Motherwell 3 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen Under 18s fell to defeat on Friday afternoon in Motherwell by three goals to one on a difficult grass surface which was not conducive to a great game of football.
There was one change to the side that picked up three points down in Edinburgh on Tuesday against Hearts, Blair McKenzie returned to the starting XI, Kai Watson dropping out entirely. Alfie Bavidge led the line up front the day after claiming the accolade of Development Player of the season at the AFC Player of the Year Awards.

Aberdeen kept the Motherwell defence busy during the opening exchanges with a selection of early corners. McKenzie stood tallest in the box and made connection with one of the dead balls but could not find the net.
The Young Dons found themselves a goal behind on seven minutes after Rodrigo Vitols pass was intercepted, the ball squared to Mark Ferrie who made no mistake converting. It was an early setback but there was an abundance of time for Aberdeen to get back in the game.
Bavidge looked set to draw Aberdeen level soon after, but he was denied by a strong save from Josh Bogan. Adam Emslie suffered the same misfortune after being slipped in on goal by Dylan Lobban, but his shot was also well saved.
Up the other end the Steelmen still showed an attacking threat of their own, Jamie Mercer came sliding across to deny Ferrie as he towered down on goal. The pace of Motherwell on the counter-attack looked dangerous, Muhammad Adam was stretching the Dons defence with his pace in behind.
After half an hour Findlay Marshall showed what he was capable of, jinking in and around Motherwell bodies as he so often does, before eventually drawing a foul inside the box. The young midfielder took a fair whack in the process, but thankfully he was able to carry on.
Brendan Hamilton made no mistake from 12 yards, sending the keeper the wrong way and firing into his bottom right corner. Aberdeen were level, and it was no less than they deserved.
Before the interval Ferrie had another chance at the back post, Luca Ross?s ball was inviting but much to the relief of the Dons defence the 'Well number nine was unable to make any connection with the ball.

Half- Time: Motherwell 1-1 Aberdeen.

Unfortunately for the travelling Dons it would be Motherwell who would kick on and claim all three points in the second half. Vitols was called into action early into the 45, making a strong double save. Bavidge looked sharp, his pace and power left two Motherwell defenders on their backside in one run, but he couldn?t apply the finish. That was his last involvement of the game: Fatona also made way alongside the Dons striker, Cammy Wilson and Lewis Pirie their replacements for the remaining half hour.
There was almost an instant impact from Pirie after picking up a slack ball from Bogan, but the finished was a rushed one and the keeper was able to recover.
Motherwell took the lead for a second time after 73 minutes, substitute Richard Tambwe bundled the ball over the line with his second attempt.
Aberdeen had one more meaningful chance in them after Alfie Stewart tried his luck from the edge of the box, the ball eventually ricocheting around the six-yard box but there was to be no Dons leveller.
With a minute to go Motherwell added a third goal through Dylan Wells, converting a penalty after the referee adjudged there to be a pull inside the box.
A sore one for the Young Dons on the road.