Aberdeen 0 - 2 Hamilton

A flat performance from the young Dons saw them defeated against Hamilton Accies in a crucial game. Two early goals from Ryan One separated the sides, Aberdeen then dominated possession for spells but failed to take a couple of good opportunities and also had a goal harshly ruled offside as they tried to get back into the match. But in the end the visitors defended well and deserved the three points.
A sunny day at Cormack Park was the venue for the top of the table clash between Aberdeen and Hamilton Accies. But a swirling wind at the training ground was not going to make this a pretty game of football. Both sides have stumbled over the past week, but whoever came out of this match would put themselves in a good position with seven or so games to go. Previous league results between the sides had seen a 6-2 win for Hamilton and 6-0 and 5-0 wins for the Dons 18s. Today was always going to be a lot closer.

Scott Anderson's side were without the injured Liam Harvey and Alfie Bavidge who is with the first team. Goalkeeper Rodrigo Vitols came in for his first start.
Hamilton came out fighting quick as in the second minute a great cross from Josh McDonald was met by teammate Ryan One. However, Kai Watson made a great last-ditch tackle to prevent One from shooting at goal after Vitols had also made a very good save.
However, it wasn't long until the visitors opened the scoring as in the fourth minute a ball is played through to striker Liam Morgan who had time and space to play a square ball over to One who rolled the ball into an open net to make it 1-0 to Hamilton.
Aberdeen's first chance of the game came in the seventh minute as Lewis Pirie managed to find the time to play a ball across goal into the six-yard box for Adam Emslie. However, he was quickly crowded out by the Hamilton defence and the chance went astray.
Aberdeen continued to mount the pressure after some great running on the counterattack from Emslie. He managed to find a pass to Pirie who continued the drive into the box and hit a powerful strike at goal. His effort unfortunately went just wide.
But Hamilton then managed to double their lead in the twenty sixth minute as a ball was played perfectly into the stride of One who was running in on goal. He had the time and space to be able to chip the ball over the advancing Vitols and double the visitors lead. It was a fine finish from the first team Accies man.
Aberdeen were eager to amend their mistakes as in the twenty seventh minute a brilliant cross from Dylan Lobban was met by the head of Alfie Stewart. His header looped towards goal with some pace but was matched by a great save by Hamilton keeper Josh Lane to keep his team's clean sheet.
The final chance of the half went Hamilton's way after a brilliant ball was slipped through from Ben Black to Morgan but some stellar defending from Brendan Hamilton, who did well to read the situation, denied any shot the opposition could have taken.

HT. Aberdeen 0 Hamilton Accies 2

The young Dons started the second half strongly. In the forty eighth minute a brilliant drive and cross from Pirie allowed him to be able to put Emslie in on goal with the square ball. Emslie continued the drive into the box, took one touch before unleashing a low shot that was again very well saved by Lane.
Then in the fifty seventh minute, Aberdeen thought they had found their opening after some nice footwork from Cammy Wilson which was followed by a great pass through to Pirie. His shot was coolly finished into the back of the net by the Scotland U16 striker before the assistant referee flagged Pirie. It looked like he had timed his run perfectly.
Going into the break the visitors were up 2-0. Aberdeen knew it would take a big half to turn over this deficit.
Aberdeen's misery continued in the seventy third minute as Cameron Wilson drove into the box and was pushed by the Hamilton defender, but the referee deemed there was no contact and sent Wilson off, taking Aberdeen down to ten men for the final fifteen minutes.
Aberdeen kept on trying to find an opening, but the final chance of the game came in the eighty fifth minute as Emslie managed to keep the ball in play on the by-line and poke a pass over to Pirie. His first time effort however sailed just over the crossbar.
The match ended 2-0 to the visitors who now sit above the young Dons with two further games in hand. Aberdeen are now second in the table after three consecutive defeats but will still remain hopeful that they can correct their mistakes and end their season on a high. They travel to play Rangers on Tuesday.