Queens Park 1 - 2 Aberdeen

The sun was beating down on Pollock Park to mark the start of a new CAS 18’s league campaign as the Young Dons travelled down to Glasgow to play Queen’s Park.

Aberdeen had the first chance of the match in the fifth minute as a great ball over the top of the home back line dropped for Fraser Mackie. Mackie took the ball down well and volleyed a shot which was matched by Queens goalkeeper Sam Kane who made a fine stop.

Aberdeen then had another chance in the sixteenth minute after a brilliant chipped pass from Cammy Wilson found the run of Mackie perfectly and the striker flicked the ball into the bottom left corner but the referee called for offside to keep the game at 0-0.

However, the deadlock was broken just two minutes later after a misplaced pass from Kane found Alfie Stewart who calmly passed to Fletcher Boyd. Boyd managed to keep his composure as he coolly slotted the ball into a practically empty net from outside of the box to give Aberdeen the lead.

Queens Park’s first chance of the game came in the twenty second minute after a long jinking run from Ross McLean left teammate Jude Bell in space. After the pass found Bell, he struck a powerful shot which rattled off the post to keep Aberdeen’s lead intact.

Only a minute later, Aberdeen were on the counter attack as Mackie slid in Wilson one-on-one with the goalie. Wilson’s shot was well saved by the strong hand of Kane.

Aberdeen were by far the dominant team at this stage as another chance for the young Dons came in the thirty fourth minute. Some brilliant footwork from Victor Enem down the right-hand side allowed him to square the ball to Mackie, and his effort trickled just wide.

Aberdeen’s second goal came in the fortieth minute after a great cross from captain Stewart was met by the head of Jamie Mercer at the front post and he fired the ball into the top left corner.

There was drama right on the stroke of half time after Aberdeen goalkeeper Rodrigo Vitols took down a Queen’s Park player inside the area and got a yellow card. The penalty was taken by Liam McVey but was brilliantly saved by Vitols to his bottom right. Vitols was very quickly back on his feet and then remarkably save the rebound attempt to keep Aberdeen’s two goal cushion. Outstanding goalkeeping.

Going in at half-time the Young Dons looked positive and hungry to score more whilst also keep their clean-sheet intact.

HT. Queen’s Park 0 Aberdeen 2

However, the second half got off to the worst possible start for Aberdeen as in the forty sixth minute keeper Vitols was sent off after a second yellow card for being adjudged to have thrown the ball away.

This meant substitute keeper Rueben Smillie came on.

This didn’t deter Aberdeen as in the sixtieth minute they were back on the attack. This time with Enem down the right-hand side. He managed to find Wilson who got a fast shot away, but the effort trickled wide.

Queens Park’s first chance of the second half came in the seventy first minute after some nice build up play down the right wing left Tyrece McDonnell with a chance on the volley. However, his effort sailed over Smillies goal.

For the rest of the proceedings Scott Anderson’s side managed the game extremely well.

There was however a late flurry of chances for the home side as in the eighty ninth minute some nice movement left McDonnell free again. His shot from outside the box was curling towards the top left corner but was well caught and held by Smillie.

Queen’s Park did manage to score in the ninetieth minute after a cross was fired in low and met by the foot of substitute Lewis Burchill. His shot was fired hard and central into the net. But it was too little too late.

Shortly after this the full-time whistle was blown and the match ended at 2-1 to the visitors. The Young Dons battled hard throughout, and toughed it out when they had to, especially when down to ten men. A positive start to the season.

Next up, a development squad will travel up to Brora on Wednesday night. The match at Dudgeon Park kicks off at 7:30pm.