Cowdenbeath v Aberdeen U20s

 

The Aberdeen Under 20s will travel down to Fife on Saturday for their first pre-season game and take on Cowdenbeath.

 

The side are managed by ex Scotland player Colin Cameron and will play in the Scottish First Division next season after getting promoted last season, so it will be a good test for Neil Cooper's young side. 

 

The Friendly will take place at Central Park, Cowdenbeath on Saturday 14th July.

 

Kick off is at 3.00pm

 

Admission charge is Adults £8 and concessions £4

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/articles/20120711/meet-the-new-u20-players_2212158_2844941

 

As each season starts afresh, hope springs eternal that this is the season where the Dons get themselves back up to the right end of the table. But it's not all about the first team, for within the younger age groups at Pittodrie, youthful optimism is always the order of the day. We recently welcomed eight fresh recruits into Neil Cooper's U20 side, and to find out more about Aberdeen's stars of the future, we spoke to the man who discovered them, AFC Youth Academy Chief Scout Colin Grant.

 

"It is new adventure for eight different players. Two from Ireland, two from Edinburgh, two from Glasgow, one local lad and one from the North.

 

"Marcus Campanile and Zach Szemis have both arrived from our Edinburgh Centre. Marcus played a couple of trial games for us back at the beginning of the year, as did Zach. Both play with Edina Hibs in the juvenile league down in Edinburgh. Campanile is a midfielder and Szemis is a right back, who can play centre back as well. They showed up well in the trial games and then they came up here for the Easter week and everyone was impressed by them, their ability on the ball and the way they handled themselves.

 

"Scott Ferries is a right sided midfielder from Tain and has been in the system since he was 11 years old. He played for the pro youth 13s, 14s, 15s and 17s and obviously he is now going full time. Stuart Close is local lad who has been in our system for two years. Stuart, who is a centre half, went to Bucksburn Academy and as well as playing for the U17s last season he also featured at the tail end of last year's campaign in the U19 squad.

 

"Jamie Hamilton and Scott Macaulay are both from our Glasgow centre. Jamie can play wide left or wide right, he is an exciting player who can dribble with the ball. He is good with the ball at his feet. He creates havoc and has good pace. Scott is a goalkeeper was originally with Rangers. He has come to us as I have been watching him for a while. It was good to finally get our man so to speak.

 

"Alan O'Sullivan is a striker. He has been coming over from Dublin for about a year and a half now. He is an U15 and U16 Republic of Ireland International. Sean Hume I saw at the Galway Cup last year and brought him over a couple of times and he also impressed the coaches. Sean is a centre half.

 

"It brings the number of players from Ireland to eight. Josh Magennis and Niall McGinn both play for Northern Ireland and we have Jonny Hayes, Joe Shaughnessy, Matthew McMahon, Danny Rogers from the Republic as well Sean and Alan.

 

"There are more youth players playing football on a Sunday morning in Dublin that there is in the whole of Scotland. There are over 100,000 kids playing football in Dublin   so it is a hotbed of potential talent. I go across to the Galway and Foyle Cups and I also go to Limerick for the Kennedy Cup which is an U14 competition with all the best school boys. I have picked up a couple of goalkeepers who are now in the system. The quicker we can get players into the system the better."

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/18/61/0,,10284~11034904,00.jpg[/img]

Alan O'Sullivan 24/03/1995 Centre Forward Rep Ireland

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/14/61/0,,10284~11034900,00.jpg[/img]

Sean Hume 13/03/1996 Central Defence Rep Ireland

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/16/61/0,,10284~11034902,00.jpg[/img]

Scott Ferries 07/03/1996 Right Mid / Wing Scottish

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/15/61/0,,10284~11034901,00.jpg[/img]

Scott Macaulay 05/08/1995 Goalkeeper Scottish

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/17/61/0,,10284~11034903,00.jpg[/img]

Jamie Hamilton 06/07/1995 Right Mid / Wing Scottish

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/1a/61/0,,10284~11034906,00.jpg[/img]

Marcus Campanile 16/03/1996 Centre Midfield Scottish

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/12/61/0,,10284~11034898,00.jpg[/img]

Zach Szemis 13/05/1996 Right Back / Central Defence Scottish

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/13/61/0,,10284~11034899,00.jpg[/img]

Stuart Close 06/11/1995 Central Defence Scottish

I emailed Pittodrie about it earlier.

 

Will let you know if they respond.

We can confirm the match details for our forthcoming Youth Cup match as follows:

 

MATCH: Celtic v Aberdeen

 

COMPETITION: SFA Youth Cup, 5th Round

 

DATE: Sunday 24th February 2013

 

VENUE: Firhill Stadium

 

KICK-OFF: 2pm

 

 

 

Any idea how much it is into this?

Planning on going along

 

Might head through to this as well.

Jack in the team to play Falkirk

 

 

Squad: Duguid, Gibbons, Hamilton, Jack, MacAulay, Masson, McManus, Milsom, Murray, Naysmith, O'Sullivan, Rose, Rumsby, Smith

Jack in the team to play Falkirk

 

 

Squad: Duguid, Gibbons, Hamilton, Jack, MacAulay, Masson, McManus, Milsom, Murray, Naysmith, O'Sullivan, Rose, Rumsby, Smith

 

Jack and Naysmith. Both good signs.

Finished 3-3.

 

 

Rumsby, Milsom and a Jack penalty.

Great to see Milsom and Jack both scoring.  That Jacks first game back?

