Aberdeen 4 - 2 St. Mirren

A much improved second half performance from Aberdeen Under 18s on Friday afternoon ensured they came from behind to beat a dogged St Mirren 4-2 at Cormack Park. It was very much a game of two half’s played in four different seasons!

With a strong wind behind them in the first half, the Saints deservedly led at the interval but in the second half sunshine goals from Lewis Carrol, Fletcher Boyd and Fraser Mackie ensured the three points stayed in the North-East.

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Scott Anderson named the same side that fell to defeat against Hibs at the same time last week. 2009 born Sam Payne took a spot on the Dons bench.

St Mirren took a very early, fortunate lead after just two minutes after an Aberdeen back-pass slipped under the foot of Rodrigo Vitols as he looked to get a touch on the ball. An unlucky, freak moment that was the perfect start for St Mirren and a horror one for Aberdeen.

It very easily could have been two nil to the visitors not long after Marshall found himself in on goal, but Vitols made amends for his previous blunder and produced a strong stop.

Aberdeen were level after 24 minutes. Inside the penalty box Mackie was alert and cut inside to power a low effort across Kelly in the St Mirren goal, the ball going under the keeper and into the back of the net. 1-1.

In a half where chances seemed to be at a premium the goals continued to flow against the odds, and it was St Mirren who retook the lead. Willoughby worked his way inside the box and forced his way through a sea of red shirts before drilling an effort from close range beyond Vitols. A fine finish.

With five minutes to go in the half Timothy Akindileni went into the book for a foul committed on the edge of his penalty box. The dead ball effort went close, curling around the wall but thankfully for the young Dons it landed wide of its intended target.

McEvoy could have and probably should have extended his sides advantage right on the half from close range, the midfielder thwarted by Vitols who was able to make himself big and block out the danger.

HT. Aberdeen 1 St Mirren 2.

The second half more resembled a game of shooty-in than a half of football such was the volume of Dons chances, and Aberdeen were soon level after Ellis Clark’s free kick was cleverly flicked on towards the back post where Carrol was waiting in the wings to head downwards and beyond Kelly.

Ten minutes later Aberdeen finally led in the game. Winning the ball high up, Mackie slotted in Boyd who took the ball in his stride and dispatched a cool finish to give his side the lead.

Three became four and this time it was Mackie who got his second goal of the afternoon, he was on the end of a quick move up the park, racing onto a flicked ball to add a final Aberdeen goal of the afternoon.

There was to be no more goals but there were chances a plenty to fill the final 20 minutes. Tristan Stephen was introduced for the period, Boyd making way.

Clark was getting more and more involved going forward, he drove into the box and flashed a ball across the face of goal, agonisingly to no takers.

Stephen did well to keep a hold of the ball in a crowded box, and laid up for Clark to have a go, this time his shot blocked.

The next Ellis Clark involvement was a run of corners delivered by the midfielder, which all caused issues for the St Mirren defence, but brought no more goals.

With the constant pressure continuing late into the contest Clark had his best chance yet to get himself on the score sheet when he got on the other end of Akindelni’s header across goal, but he could only push an effort wide.

With 90 minutes on the clock Teasdale was replaced by Payne, who was introduced to see out an important win as the young Dons got their league campaign back on track.

Next up, a Tuesday night trip to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock, kick-off 5pm.