Banks o' Dee 4 - 3 Aberdeen

The young Dons were back in action for the second time in just over 48 hours as they made the short trip across the River Dee to meet Banks O' Dee in the quarter finals of the Aberdeenshire Cup. Dee have won six of their opening seven matches this season, their only loss being to crack Ayrshire unit Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup.
Having seen off Inverurie Locos 5-1 at Harlaw Park in the first round, the junior outfit were looking forward to pitting their wits against the Pittodrie youngsters. Home side co-managers Jamie Watt and Tommy Forbes made four changes to the team which beat Colony Park in the Grill League Cup, bringing Lawrie, Henderson, Philipson and Gilmour into their starting eleven.
Meanwhile Paul Sheerin made a couple of changes to his side, drafting in Ryan Harrington and Ethan Ross in place of Chris Antoniazzi and Jordan McGregor.

The opening exchanges were largely uneventful although the home side made a couple of promising forays down their right without creating any danger.
Aberdeen's first real chance came in the tenth minute when Bruce Anderson played David Dangana in but a fine tackle from Alexander saw the ball diverted wide for a corner. From the resulting flag-kick, Morgan Brown shot high over. Minutes later a quick throw-in by Connor McLennan sent Anderson racing in on goal, but his angled drive was just too high.
On 19 minutes Dangana was released by a fine Jack MacKenzie pass but the striker couldn't find Anderson in the six-yard box and the Dee defence closed ranks to avert the threat.
It was proving to be a tight encounter with the junior side more than holding their ground against the Pittodrie starlets.
However, a moment of real class in the 25th minute saw the deadlock broken. A lofted pass from Ethan Ross found Anderson and the striker did brilliantly to turn his man before firing an accurate eighteen yard shot past Shearer into the keeper's bottom left-hand corner. The wee man just can't stop scoring!
Dee responded in positive fashion and Henderson was inches away from grabbing an equaliser when he stabbed a corner goalward only for David Craddock to grab the ball in the nick of time. On the half-hour a fine move from the home side ended with a Gilmour shot flying just over.
A clumsy challenge from Winton on Anderson saw the Dee skipper booked on 32 minutes. Five minutes later it was so nearly two for the Dons but Anderson's toed effort when he beat keeper Shearer in a race to the ball saw the shot rebound to safety off the post.
As the half drew to a close the junior side pushed forward at every opportunity to try and force an equaliser, but they nearly got caught on the break when Brown burst through the middle but his pass just eluded Dangana.
Craddock was forced to parry a Henderson shot just wide as the whistle sounded for half time. A good competitive first half which the Dons just shaded.

Half time Banks O' Dee 0 Aberdeen 1

Aberdeen were first to threaten in extra time, Antoniazzi firing just wide from twenty yards. A fine run by Seb Ross threatened but a fine block from Alexander resulted in a corner. Harrington headed wide for the Dons then Murray tested Craddock with a free kick as play went from end to end.
Harrington became the game's fifth booking after a disagreement with the referee.
The final fifteen minutes of extra time kicked off with the match very much in the balance - it could go either way.

Another swift break from Brown set up McLennan was Shearer was able to parry his shot. The game was still being played at a ferocious pace which was testament to the fitness of both sides.
Shearer produced a fine save to deny Antoniazzi on 109 minutes while Craddock also saved brilliantly from Murray two minutes later.
McLeod grabbed his second of the night and Dee's fourth with five minutes left, Craddock being unlucky as he nearly kept the ball out after parrying the initial shot.
Seam Linden came on as a last throw of the dice taking the place of Campbell as time ebbed away for the Dons. The home side skilfully ran down the clock and sealed a famous victory. A semi final clash with Turriff United awaits the victors.