Aberdeen 1 - 9 Motherwell

Fresh from having returned to winning ways in Edinburgh against Hearts last week, the Young Dons looked to end 2016 on a positive note when they welcomed Motherwell to Links Park. Having drawn 2-2 with the Steelmen in a very even contest back in August, this again promised to be a good battle against Stephen Craigen's side who themselves ended a recent barren run by beating Rangers last week.
Aberdeen lined up with Craddock in goal behind Omolokun, MacPherson, Roscoe and Robertson. Norris and Storie were the anchor men in midfield with Wright, Anderson and skipper for the day Frank Ross behind Dangana.

Both teams started the game brightly as they tried to gain the early ascendancy. David Dangana was harshly booked in the seventh minute after an accidental clash with Maguire who ducked into the challenge as the striker tried to break away but referee Fordyce decided Dangana's foot was high. Frank Ross and Robertson were combining well on the left for the Dons and a cross from that quarter created an opening for Anderson but the Well defence closed ranks quickly to prevent a shot on goal.
The visitors were celebrating after 12 minutes when Falconer turned a Mackin cross past Craddock from six yards but their joy was short-lived as the assistant referee had his flag up for offside. David Craddock produced a fine save to keep out an excellent Hastie effort after some fine passing from Stephen Craigen's youngsters. Falconer opened the scoring on 19 minutes when he beat the offside trap and cut in from the right to fire a left shot past Craddock despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball. Tom Fry should have made it two a minute later when Omolokun was short with a back pass but Craddock spread himself well to turn the shot wide. From the corner Craddock produced a fantastic save to stop Mackin's header before Storie cleared the danger.
Poor defending on 25 minutes saw the Dons cut wide open and Mackin had a simple task to slip the ball home to make it 2-0 after being played in by Falconer. Frank Ross tried his luck from 25 yards and keeper Morrison needed two attempts to stop the skipper's shot. The Dons were struggling to put any passing movements together and the visitors were good value for their two goal advantage. On 40 minutes it was three nil to Motherwell when Watt flicked home a driven free kick from Hastie. Things went from bad to worse just on the half time whistle when Watt was given far too much room in the box to powerfully head Hastie's free kick past Craddock as the visitors went four up.
Not a first half the Dons will want to remember against a clinical Motherwell side.

Paul Sheerin made two changes at half time replacing MacPherson and Omolokun with Antoniazzi and Seb Ross. Frank Ross was the second home player booked in the early seconds of the second half after a foul in midfield before Craddock was again called into action to expertly saved Hastie's 20 yard volley. On 50 minutes a poor clearance was picked up by Mackin and he flighted the ball over to the far post for Fry to make it a nap hand for the Steelmen as he shot past a stranded Craddock.
Two minutes later it was six - Fry turning in the box after receiving Watt's free kick then shooting crisply past Craddock who was once again cruelly exposed. A great ball into the box from Frank Ross was just out of the reach of Norris as the Dons tried to get themselves on the scoresheet. Turnbull was the next Well man to threaten and Craddock produced another superb stop to keep his piledriver out. Despite the scoreline the young Irishman had made some great saves. On 65 minutes Jordan Armstrong made it 7-0 when he latched on to Watt's mishit shot and fired home from six yards. Two minutes later Falconer came off to be replaced by Scott.
The Dons won a penalty on 73 minutes when Wright was brought down by Armstrong and the winger coolly converted the spot kick himself to make it 7-1. A minute later however Motherwell went up to the other end and Campbell got on to the end of a Fry cross to help himself to an eighth goal for the Fir Park outfit. Bruce Anderson picked up a booking after a late challenge on Livingstone. Robertson was then withdrawn, his replacement Lewis Hutchison. A minute later Motherwell's Watt was booked for a foul on Anderson. With 5 minutes left Well brought on McDonald for Mackin. Scott made it 9-1 on 87 minutes when he dribbled in from the left before shooting high past Craddock after a great ball from Maguire.
That ended the scoring for a game which the Young Dons must get out of their systems as quickly as possible - a truly awful day.