Aberdeen 4 - 1 Dundee

With Robbie Mutch in hospital after a training ground injury and David Craddock also injured, it meant Scott Brown made an appearance for the U20s this evening in goal and he made two superb saves in the first half. McKenna partnered Rose in central defence with Harvie at left back and Henry moved over to right back. Robson and Flood were in central midfield with Wright and Ross on the flanks. Up front Parker supported Nuttall. Both teams had good opportunities in the opening minutes. After 4 minutes a Dundee free kick saw the ball chipped into Carreiro who was completely unmarked and looked certainly to score but with his back leg Brown made to made a very good block. The Dons defence were almost punished from the resulting corner as they switch off again and Skelly had a free shot on target but put his effort over. Then at the other end Nuttall was through but his shot was blocked by Mitchell. On 18 minutes McKenna almost capped his comeback with a goal but headed a corner against the post. Scott looked in very good form this evening despite his layoff. A minute later though a mistake at the back let in Carreiro but again Brown was on hand to make an outstanding save. On 27 minutes Nuttall showed good strength to shield the ball in the box before laying it off to Parker. His curling effort just went past. Then on 28 minutes Aberdeen took the lead from a corner. Robson swung over a ball and Dundee keeper Mitchell appeared to have claimed the ball. He then dropped it but appeared to have recovered the situation. Unluckily for him he hadn't and McKenna was on hand to knock the ball to Nuttall who scored probably the easiest goal of his career. It was harsh on the keeper who in fact had a very good game.
On 32 minutes Mitchell redeemed himself with a great reflex save from a Flood header. Then five minutes later he made another top save when he diverted a Robson free kick around the post. Barry was too close to go up and over the wall so he went round it. Mitchell would have seen the ball very late so it was a very good stop. And then on 40 minutes Mitchell was out quickly to block a run from Parker, diving bravely at his feet. On 43 minutes Josh had another chance after superb pass from Robson but Gallacher made a very good tackle covering across from his full back spot. And then on the stroke of half time good play by Scott Wright created an opening. He played a one two with Parker before his shot was beaten away by the keeper.

Aberdeen had stepped it up before the break and after the interval they completely dominated for a 20 minute spell as they played some very good attacking football at pace. On 51 minutes the lively Ross had a good run but his shot was blocked. On 53 minutes Parker showed good strength to set up Nuttall but he got underneath his shot. Then on 55 minutes the Dons dominance was rewarded when Nuttall set up Parker who finished well. About a minute later it was three. Again Nuttall had an assist as he timed his pass perfectly to Wright on his left and Scott slotted home. A minute after that it was almost three goals in three minutes but Nuttall just pulled his shot wide.
Credit to the Dundee youngsters as they did not fold and were rewarded when they pulled a goal back on 66 minutes. Skelly did very well out on the far right hand side and his ball across the box was fired home by Gemmell. Paul Sheerin immediately made a double change with Culjak and Craig Storie coming on. Storie has been out of action for a few months so his inclusion was a further boost for the Dons U20s. Dundee did threaten to get right back into the game but Aberdeen picked it up again and on 78 minutes a Parker through ball found Nuttall who had made a good run and the English striker finish well. With ten minutes to go Dylan Thomas came on for Flood.