Dee Amateurs 7 – 3 Halliburton
Aberdeen Trophy Centre Association Trophy Second Round at Tullos School on Saturday 7th September
Report by Andy McLaren
New Dee Amateurs midfielder Shaun Hanratty today admitted he has no regrets about joining the Division Two champions from rivals Torry Select.
The 22-year-old was man of the match in his sides comfortable 7-3 win over Halliburton in this Association Trophy match.
Shaun, who also had a spell with Highland League champions Cove Rangers, won two cups during his spell with neighbours Torry Select.
Dee became the first Juvenile team to achieve successive promotions in only their second season in the amateur leagues last term.
And Shaun believes the time was right to make the switch across to the other half of the Torry divide.
He said: “There was a spell where I wasn’t enjoying my football anymore so it was a last minute decision to join Dee.
“We have a magical bond at the club which made it easier to join Dee.
“The majority of my current friends all play for Torry Select so it was an extremely hard decision to make the switch.
“I don’t think there is any added pressure on me to do well simply because I have joined from a Torry rival so I’m expecting my most successful season yet.”
Founded in 1997, over 200 players participate for Dee at Juvenile, Ladies and Amateur level.
The former Juvenile outfit have had an unforgettable year last term, scoring 131 goals in the league.
And they continued their recent good results when Ryan Hall squeezed past goalkeeper Scott Marlow to slot the ball into an empty net after only 2 minutes.
Keiran Will doubled his side’s advantage when he neatly lofted the ball over the onrushing keeper to make it 2-0.
Halliburton, who currently sit 11th in Division One (East), replied on 25 minutes when Andrew Laing was unmarked at the back post to convert from 5 yards.
The Tullos outfit showed their resilience by extending their lead moments before half-time when Brett Aiken reacted the fastest to poke the ball home.
Half-time: 3 – 1
Four penalties were to be awarded in a frantic second-half.
Halliburton’s Laing scored his second of the game by calmly side-footing the ball past the diving Steven Ross.
The Westhill side were awarded a second penalty shortly after but Ross showed good reactions to save the ball with his legs before making a last-ditch block to deny Ross Fulton’s rebound.
Referee Andy MacLean once again pointed to the spot after Dee’s Keiran Will was hauled down by Scott Marlow. Derek Boylan calmly curved the ball past the Halliburton stopper to make it 4-2.
A fourth penalty was awarded on 70 minutes and Halliburton’s Chris Wilson managed to reacted quickly to strike the ball on the rebound to make it 4-3.
Dee continued to look the dominant side and found the net 5 minutes later when Sean Flett showed good composure to blast the ball past Marlow.
Boylan grabbed his side’s sixth goal before Will finished the scoring on 80 minutes to round off an impressive 7-3 win.
Full Time: 7 – 3
Dee Amateurs: Ross, Allen, Duthart, Milne, Ross, Leith, Boylan, Aiken, Hanratty, Will, Hall.
Subs: Cowe, Freeland, Wood, Flett.
Halliburton: Marlow, McDonald, Duncan, Jaques, Wilson, Young, Simpson, Fulton, Webster, Jaques, Laing, Fulton.
Subs: Howieson, Turner.
