Rangers 2 - 3 Aberdeen

The Aberdeen Under 18's looked to extend their fine run of form and keep their spot at the top of the league as they took on Rangers Under 18's at Rangers Training Centre.

The first chance came in the second minute at Alfie Bavidge picked the ball up on the right-hand side and drove down the wing. He then cut the ball back to Liam Harvey whose shot went just wide. A near identical chance came for the Dons in the fifth minute, as Bavidge drove down the right-hand side once again, but this time crossed it over to Brendan Hamilton. Hamilton hit the cross on the half volley perfectly and forced a great save from Mason Munn. Aberdeen's early pressure paid off in the sixth minute as a high press on a Rangers goal kick meant Findlay Marshall could poach the ball off the Rangers centre back and calmly fire Aberdeen into the lead. Only five minutes later, Aberdeen doubled their lead after Bavidge dribbled the ball into the box and managed to poke the ball under the keeper, but the shot hit the post. However, Adam Emslie was there to collect the rebound and fire home.
Rangers first chance of the game came in the sixteenth minute as Christopher Eadie was slipped through and allowed him to get a shot away on his right foot that goes just past the post. Rangers managed to find an opening in the nineteenth minute as Tyler Pasnik managed to beat the high press of Aberdeen and slot the ball past Blessing Oluyemi and into the net. The home side then managed to level the game in the thirty first minute after some nice passing play on the edge of the Aberdeen box which left Archie Stevens free. Stevens shot was well saved by Oluyemi away for a corner, however the resulting set play was bundled into the net by Stevens. Going into half time break, the Dons knew they would need to show grit and determination to gain the lead again after losing the momentum to a strong Rangers side.

HT. Rangers 2 Aberdeen 2

Aberdeen got an early chance in the second half as a corner taken by Brendan Hamilton bobbled about the box and found the foot of Marshall. His shot however went just over the bar. Aberdeen continued to knock on the door and in the fifty ninth minute Bavidge picked the ball up and cut inside. He managed to get a low hard strike off which just went past the post. It wasn't long however until Aberdeen found an opening. In the sixty-fifth minute, some close control from Bavidge gave him the space he needed to squeeze a shot under the keeper. The shot tricked into the goal off the left post. Not his prettiest goal of the season, his 30th in the league, but one of his most important.
Aberdeen had the lead with twenty-five minutes to go. It was then Rangers' turn to attack, this time the ball was played down the line to Pasnik who drove into the box and got a shot off that was really well saved by Oluyemi to keep the game in Aberdeens favour. Aberdeen managed to capitalise from the high press again as a short goal kick to the centre back was intercepted by Marshall, but his shot this time was well saved by Munn. Rangers pushed really hard for an equaliser in the final few minutes. Towards the end of the game they had a great chance to score as Stevens met a through ball and tried to lob Oluyemi. However, a strong hand from the Aberdeen number one saw the ball parried away for a corner. The resulting corner was whipped in and met by the head of Kristian Webster, and it rattled off the crossbar and away to safety.
The match ended 3-2 to the Dons and they extend their unbeaten run and spot at the top of the table by another game. A really hard fought victory for Stuart Duff's side, who are in action at home to Hibernian next Friday.

The boys showed a real resolve and some great character - Stuart Duff

Following Aberdeen Under 18's impressive 3-2 victory against Rangers in Glasgow on Friday afternoon, interim manager Stuart Duff reflected on an important victory for his young team.

"We touched base with the guys leading up into this game this week, regardless of who we're playing, we want to bed into young Aberdeen teams that we want to go to places like this and actually beat Rangers without it being such a big surprise. I thought all the guy's application and effort today was first class, so the three points are certainly well deserved.
"We gave them a formation last week that was completely new to them, and they executed it to the letter. We got ourselves two goals in front, we hit the woodwork three times, so looking at that you could say that they could have been five goals up after 20 minutes. It's just simply down to the guys taking information on board and implementing it well. Credit to Rangers for coming back from 2-0 to 2-2 at half-time, but I think the boys showed a real resolve and some great character. I thought that we were the better team in the second half, we looked dangerous every time we went forward, so full credit to the boys.
"We are literally taking it one game at a time. We've told them to enjoy their evening, tonight, and we'll be back to work on Monday morning. We've given them the day off tomorrow. For me and Robbie, any talk about winning league titles does't even enter our head. The most important thing for me is we go to places like Edinburgh and Glasgow, and we are beating teams, so it becomes normal. We shouldn't be going down to places like that with the weight of the world on our shoulders, we should be going down knowing we are a good team, and we are going to show that. I'm delighted for everyone involved: Beth Walker, Kevin Symon, Robbie Hedderman and obviously Barry Robson and Scott Anderson, we have inherited such a great team from them. It's back to work on Monday."

Findlay Marshall and Adam Emslie both got on the score sheet during the first half in Glasgow, and it was Alfie Bavidge who grabbed the winner, and his 30th goal of the league campaign.

"His stats are excellent. As a striker, putting the ball in the net is the hardest thing to do. Everyone thinks Alfie is this mad goal scorer and yes, he is that but I think he showed a different side to his game today - his physical attributes, he's holding the ball in, he's doing selfless running in behind his midfielders if they had to track back, and I thought that had an effect for the whole team. I think they really put their bodies on the line for each other, and that was most pleasing part. I think certainly for Alfie he's had a fruitful season and he's been in and around the first team now and I'm sure he'll get more of an introduction into that. He has to keep doing what he is doing for the 18s. I'm delighted for him as well as the rest of the squad, there is a real team spirit in there now."

The big games keep coming for the Young Dons, next up for Stuart Duff's side is the visit of reigning champions Hibernian to Cormack Park on Friday.

"It's another big game next Friday. We did a lot of analysis work on Hibs leading up into this game today, as Rangers played Hibs last week. We've been in good form at Cormack Park but we're certainly going to have to be at the top of our game, because we've got almost a target on our back now. We'll go into that with both staff and players ready to go. I think we've maybe got a couple of niggleing injuries but I'm sure they will all be back for the game which would make us at full strength. We will take the game to Hibs and hopefully continue our good momentum."