Saltire Fashions North of Scotland Amateur Cup at Balgownie on Saturday 31st January
Old Aberdonians secured their place in the fourth round of the Saltire Fashions North of Scotland Amateur Cup with a comfortable win against Glendale Youth at Balgownie on Saturday. Two early goals from MacLennan set the home side on their way and second half strikes from Purdon, Wilson, Roper and Fraser sealed the victory.
The playing surface was showing little evidence of the recent heavy downpours and, after a quiet opening, the game burst into life when MacLennan accepted a pass from Ashton, controlled the ball on the edge of the area and, with little apparent backlift, fired the ball through a crowd of players and into the top corner to give the home side the lead.
Youth seemed undeterred by this early setback and enjoyed a period of dominance as they went in search of an equaliser. They were kept at bay by the woodwork after ten minutes when a cross from Wood drifted towards goal and rebounded into play off the back post and Birnie almost levelled matters two minutes later with a powerful downward header which flew narrowly wide of target.
However, Old Aberdonians sought to regain the initiative and they struck again midway through the opening period when Pocock surged forward from the left-back position and picked out MacLennan who doubled the lead with a crisp left foot volley.
The home side had a number of opportunities to go further ahead before the interval but they found visiting keeper Robertson in fine form. Wilson carved out an opening for himself in the inside left channel on the half hour mark but the keeper raced from his line to thwart the Old Aberdonians skipper. Roper then used his pace to get in behind the visiting defence and unselfishly centred for Ashton but Robertson scrambled across his goal to block the midfielder’s effort at the expense of a corner.
Half-time: 2-0
The hosts went on the offensive immediately after the break and it took two quite brilliant saves from Robertson to prevent them from extending their lead, as he tipped Roper’s goalbound header onto the crossbar and threw himself in the way of a close-range volley from Purdon.
At the other end, Glendale Youth were struggling to create many clear openings and their best opportunity of the half arrived on 55 minutes when a slick passing move ended with McNamara shooting straight at Clark.
The visitors’ defence was continually being stretched and Old Aberdonians added a finely crafted third goal fifteen minutes from time when Purdon latched on to a reverse pass from Wilson and curled the ball beyond the despairing dive of Robertson.
Purdon then turned provider three minutes later when he accelerated down the right flank and sent in a dangerous deep cross which was turned back across goal by Roper and despatched by Wilson.
The home side dominated the closing stages and they added two further goals in the final minutes. Roper steered a header past Robertson to grab number five and he was then the architect of the game’s final goal when he played a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Fraser who supplied a thunderous finish to complete the scoring.
Full Time: 6-0
Old Aberdonians: Clark, Craig, Pocock, Good, Cameron, Munro, Purdon, Ashton, MacLennan, Fraser, Wilson. Subs: Roper, Bruce, Russell, Macdonald
Glendale Youth: Robertson, Wood, Mair, Henderson, Cameron, Young, Reiach, Craig, C. Birnie, McNamara, Napier. Subs: Reid, R. Birnie, Milne, Merchant
Referee: Steve Jolly
