AUFA (15’s) v ABERDEEN ( 15′s )
Aberdeen made the long trip to Ayr to take on AUFA 15’s at Prestwick Academy on Sunday lunchtime. After ten minutes Ayr had the first decent effort on goal when Jai Holland attempted to curl the ball into the far post but the Aberdeen keeper clutched the ball safely.
The Dons took the lead after 15 minutes when a low centre was flicked home by the no 11. Not long after, Aberdeen increased their lead when the no 8 volleyed home from the edge of the box. Ayr fought back though and Craig McGuffie forced the Aberdeen goalkeeper to produce another good save when he got down smartly to a low shot which looked as though it was about to nestle in the bottom corner.
An overhead kick from the Dons then struck the post with the rebound being finished inside the six yard box. Moments later, Callum Smith then hit the post for Ayr with a terrific first time shot from outside the box after the ball had been squared to him by Richardson. However there was still time at the end of the first half for the Dons to mount another attack and Ayr’s trialist keeper did well to get a strong hand to an excellent long range effort from a Dons Midfielder to tip the ball round the post.
An entertaining first half drew to a close which had seen some good quality youth football with possession fairly even but the Dons being more clinical in front of goal.
In the second half, Aberdeen started brighter, putting Ayr under pressure and forcing a number of corners. The pressure paid off when another corner was cleared to the edge of the box and it was rocketed into the Ayr net with a good strike.
Ayr fought their way back when Ross Thomson tested the Dons keeper from distance and another good move saw Jai Holland flash a shot across the Dons keeper but agonisingly wide of the upright. Despite the pressure, Aberdeen further increased their lead with a good finish when their pacey wide right player cut inside and finished well.
Ayr eventually got the goal their play deserved when Richardson won the ball from a Dons clearance, nodding on to Jai Holland, who swivelled well and hit a sweet volley on the turn into the back of the Dons net. Further pressure from Ayr saw Richardson test the Dons goalie from distance before Ben Black went close with an effort from inside the box which went over the top.
Ayr’s trialist keeper then pulled off a terrific double stop tipping a free kick on to the bar before reacting quickly to make a great stop from the resultant follow up. Ayr finished the game much the stronger side especially over the final fifteen minutes but by that point they had unfortunately left themselves too much to do.
There were many positives to take from the game especially how strongly Ayr finished the game and there were a number of good performances all over the pitch. Lee Williamson (pictured) was solid in central defence and the trialist goalkeeper also did very well for the boys in all black.
