Saltire Fashions North of Scotland Amateur Cup Semi Final at Heathryfold on Sunday 26th April
A first-half double from University striker Neil Rankin settled this North of Scotland Amateur Cup semi-final at Heathryfold on Sunday.
The students went into the game on the back of successive league defeats and knew that they would face a stiff test against a Dyce side who were contesting their third North of Scotland Cup semi-final in four years.
University started the game brightly with the wind at their backs but it was Dyce who almost took the lead after eight minutes when the ball fell to Thomson on the edge of the area but his shot finished just the wrong side of the post.
The students then started to impose themselves on the game and they carved out an opening after fifteen minutes when Rankin flicked the ball into the path of Lamont but Dyce keeper Holmes advanced from his line to thwart the midfielder.
The Premier Division side created another good opportunity two minutes later when a through ball from skipper Foster found Leitch unmarked but his effort flew narrowly over the bar. At the other end, Dyce came close to opening the scoring when Lynch rose above the University defence to meet a Noble free-kick and flashed a header just wide of target.
University then enjoyed a period of sustained pressure and they got their reward on 32 minutes when Leitch curled over an inviting cross from the right and Rankin sent a powerful header soaring beyond Holmes.
The students could easily have gone further ahead four minutes later when Kolawole unselfishly squared the ball to Rankin but the striker seemed to stumble at the critical moment and sent the ball past the post with the goal at his mercy.
However, the two University front men combined to devastating effect just before the interval when Kolawole nodded the ball through to Rankin who made light of the acute angle and fired a blistering shot across Holmes and into the bottom corner of the net.
Half-time: 2-0
Dyce made a change at half-time with Yates coming on up front and he almost made an immediate impact when he exchanged passes with Lynch in the inside left channel and drilled in a shot which Stephen did well to gather at his near post.
University thought that they had extended their lead on 55 minutes when Kolawole latched on to a Rankin pass and lashed the ball into the net but he was ruled just offside.
Dyce then went close to reducing the leeway with fifteen minutes remaining when Flett’s low cross from the right fell to Greig but University keeper Stephen made an important block as the substitute attempted to finish from close range. The Pitmedden Road side were unable to create any further openings and University held out for a deserved victory which takes them through to the final at Allan Park on Sunday 10th May where they will face either Hazlehead United or Echt.
Final score: 2-0
University: Stephen, Battle, Murison, Foster, Scott, MacArthur, Leitch, Kolawole, Rankin, Lamont, Bell. Substitutes: Allan, Rooney, Bremner, Whitfield, Holman
Dyce: Holmes, Flett, Nicolson, Noble, Duncan, Thomson, Glennie, Taylor, Hyland, Lynch, Hutcheon. Substitutes: Yates, Ogston, Greig, Cormack, Gray
Referee: G. Ross
