First Team
All The Info | Kilmarnock (A)
27th September 2024
ABERDEEN 3 (BAVIDGE, BAVIDGE, MCKENZIE)
DUNDEE UNITED 1 (PETRIE)
CAS UNDER-18S ELITE LEAGUE
14:00 FRIDAY 3RD MARCH
CORMACK PARK
The Young Terrors contested their second away match in succession – a CAS Under-18s Elite League New Firm clash in the Granite City.
Line-Up
Captain Craig Moore returned to the side after a spell on the sidelines with an injury, and in-form shot-stopper Lewis Haldane kept his place between the sticks with senior ‘keeper Jamie McCabe out of action with a shoulder knock.
A smattering of 2007/08-born up-and-coming youngsters were awarded their first involvement at U18s level, with 14-year-old Matthew Mudie given the nod to make his debut at right back. Harry Welsh was named on the bench alongside Scotland U15 international Josh Holt.
The first opportunity of the 90 fell the way of United after a careless pass from Dons right-back Tima Fatona was intercepted by Adam Carnwath in the attacking third. He squared for Stuart Heenan and, under pressure from defender Kai Watson, skewed an awkward finish wide of the target.
The home side’s preferred pattern of play was evident from the off – with most of the play flowing through impressive pivot Dylan Easton. At the earliest opportunity, the ball would be worked wide to Aberdeen’s full-backs, who then in turn looked to whip direct passes down the side of the United back four for onrushing attackers Alfie Bavidge, Liam Harvey or Alfie Stewart.
The front trio’s dynamic, interchanging movement caused no end of problems for their opponents.
Haldane picked up from where he left off against St Mirren last Friday, producing a fine save in close quarters to deny a fierce Bavidge half-volley after the number ten had carved out a pocket of space in the box with a tidy flick around the corner.
Early Opener
With 14 minutes on the clock, the deadlock would be broken at Cormack Park by the hosts. Watson’s searching ball into the channel found Fatona on the gallop down the right. The 17-year-old’s strike on the bounce was met with a strong save from Haldane, however recovering United defender Sean Borland failed to clear the rebound and Bavidge was alert to tuck the rebound home on the swivel.
United looked for a quick response, with frontman Stuart Heenan beating the offside trap twice in quick succession. First, he latched onto a long ball forward from Greg Petrie and raced through one-on-one with Dons stopper Blessing Oluyemi, but towering centre-half Blair McKenzie managed to stretch into a challenge to stop Heenan in his tracks. Mere minutes later, Haldane’s punt downfield was misjudged by his opposite number Oluyemi, allowing Heenan to nip in and poke agonisingly wide of the target from 18 yards.
Carnwath combined nicely with left-back Keir Bertie and fizzed a vicious strike narrowly over the bar, then at the other end, Petrie thew himself into a last ditch tackle to thwart Findlay Marshall’s low drive after strong hold up play from Bavidge.
Ben Christie Makes Debut
On the stroke of half-time, Sean Borland’s tenacity saw a trio of nasty knocks culminate in his substitution. This gave 15-year-old forward Ben Christie the chance to make an impression on his Young Terrors debut.
Bertie was the next United man to be involved in some heroic defending, this time he slid to prevent a certain goal after the unmarked Lobban met a Marshall cutback on the penalty spot.
Mudie and Heenan linked well on the edge of the box before the former teed up his colleague for a strike but Carnwath failed to keep his eventual effort under the bar.
United’s best chance of the afternoon was conjured up thanks to outrageous footwork from Bryan Mwangi down beside the corner flag as he teased Mckenzie and delivered an inch-perfect cross in the direction of Carnwath - the 17-year-old inches wide of the upright with his free header.
Dons Double Up
This lack of clinicality would prove costly however, as Aberdeen doubled their advantage. Hamilton just managed to catch the ball before it drifted out for a goal kick, sending a low ball across the area which Petrie took a complete fresh air swipe at, allowing Bavidge to pick up the scraps and steer into the corner.
The match could’ve been ended as a contest when the home side turned defence into attack in a flash, with Adam Emslie leading a counter which saw his well-struck finish saved by the feet of Haldane who rushed out to confront the danger well.
Zero To Hero
United were offered a lifeline however on 65 minutes, with Petrie making amends for his earlier error. Carnwath’s wide free-kick into the middle caused chaos, Oluyemi doing little to assure his defence the situation was under control as he flapped at the ball. It dropped kindly for the United defender inside the six-yard area and he touched home with his thigh.
The joy was short-lived though, and Aberdeen re-instated their two-goal lead. Emslie’s cross was allowed to bounce in the middle, taking it over the United defence and McKenzie headed towards goal. It looked as though Haldane had managed to paw the ball to safety but the officials deemed it had indeed crossed the line, 3-1 the score heading into the final 20 minutes.
2007-born Tiylar Low made an impressive cameo from the bench, with his most notable contribution seeing him break the Aberdeen press with a sharp spin before fending off Lobban as he charged towards goal. The midfielder rolled the ball right for Domeracki whose teasing, first-time delivery across the box had no takers in the middle.
In the dying embers, Emslie whipped wide of the target after being fed on the left of the area by Lobban – the final chance of the 90 as the Young Terrors suffered a New Firm derby defeat which can mostly be attributed to defensive lapses in concentration than lack of quality
Teamlines
Aberdeen: Oluyemi, Hamilton, Watson, Fatona, McKenzie, Marshall, Emslie, Lobban, Harvey, Bavidge, Stewart (Wilson, Ochmanski, Murray, Mercer, Vitols, Boyd, Carrol)
United: Haldane, Mudie, Bertie, Petrie, Donald, Constable, Borland, Moore, Carnwath, Mwangi, Heenan (Domeracki, Stirton, Low, Christie, Holt, Welsh)
