With Ross and Matty still on holiday, Cory Ritchie and Sam Barbour from the Under-10s were in the squad today.

The game had not long started when Cameron Shore won the ball in defence and played a through ball for Bradley Neish to run onto and fire into the net to open the scoring [1-0]. Kemnay responded strongly and forced Sam to make a couple of good saves.  At the other end, Bradley and Bruce Anderson combined on the right and the in-rushing Fraser Wyness only just failed to connect with Bruce’s low, driven cross.

In defence Liam Strachan was sweeping up and driving forward at every opportunity, combining well with Bruce to attack up the right wing.  Glenn Murison fed Bradley but, just as he was about to shoot, the ball was nicked off his toes by a defender.  Around this point Glenn’s grandpa was in mid-sentence when he was hit on the back of the head by a stray ball from the game on the pitch behind, but to his credit he never missed a word!

Bruce, who has obviously been watching Rory Delap, launched a huge throw over the Kemnay defence which Glenn ran onto and fired into the top-left corner of the net [2-0].  Cory was introduced to the action and settled in well as Dyce continued to press, though Kemnay were dangerous.  Their striker turned to create some space and he fired in a fierce shot that Sam did well to tip over the bar.  The corner was cleared, but the striker soon had another chance again, this time his shot was lower and Sam blocked with his feet. And the striker's luck was out yet again when he was put through on goal but Sam pulled off a terrific double save.

The action returned to the other end when Glenn won possession in midfield and fed Bradley who drove through the defence, and although Bruce was unmarked in the centre, Bradley chose to go for goal himself [3-0].  Seconds later the Kemnay keeper did well to parry a fierce shot from Glenn and when Cory centred the ball to Bradley he looked certain to score but the keeper and defence did well to smother the danger on the line.

Half-time 3-0

Kemnay were straight on the attack from the re-start and Sam had to be alert to touch a shot around the post.  Liam won the ball in defence and played a pass to Bruce who advanced up the right wing before centring to Glenn who turned and shot into the net [4-0].  The next attack saw Fraser hit the by-line on the left and when he cut the ball back there were no fewer than three of his team-mates queuing up in the middle, but the ball ran behind them.  Glenn was first to react and when he shot, the ball was blocked on the line by Bruce (!!), and the chance was gone.

Cameron passed to Bruce and his shot was saved, but Glenn was on hand to net the rebound for his hat-trick [5-0].  With the game won, Jake and Ryan took the opportunity to move a few players into different positions.  Sam gathered the ball and quickly threw the ball out to Bruce, who in turn played a quick lofted pass to Fraser on the right wing….he cut in onto his left foot and fired the ball in off the far post [6-0].

Kemnay pulled a goal back when their lively striker twisted and turned to create space and then fired in a low shot that Sam couldn’t reach [6-1].  From an attacking corner, Dyce were nearly caught out moments later when Kemnay launched a quick counter-attack, but the defence got back just in time.  And shortly after that, there was another escape when a cross-shot from the right appeared to be going in until the Kemnay striker tried to apply the final touch but only succeeded in putting the ball over the bar.

The game finished with a rush of goals, the first being another effort from Bruce that was blocked, and this time Fraser netted the re-bound [7-1].  Next, a cross from Bruce on the right found Fraser at the back-post allowing him to claim his hat-trick [8-1].  Then a centre from Cameron on the left wing, reached Bradley who squeezed the ball between two defenders and the keeper for his hat-trick [9-1].  Finally….eventually….at last Bruce got his name on the score-sheet when he turned and shot, and this time the ball went in off the post [10-1].

Full-time 10-1

The boys played well today, particularly in the first half when they were playing into the wind.  A big thanks go to Cory and Sam who both played very well and didn’t look out of place in this higher age group.  And when was the last time a team had a hat-trick of hat-tricks??