Motherwell 1 - 3 Aberdeen

Motherwell 1 | Leitch 18'
Aberdeen 3 | Shankland 12', Shaughnessy 27, 76'

SPFL Development League | Tuesday 19th August 2014 | Fir Park, Motherwell | 6pm

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Match Report

Paul Sheerin's U20 side made it two wins out of two in the SPFL Development League with a good win against Motherwell at Fir Park. A strong looking Dons lined up this evening with Robbie Mutch in goal, playing his first game at this level, Craig Murray at right back with Clark Robertson at left back and Joe Shaughnessy and Michael Rose in the centre of defence. Craig Storie and Jamie Masson were the sitting midfielders with Nicky Low on the right and Scott Wright on the left. Cammy Smith played just in behind Lawrence Shankland upfront. Aberdeen also had a strong bench which included Youth Academy U17 keeper Reece Willison.
The Motherwell starting XI included Jack Leitch, Paul Lawson, Lionel Ainsworth, Bob McHugh and recent loan signing Henrik Ojamaa.

Aberdeen started brightly in the Lanarkshire sunshine. On 8 minutes Wright and Shankland combined well down the left. Lawrence chested the ball into Scott's path and his low cross was not far away from Smith. On 12 minutes the Dons took the lead. After a good move Scott Wright made a brilliant run which took him all the way into area. He could have gone for goal himself but when confronted by the keeper he showed great composure to look up square the ball to Shankland who was able to tap the ball into the empty net.
Then on 18 minutes, after a spell of torrential rain, the home side were level. Thomas made a good run into the box but Michael Rose made a great tackle. The ball though rebounded to the unmarked Jack Leitch, son of former Dons assistant manager Scott, and from about 25 yards out his low shot squirmed into the bottom left corner of the net.

Aberdeen, though, regained the lead on 18 minutes. Captain Craig Murray had started to have an influence on the game and his runs down the right were causing problems. On one occasion he got beyond his marker and delivered a good into the area but Neil managed to get the ball behind for a corner. From that corner Low swung in a perfect ball and Shaughnessy, who had made a well-timed run and from about eight yards out was able to put a powerful header beyond Stewart.

On 35 minutes the home side had to make a change after left back David Ferguson was injured. He was replaced by Jack McMillian. A minute later a superb low through ball by Nicky Low set Scott Wright free. The winger had a chance to shoot but decided to cut back and he was unable to find a red jersey in the box. Shortly after that Craig Murray fired powerful drive just over the bar. It was all Aberdeen at this stage and on 41 minutes Wright again put over a ball from the left which Shankland cleverly dummied, leaving it for Smith but he put the ball just over. Aberdeen deserved a third goal for their dominance and a superb first half display.
Just on the stroke of half time Bob McHugh made room for himself but his effort did not trouble Mutch.

HT 1-2

At the start of the second half the first chance fell to McHugh and from a similar area he also put the ball over the bar. Then on 54 minutes Aberdeen got themselves in a mess at the back and Ojamaa dispossessed Shaughnessy. As Joe and Ojamaa tussled on the ground, Rose then made a goal saving tackle on McHugh but the ball fell to Ojamaa, who had regained his feet, and his shot went just wide. Shaughnessy and Ojamaa were booked for their mini scuffle. A couple of minutes later the young Dons put together a great little move on the edge of the area and it took a really good tackle from Leitch to prevent Smith getting a shot away. The game was now end to end and on 56 minutes Ojamaa fired a volley just over the bar.

On 58 minutes Dom Thomas did well to create room for a shot and it looked like his effort towards to the near post might sneak in but Mutch made a good save diving low to his left, turning the ball round the post. On 59 minutes O'Brien was booked for a foul on Smith. It was a strong challenge but there was probably no need for a yellow card. The game was very competitive throughout but also played in the right spirit.

A slip by Rose on 66 minutes gave an opening to Ainsworth and he pulled his shot inches past the post. A let off for the Dons. Motherwell looked a much stronger side in the second half and they were now enjoying more of the possession. For a 20 minute spell they were on top but the Dons defended well and young Mutch deserves credit for a confident display in goal.

On 73 minutes Leitch and Ojamaa were replaced by McMillan and Craig McCall, son of Motherwell boss Stuart. On 76 minutes, the Dons had by now come back into things, and Cammy Smith forced Stewart to tip the ball wide. From the resulting corner the ball was not cleared properly and was picked up by Scott Wright and although his cross was blocked it fell very kindly for Shaughnessy and he showed great composure to place the ball into the corner of the net from about ten yards out.

On 78 minutes Craig Murray was replaced by Marcus Campanile. Then Nicky Low, who had been handed the captains armband, floated in a free kick which Shankland headed goalwards but his glancing effort went straight to the keeper.

Aberdeen had a major let off on 81 minutes when Ainsworth broke free again and the winger thumped a shot off the post. In the closing stages Clark Robertson fired a drive just over and the Dons had to defend a couple of corners which they managed. Rose and Shaughnessy both again had very good games at the back.

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Motherwell: Stewart, Cadden, Ferguson (McMillan 35), O'Brien, Neill, Leitch (McCall 73), Ainsworth, Lawson, McHugh, Ojamaa (McMillan 73), Thomas. Subs Currie, Hall, Mackin, Higgins.

Aberdeen: Mutch, Murray (Campanile 71), Robertson, Storie, Shaughnessy, Rose, Smith, Masson (Gibbons 86), Shankland, Low, Wright. Subs Willison, Gibbons, Campanile, Felek, McKenna, Jones, S Robertson.