Aberdeen 0 - 3 Kilmarnock

Aberdeen Under 18s difficult run of form continued on Friday afternoon as they fell to a 0-3 defeat at the hands of a Kilmarnock side who gained revenge for their Youth Cup defeat.

The young Dons were 2-0 down heading into the break at Cormack Park and were unable to salvage anything from the game to condemn them to a fourth league defeat on the bounce.

Scott Anderson named the same very youthful side that went down 4-2 against Hibernian last Friday. Rueben Smillie retained his place in goal, and Kai Watson captained the side for the visit of high-flying Kilmarnock who are having a very strong league season.

Despite going behind within the opening ten minutes, it was Aberdeen who actually started the brightest of the two sides. The young Dons were able to keep Kilmarnock resigned to defensive duties, without being able to properly test Brown in the visitor’s goal. After Cammy Wilson was unable to get on the end of a Watson cross, Killie countered and against the run of play broke the deadlock to make it one nil.

The pattern of half chances for Aberdeen remained true throughout the first half. After a moment of slackness at the back the Dons won a corner, Akindileni rose highest inside the box, but he could only send his header wide.

Fletcher Boyd looked sharp throughout, it was his fancy footwork that allowed him to jinx into the penalty box and set up Wilson, who shot wide.

Up the other end, Mersey perhaps should have done better when he capitalised on a lose Aberdeen cross field ball, after driving forwards he could only direct a powerful shot off target.

Ellis Clark was next to try his luck for Aberdeen, this time from the edge of the box: his effort facing a familiar outcome – wide of the target.

Again, against the run of play Kilmarnock counter attacked with pace and were able to swing a cross towards the back post which was duly converted by Burgess from close range to double the away sides lead with just over five minutes of the first half to be played.

Half time, Aberdeen 0 Kilmarnock 2.

The second half continued in a similar pattern of its predecessor – Aberdeen were unable to take the chances presented to them, and Kilmarnock managed to add a third goal to wrap up the three points.

Wilson had a chance right from the kick off as Aberdeen got forward but could only shoot wide from inside the box. He was then fouled in a dangerous position on the edge of the Kilmarnock box, Clark’s free-kick was along the ground and cleared to safety.

Craik looked certain to add a third for the visitors as he charged towards goal, but Akindileni did extremely well to time his last-ditch challenge to perfection and prevent the forward from adding to his sides tally.

Just before the 70-minute mark Kilmarnock did add a third goal, Craik was denied by Smillie at full stretch, the rebound fortuitously falling to the feet of Burke to tap home.

As the game wound down three substitutes were introduced from the Dons bench: Tristan Stephen and Jack Searle the first two, before Zak To, all born in 2008, came on minutes later, the three replacing Fraser Mackie, Joseph Teasdale and Cooper Masson respectively.

In the depth of injury time Clark squared the ball to Boyd for a chance to grab a consolation goal but keeping inline with the 90 minutes that had played out his effort was wide of the mark, and the young Dons had to contend with another defeat in the league.