Aberdeen 3 - 0 Huddersfield Town
HT Score: Aberdeen 2 - 0 Huddersfield Town
17/09/2019 | KO: 12:30
Dons defeat Terriers
The game started at a high tempo as both sides tried to get a foothold and the Dons had the first shot on goal, Barron's left-footed effort deflected wide.
On twelve minutes Sam Jackson made a fine save from Elliott as Huddersfield showed their teeth in attack, the highly-rated Aaron Rowe prominent when they moved forward.
Rowe will feel he should have at least worked the keeper when he was picked out by High's corner, but his header went wide.
Seb Ross and Michael Ruth combined well down the right, but the Terriers defence stood firm to prevent a shot on goal.
Great determination from Ethan Ross saw the winger win a corner but again the set-piece came to nothing. Space was at a premium, but Huddersfield broke quickly and the Dons defence had to scramble the ball behind for a corner after an excellent cross from Duhaney.
Ruth robbed Duhaney and fired in a fine cross which Seb Ross got his head to but Pata was well positioned to clear for a corner.
The Dons were starting to dominate and Anderson had a header on target from Ethan Ross's cross.
Then on 28 minutes the deadlock was broken. Seb Ross did well to pick out Bruce Anderson at the far post and the striker's volley gave Chapman no chance. A fine goal from the striker and reward for the team for a good spell of pressure.
The Terriers had a shout for a penalty when Ijiwole went down after a challenge from Kieran Ngwenya, referee Abbie Hendry turning away the claims.
Scott High had a rare sight of goal for the visitors, but his twenty yard effort didn't trouble Jackson.
On 42 minutes it was 2-0 to the Dons. Anderson was fouled twenty five yards out and Ethan Ross stepped up to fire a fine right-footed effort over the wall and past the despairing dive of Chapman, the Australian keeper left with no chance.
It could have been three moments later, but Chapman did well to divert Anderson's shot past the post. The half time whistle probably came at the wrong time for the Dons as they were totally dominating.
Half time - Aberdeen Reserves 2 Huddersfield Town Reserves 0
Aberdeen started the second period brightly and weren't allowing Huddersfield much room to operate in. It had been an impressive showing from Paul Sheerin's side. However, the English side showed they could still play a bit when they created an opening for High, but the skipper spurned the opportunity.
Some of Aberdeen's build up play was a joy to behold with Ethan Ross playing really well, but a little more finesse in the final third would have created more openings.
The work-rate of the team certainly couldn't be questioned.
Trialist Taylor Wilson thought he'd made it 3-0 on 59 minutes when he dived to head home Ethan Ross's free kick, but an offside flag cut the celebrations short.
Connor Barron was having a huge influence in midfield, and a couple of superb passes almost created chances for Anderson.
Jackson saved bravely from Edmonds-Green as Huddersfield pushed for a goal which coach Dean Whitehead hoped would kick start a revival. The impressive Ruth was withdrawn to be replaced by Chris Antoniazzi, the former Queens Park man having done a lot of good work on the left.
Max Barry replaced Barron with 11 minutes left. Try as they might the Terriers couldn't break the Dons down, their frustrations showing as Edmonds-Green was yellow-carded for dissent, swiftly followed into the book by captain High after a foul on Ethan Ross.
David Dangana took the place of Anderson for the final few minutes of what had been a very entertaining and competitive match between two committed sides.
The sub was immediately into the action taking a pass from Seb Ross to drive forward before playing in fellow sub Chris Antoniazzi to finish neatly from the corner of the six yard box.
The icing on the cake of what had been a very impressive showing from the Dons Reserves. Next up will be Brentford's Reserves at Balmoral Stadium a week on Sunday.
Full time - Aberdeen Reserves 3 Huddersfield Town Reserves 0
Paul Sheerin Quotes
"It was an excellent victory.
"Throughout the game I thought we got most things spot on. I thought that the press was good.
"You are going into the unknown as well a little bit in terms of what you are up against.
"We guessed a wee bit that they would try and play out from the back and if we got the press right at that end of the pitch it would allow us more dominance in their half of the pitch and that turned out to be in the case, certainly in the first half.
"In the main, we created opportunities through the press, used the ball well, defended relatively well.
"We looked like a proper unit today.
"I am not getting carried away with myself, we have had some ups and downs already. It feels like March already but it is only September with the start that we have had!
"The players are willing to work and you can see that and they looked like a proper team today which was pleasing. We got the clean sheet as well today which I am delighted with.
"It is a real base for us to keep working on.
"We know we will have our moments as the season goes on but if we can go back to this and say "this is the standard that we have set." This is where we need to stick to as often and as we can and if we can keep these standards then we will have more opportunities than not to win the games.
"The foundation at the back was good and that allows the front players to go and express themselves."
"Territory wise, they dominated the last 20 minutes without giving us too many problems and it was just a case of being a proper team and managing the game.
"I thought we managed the game really well and I thought it was as well as we have managed a game for a few years as a team.
"We looked strong, stayed strong within our shape. It was really pleasing the whole afternoon. In terms of how we went about how we went about our business, how we managed the game when we went 2-0 up and then through that management you get more of a reward at the end through the goal from Chris Antoniazzi.
"It's nice to play against different opposition and maybe that shows for the boys that they don't know what to expect and maybe their levels, although it shouldn't be, subconsciously it might put them on edge and I think that's what this will offer this wee mini league.
"From that point of view, it is good for the boys.
"Even form my point of view, it is good to see something different about how teams play, it's a different test for you on the touchline. For everybody, it is a fresh outlook for us all.
"It was good to test ourselves and hopefully a real confident boost for them that they can see they can compete against teams like Huddersfield and they certainly done it today albeit they will know what we are about and no doubt they will try and put us in our place when we go down to their place. So we will have to be ready for that.
"It is really refreshing to do something different.
"The Brentford game will be a journey into the unknow for us. We will prepare ourselves as best as we can, in terms of our shape and how we want to play and if we need to tweak it throughout the game, we will be ready to do that, as we did today.
"It was good, I enjoyed today."
Jackson, Virtanen, Ngwenya, Robertson, Bollan (Barry 79), Wilson, Barron, Ross, Anderson (Dangana 87), Ross, Ruth (Antoniazzi 64).
Unused Subs: Turner, Duncan, Ramsay, Ritchie.
Chapman, Duhaney (Olagunju 44), Headley, Pata, Edmonds-Green, Austerfield (Akinola 63), Rowe, High (C), Elliott, Daly, Ijiwole (Peplow 54) Unused Substitutes:- Belagambi, McCamley.
Bookings:
Edmonds-Green 80, High 82
Venue: Glebe Park, Brechin
Referee: Abbie Hendry
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen AB24 5QH