Dyce Boys Club F.C. Aberdeen
Founded 1980

Under 11s  -  Match Report

Bridge Of Don SC  3 - 7  Dyce Boys Club FC

Sunday 29th March 2009

Upper Westfield 

“The last time I saw a pitch this size, I was eight years old and playing Subbuteo” observed one parent as the game was about to start. Harsh but fair, when you consider these boys will be playing 11-a-side before long.

Dyce carved out the first clear chance when Bruce had a shot saved, and Bradley was first onto the rebound, but his close-range effort went over the bar. Bridge of Don had a period of pressure with a shot that went wide, then a passing move which required a last-ditch tackle from Fraser to avert the danger, and Ross had to use his feet to kick clear. But it was Dyce who opened the scoring when Bruce crossed from the right, Fraser returned the ball into the centre and Glenn was on hand to net from close range [1-0].

Bradley had a strong claim for a penalty denied, before Dyce extended their lead in bizarre circumstances. On the halfway line, Bruce and an opponent contested the ball and Bruce managed to punt the ball high and forward….amazingly the ball bounced high and over the keeper into the net [2-0]. Bruce tried his luck again moments later with a strong shot, but the keeper pulled off a great save this time, tipping the ball over the bar.

From a free-kick on the left, Glenn found Dylan who attempted a bicycle kick, but he failed to connect. From a corner on the right, Glenn and Dylan both met the ball about the same time and one of them knocked it into the net for a goal….it wasn’t clear which player had scored, but Dylan showed a striker's instinct and claimed it anyway [3-0]. Moments later Bridge of Don pulled a goal back when their striker gained possession and fired home a firm shot [3-1]. Soon there was more pressure in front of the Dyce goal and both Lewis and Liam made last-ditch tackles to clear the danger.

Dylan collected the ball on halfway, turned past his marker and raced clear, but his shot was saved well by the keeper. At the other end Bridge of Don fired in a free-kick on the right, but Ross was alert and he tipped the ball over. The last action of the half saw Dyce extend their lead from a fine passing move….Lewis found Glenn in midfield, who passed out to Bruce on the right, before returning the ball to Glenn….he struck in a strong shot that the keeper pushed onto the post and as the ball ran along the line Bradley arrived to tap in [4-1].

Half-time:  4 - 1

Glenn started the second half like a man possessed and increased the lead when he collected the keeper's kick-out, stepped forward and drove the ball into the net [5-1]. The score at this stage would appear comfortable, but the reality was anything but. The Dyce defence failed to deal with the ball and a Bridge of Don player seized on the chance to strike a shot in off the post [5-2]. Bridge of Don kept up the pressure, and after one effort went just past the far post, they scored again when the ball was only partially headed out and their player lofted the ball over Ross from 15 yards [5-3].

Dyce steadied themselves with a couple of passing moves, then Dylan had a header saved right on the line. Liam played the ball up the left to Fraser and when his cross arrived in the centre, Bruce fired the ball home [6-3]. Cameron played a good pass out of defence to Glenn who found Fraser but his shot went wide, then a Bridge of Don defender performed an unorthodox “Scorpion” clearance like the Columbian goalie at Wembley a few years back.

Derek the ref then took centre-stage when he first stated “the ball was out” in the style of John McEnroe, before getting in the way of a Dyce clearance to set up a chance for the opposition, but his son tipped the shot over to save further abuse from the touchline. Then followed what could only be described as a “scrum”, to borrow some rugby terminology, involving three players from each team in a “huddle” of tackles, blocks, boots and flying mud….it was quite a battle out there.

Matty was having a storming performance on the left wing at this point with numerous runs, crosses and shots over a 10 minute period, but unfortunately none of them returned the goal they deserved. However, the final goal arrived when Bruce ran up the right wing and centred for Bradley to fire in a shot at the left post that went in despite the efforts of the keeper and a defender [7-3]. Dyce almost got another goal right at the end when Dylan collected the ball on halfway and released Fraser on the right….he cut in, and in, and in, past successive defenders before shooting….the ball appeared to be going in but it struck Dylan on the back and the defence cleared.

Full-time:  7 - 3

The predictions were that the tight pitch would make for a tight game, and so it came to pass. This was a battle first and foremost, the “silky stuff” had to take a back seat for once.

Coaches: Jake and Ryan Petrie

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