Aberdeen 3 - 0 St. Johnstone

An experienced Aberdeen Development side defeated St Johnstone this evening in Peterhead after putting in a very good performance. A young Saints side forced the Dons to work very hard for the win but in the end Aberdeen's quality was the difference as Paul Sheerin's side kept in touch with the teams at the top of the SPFL Development League.
Clark Robertson, who had a very good game, claimed an assist for all three goals. His crosses from the left picked out Kalvin Orsi in the first half who produced a stunning header, similar to goal last week, Lawrence Shankland for goal number 20 of the season and substitute Scott Wright who finished the scoring with a couple of minutes to go.

The U20s side lined up with Langfield in goal, Rose at right back with Gibbons and McKenna in central defence and Clark Robertson at left back. Robson and Flood were the sitting midfielders with Orsi, Masson and Smith ahead of them and Shankland up front. The Saints, who beat league leaders Hamilton last time out, started the game well and forced the first corner on 4 minutes. They then forced another corner but the Dons defence, who looked very solid all evening, dealt with them. On 8 minutes a ball through from Masson gave Cammy Smith a chase. He put pressure on the defender which caused him to pass back to his keeper who had no option but to pick the ball up. Robson blasted the free kick inside the area from about 10 yards out towards the net but keeper Hurst did well to get out quickly and make himself big enough so he could block the shot.
Aberdeen started to move through the gears. In 11 minutes a short corner was passed about until Smith blasted in a shot which Hurst did just enough to force behind. It was a decent save as there was a crowd of players in front of him. The keeper then undid his good work when he missed the corner but Aberdeen could not capitalise. Cammy Smith then made for the by-line but his cut back picked out a blue jersey and not a red one. Then on 19 minutes the referee played a very good advantage after Robson was flattened with a late tackle. Barry found the overlapping Clark Robertson and his pinpoint cross picked out Orsi who like last week produced a very good header to power the ball past Hurst. The ball was slightly behind him so Kalvin did extremely well to get so much power on it.
Aberdeen were knocking the ball about really well on the impressive Peterhead pitch but on the half hour mark the Dons were lucky when a short back pass from McKenna failed to find Langfield. Kyle Lander got to the ball first but the keeper who was outside his area made a very good saving tackle. After that St Johnstone deserve a lot of credit for holding their own during the rest of the half. They were also frustrating the young Dons who had been playing so well but had maybe become a bit complacent.

St Johnstone started the second half strongly but on 49 minutes a swift break saw the Dons having a chance when Clark Robertson's cross found Shankland but he could not direct the ball goalwards. After 54 minutes Aberdeen had a strong penalty claim when Flood went down in the box. Willo certainly thought it was a pen. The Dons were by now making a better job of moving the ball quickly in the final third but St Johnstone still had their moments and on 57 minutes they wasted a great chance when the pacey George Hunter broke free down the right. His cross went right across the face of goal with Simpson coming in at the back post only inches away from getting a touch. Robson then played in Smith but his low shot was saved by Hurst. Then Smith crossed for Orsi but his header failed to find the target. On the hour mark Scott Wright replaced Orsi and three minutes later the Dons got their second. Similar to the first it was a good move. Smith played it wide to Robertson and this time the Scotland U21 left back put over a really good low cross at pace which was finished off by Shankland at the near post. It was a neat finish from Lawrence who had got ahead of his marker with an intelligent run.
On 70 minutes Hunter forced Langfield into a good save. At the other end Hurst then made a very good save to keep out a Smith drive after the ball had been laid off by Shankland. On 73 minutes Campanile replaced Masson in the midfield area which was still extremely competitive. On 75 minutes Shankland scooped the ball over the bar from very close range and then McKenna had good tackle on Hunter. Scott was looking back to his best this evening after his injury lay off. His central defensive partner Gibbons also put in a very composed performance. Aberdeen continued to playing some excellent stuff and they were rewarded with a goal two minutes from time. Robson, who was still chasing every ball as if it was the first minute of the game, he really is a great example to the young players; played a great reverse ball through for Robertson to chase. From the by-line Clark cut it back and his ball found Wright running onto it at pace. Scott from about 6 yards out blasted the ball home to seal another very good win for the Dons.