Ryan Jack and Gary Naysmith both returned to competitive action this afternoon at Stirling University and helped the Aberdeen U20s to a draw against Falkirk U20s in a highly entertaining game.  Ryan played the full 90 whilst Gary played for an hour. It is likely that both will be in the squad for the game against Dundee on Friday night.

Neil Cooper's side lined up with Dan Twardzik in goal, making his first appearance in an Aberdeen shirt, Murray was at right back with Rose and Rumsby in central defence with Naysmith at left back. The midfield four were Gibbons, Jack, Milsom and Masson. Cammy Smith and Declan McManus were paired upfront.

In front of a healthy crowd which included Craig Robertson, Billy Stark, Scott Severin, Chris Clark, Paul Hartley, Callum Davidson, Craig Brown, Jocky Scott and Archie Knox, the Dons started the game poorly and Falkirk looked the better side in the opening stages. The impressive Lewis Small turned Rose and was unfortunate to see his shot come back off the post. The Dons defence were then caught out again when they were hit on the break. With a two on one Small did well to break and time his pass for Thomas Grant to latch on. The son of former Aberdeen player Brian, put the ball across the keeper into the corner of the net.

You would have thought the goal would have woken the Dons up a bit but all it did was lift Falkirk. Again poor defending allowed Craig Sibbald space and far too much time on the edge of the box. From a central area he dispatched the ball into the corner of the net. Again poor Twardzik had no chance.

Slowly Aberdeen started to get into the game and Jack and Milsom in the middle of the park started to get the ball moving forward. They forced a number of corners and on 25 minutes got themselves back into the game. Jamie Masson swung in a good corner and Scott Rumsby brilliantly sent a thunderous header into the net from about 8 yards. The rest of the half saw few chances for either side but it was a more even affair. After a few stern words at half time from Neil Cooper the Dons started the second strongly and were playing at a much higher tempo.

Just on the hour mark Gary Naysmith came off and was replaced by Craig Duguid, who himself was returning from injury. Gary had looked very comfortable and solid throughout. Before leaving the pitch he passed the captains armband to Ryan Jack.

Three minutes later the Dons deservedly got themselves back on level terms. Ryan Jack played it to Rob Milsom who from about 30 yards out hit a fantastic low volley into the corner of the net. It was quite a strike. Shortly after that they had another chance when Cammy Smith set up Masson but he blasted over.

The Dons were now well on top. Craig Murray was making his usual great runs down the right and putting in some good crosses. On 77 minutes the Dons completed the comeback when they took the lead. Declan McManus turned brilliantly in the box and forced the centre half to make a tackle. The linesman on the far side felt though it was a foul and flagged instantly. The referee acting on his advice pointed to the spot for a penalty. Former Dons Alex Smith, Neil MacFarlane and Stevie Crawford on the Bairns bench were furious. They might have had a case as it did look as though the defender did get a touch on the ball. Anyway Ryan Jack coolly stepped up and put the keeper the wrong way.

That should have been that but full credit to Falkirk who never gave up and on 83 minutes a slip at the back allowed in Small who pounced and put the ball past Twardzik who got on hand on it but could not keep it out of the net.

The final minutes of the game were extremely entertaining as both teams pushed for a winner. Both teams also had their chances. Cammy Smith turned Brisbane leaving him with a run in on goal. The defender clearly pulled hauled Smith back as he was about to shoot but incredibly the referee shock his head and waved play on. It looked a stonewall penalty - certainly more so than the one that was given. Just after that McManus broke free from his marker and was able to turn and get a shot away but the ball went agonisingly past the post with the keeper rooted to the spot. Falkirk though also had their chances at the end and hit the woodwork for the third time in the afternoon. 

In the end a draw was probably a fair result. 

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/javaImages/66/c8/0,,10284~11651174,00.jpg[/img]

"3 NEW SIGNINGS"

a couple of interesting spectators there.

Milsom Goal:

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIxo3Mho-4Y

Currently 5-0 up on Dundee.

Currently 3-1 up on Killie, though we've also missed a penalty.

we've also missed a penalty.

 

Broon must go

6-1 now.

off to watch them play the Hibs kids today, looking forward to a good few goals

off to watch them play the Hibs kids today, looking forward to a good few goals

 

Kiss of death

 

Nothing each it is then

 

Kiss of death

 

Nothing each it is then

 

I'll let you know.

I've seen then v Celtic twice in the last few weeks and they looked good but did lack a bit of cutting edge up front but their other scores in the league suggest otherwise so guess we'll find out if it was Celtic defence or my curse that was at play

ach fuck

plenty of goals, just there were 4 for them and only 1 for us.

Ours was a neat looping over head kick for McManus.

0-2 at half time and then looked like we were back in it with the wind at our backs but we lost a quick goal after getting back into the game and the wrapped up things with time to spare.

Bit disappointing but number 3, Craig Murray looked good down the right and Kieran Gibbons was solid in the middle.

 

Noticeable that their bench gave far more instructions, encouragement and criticism than our bench who just sat silently for  the most part.  They were also pretty pissed at the ref from the off, but then according to the camera man he was a jambo.

 

Great wee set up Hibs have. 2 full size synthetic pitches that were being used by (I guess) their u16 team for a training match. Also about 4 full sized grass pitches plus whatever indoor facilities.

Really is an embarrassment we have nothing like this.  I know who I would choose to join if offered the choice between Hibs and Aberdeen.

U20s finished their season today with a 3-2 win at Inverness.

They finish in 2nd place as top scorers with 77 goals from 28 games a defensive record bettered only by Celtic.

Great show from the loons and hopefully they will have a chance to get some recognition at the Hearts game.

Now just to get some of this attacking verve into the first team