Banks o' Dee 1 - 0 Aberdeen

Aberdeen exited the SPFL Trust Trophy after failing to take their chances against the Banks O’Dee. They played some good football at times in the final third and created some clear cut openings but lack that killer instinct. Credit to the home side, who defended well through out and scored a good goal through the excellent Philipson.

Report 

The Aberdeen Development side included Wilson, McKenzie, Marshall, Emslie, Stewart, Bavidge and Loban who added a bit of experience alongside the U18 players on show. The home side included former Dons Mark Reynolds and Chris Antoniazzi as well Iain Vigurs.

In the second minute striker Lachie MacLeod did well to beat the last Aberdeen defender but Rodrigo Vitols was quickly off his line to snuff out the danger. Then at the other end a long ball sent Bavidge clear but a late flag prevented the move developing any further. On four minutes a foul by Lewis Carrol on Antoniazzi gave Banks O’Dee a dangerous free kick but Vigurs lifted it well over the bar.

On ten minutes a lovely Aberdeen move allowed wingback Cammy Wilson the chance to put over a couple of crosses, the second of which very nearly found Alfie Bavidge at the near post but the ball was scrambled behind for the first corner. Alfie Stewart tried to catch the keeper out from the set-piece but the ball landed in the side netting.

Then a loose back past gave Bavidge a great scoring opportunity but keeper Daniel Hoban was off his line quickly to make a very good block. A free kick and a corner then followed, but no more opportunities.

After quarter of an hour a dangerous cross by Antoniazzi was cut out by Vitols. On 18 minutes the ball fell kindly for Michael Philipson about 20 yards out and he riffled in a shot which appeared to heading for the top corner before Vitols produced a quite brilliant save, tipping the ball over the bar.

It had been a fairly even and entertaining opening spell.

In the 22nd minute nice play between Boyd and Wilson creating a chance for Bavidge inside the box but his left footed shot was off target. Three minutes later, an even better chance after a ball over the top from Akindileni found him in space, the striker set himself and got a good shot away but Hoban produced another top class save, diving low to his left.

Half an hour gone, and the young Dons will probably feel they should have been ahead.

On 33 minutes, the first yellow card, McKenzie booked for a foul on Antoniazzi. It led to another free kick in a good area for Banks O’Dee which Michael Philipson took and from e centre area curled the ball past the wall and past Vitols into the net. A fine finish as the keeper had no chance.

The Dons might have been level on 40 minute mark when Bavidge played it wide for Boyd who put a great ball across the face of goal but no one was there in a red shirt to tap home.

HT: Banks O’Dee 1 Aberdeen 0

Neither team made any changes at the interval. Aberdeen started the second half strongly and five minutes in, a great through ball by Marshall found the run of Boyd who rounded the keeper but from a tight angle his shot was headed off the line by Mark Reynolds. That was the last action for Reynolds who was substituted shortly after.

On 55 minutes, good play by Alfie Stewart and his long ball was picked up by Bavidge but the last defender Nathan Cooney did well to prevent Alfie getting a shot away. The striker required treatment after the incident and was unable to continue. He was replaced by Ellis Clark.

Cooney did well again on the hour mark to stop Boyd latching onto the ball in the area. Vigurs was then booked for a late tackle on Boyd. With just over 20 minutes to go Vitols did really well to get off his line quickly after great play by Philipson before Cooney made another vital interception to stop a Stewart cross. Boyd then had a shot saved before an Antoniazzi corner was very nearly touched home. A let off for the young Dons who were by now struggling to get any rhythm into their play, especially with quite a few stoppages.

With fifteen minutes to go the game became very stretched. Aberdeen were pushing hard but the Highland league outfit were still posing a threat on the break with the movement of Antoniazzi causing problems – the Dons Youth coach was cleverly finding space in good areas.

On 83 minutes Alfie Stewart was extremely harshly booked for diving. It looked like it should have been free kick to Aberdeen in a very dangerous area after a fine run by the midfielder. A poor decision from the referee. With five minutes to go Stewart played a great ball for Mackie who thought he had scored after beating the keeper but Cooney somehow managed to deflect the ball over. So close to a late equaliser.

The young Dons continued to push hard at the end but it was not enough and it is Banks O’Dee who will play Elgin City in the next round.