half much the better side. Mykyta whipped in a teasing ball from the left half space which was begging for a touch but the delivery just evaded McAllister and Ritchie who were queuing up at the back post.
Mykyta’s passes were eventually rewarded as his next ball in resulted in a crucial goal for the Highland league side. Again from the left half space the number 10 delivered a threatening delivery which Adams picked up the scraps from to tap in after a goalmouth scramble in the 52nd.
Formartine gained momentum from then on, sensing a potential equaliser. McAllister, Aaron Norris didn’t let the Dons’ young backline rest, challenging them to every loose ball and header so much so that Aberdeen’s backline kept dropping farther back as the half went on, limiting their attacks to hopeful balls in behind for Ambrose and Stephen to chase.
Formartine’s pressure soon proved too much to contain. Hamish Ritchie’s quick feet danced away from Teasdale on the wing, giving him space to whip a cross into the box. Aaron Norris cut across his marker to apply the deftest of headed touches, offsetting Vitols for the equaliser 71 minutes in.
Immediately after the restart, Aberdeen found themselves in a promising position with Frame and Ross combining down the left side to earn their side a free kick. The latter stood over it and struck over McKenzie, stinging the crossbar, nearly restoring the Dons’ lead.
Despite the setback, the young Dons dug deep to evade a Formartine third, seeing out the game after a nervy last 10 minutes.
The game went straight to penalties and it was the young Dons who prevailed with Tristan Stephen scoring the winning spot kick after Vitols had saved twice from the Formartine penalty takers.
Full Time: Aberdeen Development XI 2-2 Formartine United
Aberdeen: Vitols, Lobban (C), Ross, Carrol, Masson, Teasdale, To, Cummings, Frame, Kjartansson, (Stephen 45’) Ambrose (Searle 76’)
Substitutes: Simpson (GK), Stephen, Searle, Green, McLean, McDonnell, Duncan.
Goals: Ambrose 19, Kjartansson 32′
Bookings: Ambrose, Carrol 83’, Lobban 89’
Formartine United: McKenzie, Emmett, McLean, Thomas(Murray 89’), Ross, Lawrence (Adams 36’), Ritchie, Rodger (C), McAllister (Wade 81’), Mykyta, Norris.
Substitutes: Corbett (GK), Wade, Adams, Campbell, Murray, McCormick, Strachan, Alberts, Dangana
Goals: Adams 53′, Norris 74′
Penalty Shoot-Out:
Aberdeen: Lobban scored (keepers left low) Formartine: Rodger saved (keepers right) Formartine: Rodger saved again (retake keepers right) 1-0
Aberdeen: Teasdale saved (middle right) Formartine: Mykyta scored (keepers right) 1-1
Aberdeen: Carrol scored keeper left (went wrong way) Formartine: Ritchie saved (keepers right) 2-1
Aberdeen: Ross scored keepers left (went wrong way) Formartine: Murray scored keepers left (went wrong way) 3-1
Aberdeen: Stephen scored (keepers left) 4-2
