Inverness CT 0 - 3 Aberdeen

Clark Robertson and Craig Storie both made their comebacks this afternoon as the Aberdeen U20s got the second half of their season up and running with a thoroughly deserved win against a strong Inverness Caley Thistle side at the Caledonian Stadium. Apart from a couple of games, Clark Robertson has been out for close to a year so Derek McInnes will be delighted to have him available again. Clark played the full 90 minutes and looked comfortable throughout.
It was a very good second half performance from the young Dons today, arguably their best 45 minutes of the season. Aberdeen had controlled most of the game and then after the hour mark Declan McManus scored two goals in the space of a couple of minutes. Declan, playing his first game for the reds after his loan spell at Morton, was in very impressive form. Michael Rose added a third late on.

It was a new look side that lined up in Inverness. In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Mutch was in goal with Sam Robertson at right back, Rose and Harvie were in central defence and Clark Robertson at left back. Gibbons and Storie were the holding midfielders with Campanile, Wright and Masson in front of them and Declan McManus upfront. In a high quality game, played in ideal conditions, the home side forced a corner in the first couple of minutes and then the Dons forced their first on 7 minutes after fine play by Scott Wright who looked in the mood all afternoon. On 13 minutes Jamie Masson, in action for the Dons again after his loan spell at Brechin, curled in a very inviting free kick which went right across the six yard box but no one could get a decisive touch.
Both teams had long spells of possession as they knocked the ball about on the deck but there were no real chances in the first 20 minutes. On 23 minutes the first save of the game, Declan McManus with a snap shot which forced Mackay into a decent stop. After 26 minutes Scott Wright forced a corner after a determined run down the left. From it, McManus had a half chance but could not get enough power on his header. Then just before the half hour mark Masson struck a lovely shot which just whistled past the post. Paul Sheerin's team were now looking the better side but Inverness CT as ever were making them work very hard. On 42 minutes Masson picked out McManus with a corner but Declan's header just went over the bar. The striker looked frustrated as it was a very good header but one which he could not keep down. Then a minute later Scott Wright had chance when he tried to curl the ball into the top corner but the effort did not have enough bend on it.

Twenty seconds after the restart the Dons very nearly scored. Declan McManus did very well to power his way into the box, he beat the last defender but his shot from a very tight angle missed the target and was too strong for any for his team mates who were trying to get up in support. Then a few minutes later a moment of controversy as Scott Wright sped past everyone down the left and cut into the box. Scott then went down in the box after a challenge but no penalty was given. The referee felt it was a coming together of two plays and not a foul. Shortly after that Mutch was forced to make his first save, keeping out a shot from Ryan Christie before Michael Rose headed a corner agonisingly wide. Then McManus fired a shot just past. In 55 minutes Aberdeen thought they had taken the lead when Campanile forced home a corner but the linesman had his flag up for an infringement. Then on 64 minutes the Dons finally broke the deadlock. Marcus campanile played the ball to Scott Wright who in turn played a great through ball which set McManus free. The striker steadied himself before hitting a left footed shot into the corner of the net. A really good finish from Declan.
On 65 minutes Paul Sheerin made a change, Kalvin Orsi came on for Campanile. Then after 66 minutes Aberdeen scored a second. Good pressing from the Dons, something they did all afternoon, Craig Storie then won the ball and played in wide to McManus. He stepped inside his marker and calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net. Another very good finish. After that the Dons were in control. They played some very good football and got a deserved third in the 87th minute when Michael Rose scored with a powerful header from a corner. A really dominant display from Paul Sheerin's side.