Aberdeen Survives Huntly Challenge to Progress in Aberdeenshire Shield

Aberdeen FC narrowly defeated Huntly FC 3-2 in a thrilling first-round match of the Morrison Motors Aberdeenshire Shield on November 1, 2023, at Christie Park. The Dons initially established a two-goal lead but allowed the Highland League side to mount a strong comeback, ultimately securing their place in the quarter-finals.

Development coach Stuart Duff expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s second-half performance despite advancing to the next round. “We were unfortunate not to be further ahead and we need to be more clinical,” Duff stated. He added, “In the second half we were quite poor, and we’re disappointed with that. Huntly pushed us all the way, so credit to them.”

Huntly began the match with vigor, showcasing their determination against a full-time professional team. Aberdeen’s goalkeeper, Rodrigo Vitols, made a crucial fingertip save to deny Huntly’s Kai Watson a stunning goal from 35 yards.

Aberdeen took control of the match after 15 minutes, demonstrating their quality. A well-placed pass from Alfie Stewart found Dylan Lobban on the right flank, who squared the ball for Joseph Teasdale to tap into an empty net. Just moments later, Lobban struck again, only to see his effort deflected onto the post.

The Dons doubled their lead midway through the first half when Mitchell Frame delivered a cross, which Peter Ambrose converted from close range. As the first half drew to a close, Huntly found the net through Angus Grant, who capitalized on a cross from Ryan Sewell to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The second half saw a dramatic shift when Grant equalized just a minute into play, finishing neatly from 10 yards after Aberdeen failed to clear their lines. However, the Dons quickly responded; in the 53rd minute, Alfie Bavidge set up Teasdale, who found the bottom right corner, restoring Aberdeen’s lead.

As the match progressed, Huntly continued to apply pressure. Substitute Matthew Wallace had two excellent opportunities to score, both created from deliveries by Lewis Crosbie. Wallace’s first header struck the bar, while his second attempt went straight into Vitols’ hands.

Coach Stuart Duff acknowledged the challenge posed by Huntly, saying, “To pull ourselves off the canvas at 2-0 down against a team of that quality shows what we’re about.” He noted the need for improvement, emphasizing that his team must convert more chances to avoid similar close calls in the future.

Aberdeen’s next challenge lies in the quarter-finals, where they will face either Banks o’ Dee or Turriff United away from home on November 12, 2023. As the Dons look to refine their performance, the match served as a reminder of the competitiveness in the Aberdeenshire Shield.

In other action from the Shield, Dyce is set to face Hermes in the first round at Ian Mair Park later tonight.