Aberdeen 7 - 2 Ayr United

A sensational and at times breathtaking performance going forward from Aberdeen Under 18s in the SFA Youth Cup Semi-Final against Ayr United on Friday night at Cormack Park means they have a Hampden cup final to look forward to after they ran out winners by seven goals to two.

Cammy Wilson spearheaded a fantastic goal scoring performance, Findlay Marshall also chipped in with two, Alfie Bavidge and Fletcher Boyd also responsible for a goal a-piece.

It was a bitterly cold night at Cormack Park, but the performance from the young Dons was a real treat on the eyes for the healthy crowd that turned out to send Aberdeen on their way to Hampden.

With Lewis Carrol and Brendan Hamilton suspended after their red cards in the quarter final vs St Johnstone, Dylan Ross was given the opportunity to start, with Ellis Clark, suspended against St Johnstone, also coming into the XI. The dynamic trio of Stewart, Bavidge and Marshall all returned from their loan clubs to play for a place in the showpiece final at Hampden.

Ayr United had two players with senior football experience in their ranks for the trip North, selecting Ollie Ecrepont and Dylan Watret, both on loan at East Stirlingshire in the Lowland league.

The young Dons started strongly as the dark began to set on Cormack Park. Wilsons ricochet effort came back out to the feet of Boyd, he could only turn a first-time effort wide of goal. Wilson was looking sharp, his attempt to find the bottom corner only denied by a smart stop by Ecrepont.

As he was beginning to make a habit of, Stewart tried his luck with scoring directly from a corner, and if it wasn’t for a fine clearance from Strachan on the line, the skipper would have succeeded for a third time this season.

The Aberdeen chances were ramping up: Fraser Mackie headed wide, and Marshalls ambitious effort looked to best Ecrepont, only to come back off the post.

Just after the 20-minute mark the Dons found the goal that gave them the lead.

It was Wilsons cross took a deflection on his way, but it did find its way into the back of the net, and Aberdeen were ahead. Cammy as expected was claiming the goal but it will have to go down as an OG by Adam McNally who was the unfortunate Ayr defender.

Up the other end, on the break McRoberts managed to use his physicality to edge past Watson and find himself through on goal, but he was met by Vitols who was out quickly to smother any danger.

It was soon 2-0 to the Dons. Some intricate football unleashed Bavidge who was eventually able to get his shot away, which was blocked and instead wound up at the feet of Marshall to steer a powerful low effort from just inside the box beyond Ecrepont.

The two-goal advantage only lasted mere minutes however and the Honest Men looked to have found a route back into the game when Guthrie turned in a squared ball that left Vitols powerless.

It could have easily been 2-2 soon after, McClymont played an inch-perfect ball that managed to penetrate the Dons backline, again Vitols’s alert and able to come out and collect the danger.

Aberdeen chances soon returned to the top of the agenda, and after a few half chances went a-begging Boyd continued his fine streak of form to latch onto a through ball and produce a composed finish when one on one with Ecrepont to reinstate the cushion that Aberdeen deserved after a strong first half performance.

With the goal on the stroke of half-time, the sides went in at the break with the score Aberdeen 3 Ayr United 1.

HT. Aberdeen 3 Ayr United 1

The quality of the young Dons came to the fore in the second 45 which ended up featuring a glut of Aberdeen goals as they booked their place at Hampden.

Wilson had two chances go his way to start the half, the first narrowly lifting over the frame of the goal, and another went just wide, but there was more to come from the Aberdeen number 7.

Just before the hour mark three became four. Bavidge was able to get himself on the score sheet, his pace allowed him to get on the end of a searching long ball forward, before the centre forward sized up the defender, jinked left and right and unleashed a venomous effort across the keeper.

Alfie’s effort opened the second half goal flood gates. Wilson grabbed a goal minutes later, this time there was no debating whether it was his goal. Dylan Ross did well to charge up the park and fashion a chance for the winger, who produced an excellent finish.

Aberdeen’s play going forward was sensational and becoming impossible for Ayr to live with. A well worked corner routine from Boyd picked out Stewart on the edge of the area: his shot was heading for the top corner and Marshall inside the area seemed to get the slightest of touches to cap off a well worked routine (or so he was claiming after the game!)

20 minutes remaining, and Aberdeen led 6-1.

The flow of Dons goals was interrupted by a consolation for Ayr up the other end. A quick counterattack led by McRoberts sent them on their way, and the impressive number 9 sent an excellent cross towards the back post which was turned in by Strachan. Full credit for Ayr for the way they kept going.

Aberdeen didn’t have to wait long for their next goal though, and Cammy Wilson was able to grab his second (or his hat-trick as he was claiming!) after a slack clearance was collected by the winger on the edge of the box and Cammy was on it in a flash and found the net with another strong finish.

With the place in the final seemingly wrapped up Scott Anderson and Stuart Duff shuffled their pack through the introduction of Christovie Kondolo and Cooper Masson: they took the place of Mackie and Ross.

Aberdeen could have had an eighth goal when Ecrepont palmed away Wilson’s long-range effort up into the air, but Bavidge’s arial effort on the rebound was high and wide of the mark.

There were no more goals as the second half began to wind to a close, the young Dons incredible attacking efforts rewarded with a convincing scoreline and sensational performance worthy of a place in the Hampden final where they will take on Rangers.