St. Mirren 4 - 2 Aberdeen

Aberdeen Under 18’s lost out to St Mirren on Friday afternoon in a topsy turvy game which saw both teams ahead at different points in the match.

The young Dons, whose last run out in the league had come nearly a month ago, showed no sign of ring rust in the early stages in Paisley and looked sharp from the get go. Alfie Bavidge led the line alongside Fletcher Boyd, both were involved in creating chances in the opening minutes.

It was to be the hosts that took the lead though with a goal coming out of nowhere, the Aberdeen defence unstuck by a hopeful ball over the top and Sutherland scored.

Aberdeen responded with a flurry of corners that continued to pile pressure on the young Buddies defence, Lewis Carroll’s header went narrowly wide. Bavidge looked to connect with a searching long ball, but he was unable to get the touch on it that would have taken it goal bound.

It wasn’t long until the equaliser arrived. Cammy Wilson played through Boyd whose hopeful effort at a difficult angle took a wicked deflection on its travels and looped over the helpless Kelly in the St Mirren goal.

The contest was really opening up with both sides passing up chances, St Mirren would have felt they should have led as a loose ball bounced around the Aberdeen six yard box after a corner, but there was no takers. Up the other end, Findlay Marshall arrived late to the edge of the box, his drilled effort on the volley deflected behind.

It was the skipper Alfie Stewart who gave Aberdeen the lead on 40 minutes after some intricate passing involving both the captain and Marshall inside the box which allowed Stewart to blast across the keeper and into the back of the net.

Rodrigo Vitols made an incredible double save from the restart to prevent an immediate St Mirren equaliser, but unfortunately for the stopper his effort were all in vain and the Buddies drew level from the resulting corner through McClelland.

HT. St Mirren 2 Aberdeen 2.

Unfortunately for Scott Anderson’s side, St Mirren picked up where they left off in the second half and  Mooney finished well inside the box within ten minutes of the restart to give his side the lead. Up the other end, Marshall retaliated with a powerful header that came back off the crossbar. Aberdeen looked as threatening from set pieces as they did vulnerable trying to defend them.

On the hour Bavidge’s race was run and the striker made way, Fraser Mackie on in his place upfront, just five minutes later Cammy Wilson was next to be replaced, Christovie Kondolo introduced.

St Mirren broke up any rhythm of the young Dons as the game became very stop start. Aberdeen just couldn’t properly get going. Their frustrations were compounded when the home side added a fourth and final goal with just over ten minutes to go, again from a corner.

In the remaining ten minutes Aberdeen were limited to a series of half chances, of which none were capitalised on and St Mirren were able to hold firm and see out the game, handing the Under 18’s their first league defeat of the campaign.