Dundee United 2 - 3 Aberdeen

Despite St Andrews being the home of golf, today it was the home to Dundee United v Aberdeen Under 18’s in the CAS 18’s League. The sun was shining down on the St Andrews University Sports Complex on what was set to be a close tie.

The first chance of the game went Dundee United’s way in the sixth minute after a ball was looped over the back line to Macleod who tried to cut the ball across the goal but was prevented by doing so by Dons keeper Rueben Smillie.

On the other side of the pitch, in the fourteenth minute, a good high press from the Young Dons led to Cameron Smith trying a nice over the top ball looking for Alfie Bavidge but the defence did well to clear its lines and prevent any shot.

Two minutes later Aberdeen were on the attack again. This time a brilliant looping cross from Brendan Hamilton found the feet of Bavidge who tried to manoeuvre himself to get a shot off, but a United defender managed to get a toe to the ball to clear it for a corner.

In the twenty third minute, Dundee United winger Carnwath collected the ball on the right edge of the box and hit a low hard effort which was well delt with and held by Smillie.

Dundee United broke the deadlock in the twenty ninth minute after striker Stirton stopped the ball dead and curled a shot into the bottom right corner with the aid of a deflection from an Aberdeen defender, making it 1-0.

Aberdeen, eager to get the score back to level before the break were committing to a high press. This nearly paid off in the thirty fourth minute after a mix up between the United defence left Smith coming away with the ball facing goal. However, while trying to line up a shot some alert tracking back meant United able to clear the ball away.

Minutes later, in the thirty sixth minute, a goal mouth stramash in the United box as multiple Aberdeen players try to get a shot away but some brave defence from the United back line and goalkeeper meant their clean sheet was still intact going into the interval.

HT. Dundee United 1 Aberdeen 0

The second half started brilliantly for the Young Dons as in the fiftieth minute United goalkeeper Haldane dropped the ball and picked it back up again meaning the referee gave a free kick to Aberdeen inside of the United box. The free kick was taken by Hamilton who rolled the ball to Bavidge who struck a hard shot which ricochet off numerous United players before ending up in the back of the net.

In the sixty third minute Aberdeen captured the lead after some brilliant passing around the edge of the box which left space for Fraser Mackie, who had just come on, to hit a low and hard shot which fired past the united goalkeeper.

Tensions seemed to rise after the second goal, with United desperate to get back into the game. This came to a head in the seventy fifth minute where Bavidge collected the ball and drove towards goal. Whilst doing this United midfielder Bertie lunged into a dangerous challenge and took out the Aberdeen striker. This led to Bertie being sent off and put United down to ten men.

Despite being a man down, Dundee United managed to bring the game back to level in the eightieth minute through a penalty after Forbes was taken down in the box by Alfie Stewart. Forbes took the penalty and calmly placed the ball into the bottom right corner.

Coming into the last five minutes Aberdeen were pushing hard for a goal to give them the three points. With two minutes left on the clock Fletcher Boyd took a shot which deflected off the back of a Dundee United defender. However, the deflection fell perfectly to the feet of Findlay Marshall who fired a rocket into the back of the net to make it 3-2!

When the referee blew his full-time whistle the Young Dons looked ecstatic as they knew they would be taking all three points up the road with them after a tough match against a strong Dundee United side. That win gives the team six points out of a possible six so far in the league as they hope to keep their fine vein of form for weeks to come.