Dyce today welcomed  Marden Bridge Middle School from Whitley Bay on their annual football tour to Aberdeen.  Dyce Boys Club’s first game against Marden Bridge was way back in 1988 and it’s great to see Marden Bridge team manager Paul Phillips still taking his team up here 20 years later. 

Marden Bridge kicked off and pegged Dyce Boys Club back into their own half with some good passing moves early on in the game.   A break up the left by Ben Leslie saw him cross the ball into the box but Steve Collins in goals for Marden Bridge made a comfortable save.  Dyce had another good move when Alex Cobban played a through ball to Daniel Middler but his flick on found Dylan McElwee in an off-side position.  With 10 minutes gone, play was confined mainly to midfield with no real chances being created by either team.

Jordan Clark played a lovely through ball to Dylan McElwee but Yaz Haddad tracked his run and cleared the ball for a corner which came to nothing.  A promising move up the right hand side saw Cameron Laird play the ball out wide to Shane Pirie on the right and although he beat two defenders Djembe Askins got in a good tackle to clear the ball for a corner.  From the corner the ball bobbled in the box and was eventually cleared.

Jack Pirie at right back, picked up a long clearance in his own half and played a great through ball over the top of the Marden Bridge defence to Dylan McElwee but Steve Collins in goals rushed from his line and cleared the danger.   Keeper Collins was called into action again after Ben Leslie passed a ball inside to Alex Cobban and when the ball was played through to Dylan McElwee the Marden Bridge stopper made a fine save.

James Mason took a throw-in to Yaz Haddad who played the ball down the line for James to cross into the Dyce box. Keeper Charlie Allardes was alert to the danger saving saving the cross ball confidently.  Latching on to a ball over the top of the Dyce defence Daniel Cavanah drove in on goals but Aaron Penny made a last gasp tackle just inside the box and the danger was eventually cleared.  Jake Wilson tried his luck from long range with a fierce shot which the Dyce keeper saved at the second attempt.

A good run up the right hand side by Shane Pirie was stopped by a good tackle from James Mason.  Steven Collins made another fine save from a well hit strike from Dylan McElwee.   A good passing move between Alex Cobban, Dylan McElwee and Dan Middler was eventually stopped when Noah Summers made a timely tackle.  A cross into the Marden Bridge box caused a bit of panic and Dan Middler managed to get in a shot which was blocked and when the ball was knocked forward, Dylan McElwee was inches off-side.

Marden Bridge broke to the other end and a good passing move was stopped by a timely interception by Aaron Penny.  Daniel Middler picked up a long clearance from Adam Monk and played a defence splitting pass through to Ben Leslie who drove in on goals and athough his shot beat Steve Collins in goals it went narrowly past the far post.  A clever reverse pass by Cameron Laird saw Dan Middler through on goals but Steve Collins made a first class save and blocked the ball with his legs.  In 29 minutes Dylan McElwee beat three players on a mazy run up the left hand side, drew two defenders and squared the ball across the box for Dan Middler who had space and time to pick his spot and he blasted the ball home.  Two minutes later referee Abby McDonald blew for the end of a very well contested and entertaining first half.

Half Time:  1  -  0

Both teams made a number of changes at half time and Dyce started the quicker of the two teams.  Glenn Murison played the ball up the middle to Dan Middler who knocked it out wide left for JD to beat his marker and from his cross Bruce Anderson drew another fine save from the Marden Bridge stopper.  A good passing move down the right hand side between Bruce Anderson and Dylan McElwee saw the ball played to Shane Pirie whose dangerous cross into the box was eventually cleared.   Dyce were slowly getting on top winning the midfield battle.  Good skill by JD on the left saw him beat his marker and fire a teasing cross into the Marden Bridge box but Noah Summers was on hand to clear.

A clever chip by Alex Cobban caught the Marden Bridge defence square but Steve Collins rushed off his line to kick the ball clear before the two Dyce strikers could reach it.  Marden Bridge broke to the other end and Keeper Allardes rushed off his line to clear the ball with Billy Bolt bearing down on him.  Twelve minutes into the second half Dyce went two ahead when Aaron Penny played the ball up the left hand side to JD whose cross found Dylan McElwee in the box and he showed great close control before turning his marker and firing home.

Yaz Haddad played the ball over the top of the Dyce defence to Paul Lastockin who drove through on goals but the Dyce stopper made a brave save at his feet.  Daniel Middler played a through ball to JD who drove in on goals and fired home a well placed left foot shot.  A through ball by Kyle Tait was slightly overhit and the Dyce keeper gathered the ball at the edge of his box.  Adam Monk played a high ball over the top and Dan Middler timed his run perfectly to beat off-sides but keeper Collins came out on top with the one-to-one with Dan and played the ball out for a corner.  When a cross by Bruce Anderson was only half cleared, Dylan McElwee cleverly turned his marker in the box and fired in goal number four. 

Dan Middler chipped the ball forward to Bruce Anderson who ran between two defenders and shot but once again the keeper saved.  Picking up a half clearance at the edge of the box Alex Cobban thundered in a 25 yarder through a crowd of players into the bottom corner of the net.

Glenn Murison played a ball to Bruce Anderson at the edge of the box who skipped past two players before calmly slotting home.  A good double save by Steven Collins saw him first parry a shot from Dan Middler and then make another great save when Bruce Anderson latched on to the loose ball.  Bruce Anderson got on the end of a through ball from Cameron Laird and dribbled round the Marden Bridge keeper but he recovered and managed to make a great save at Bruce’s feet.

From a free kick 30 yards out, James Mason fired in a shot which went narrowly past the right hand post.  Dominic Button won a strong challenge in midfield, drove past a couple of Dyce players but a good tackle just inside the box by Jordan Clark averted the danger.  Cameron Stuart won the ball on the half way line and played the ball over the top for Dominic Button and Paul Lastockin to chase but Jack Pirie rushed back to clear the danger.

Dyce broke to the other end where Alex Cobban played the ball out wide to JD on the left and although Marden Bridge stopper Collins saved, Cameron Laird was first to the loose ball to score from close range.  With only minutes to go, Marden Bridge’s impressive keeper was substituted to a fine round of applause.  JD played the ball over the top to Dan Middler who comically slipped and fell on his backside - Jordan Clark following up almost scored (he couldn’t help laughing) and the substitute keeper blocked the ball with his legs.  In the final seconds, Djembe Askins, now playing in midfield, slotted the ball through to Josh Wood whose pass found Robbie Robinson in the Dyce box and only a timely challenge by the Dyce defence averted the danger.

The referee blew the final whistle at the end of a very sporting game where both teams shook hands, changed out of their football kits and went to the Butchers Arms pub for some well deserved refreshments.

Three "Man of the Match" awards (very large cakes of chocolate) for both teams  were presented and the winners were :- James Mason, Steven Collins and Djembe Askins for Marden Bridge.  Dylan McElwee, Dan Middler and Shane Pirie for Dyce.

Final Score:  7  -  0

Scorers:-	Dylan McElwee	2
	Dan Middler	1
	William Gray(JD)	1
	Alex Cobban	1
	Bruce Anderson	1
	Cameron Laird	1

Pictures: (Click thumbnail to enlarge)