St. Johnstone 1 - 2 Aberdeen

Dons new third team, who have been introduced this season to the Reserve League East, improved their League position considerably with a 2-1 victory at St Johnstone.
The scoreline was achieved by means of two goals, including a penalty, by Andrew McLeod, who has previously struggled this season to match the scoring standards he set in 1986-87. Until this win the young side were in a position third from bottom and needed a lift as a reward for the efforts put in against mostly older, more mature teams and always away from home.
'Joining the League has proved the answer to our problems of finding games for our younger players on a regular basis,' said coach Teddy Scott.
'Some of these players would have been farmed out to local clubs in previous years and while we were always happy to do this we were not able to monitor their progress as close¬ly as we can now do,' he added.
'The goalkeeper Michael Watt is one who has shown steady improvement during the League programme, Graham Watson is another. The fixtures have also helped McLeod to come through a sticky patch. He has worked hard and it would be nice now to see him scoring a few more goals again.'
The 16-year-old full-back Stephen Wright had another promising game, this time in partnership with a young man who has already made a big name for himself, in David Robertson. David was continuing his recovery from his lengthy injury lay-off and emerged from the match without difficulties.
At St Johnstone the first goal arrived when McLeod was brought down as he was going through in dangerous fashion and he popped back onto his feet to convert the penalty. In the second-half he provided the second for a result which gives the youngster the morale-booster of a respectable League position to defend and hopefully improve.
Early removal from the BP Youth Cup because of being forced to field a side of below the necessary strength has made the League programme even more welcome to the club coaches whose job it is to ensure that raw talent is nurtured carefully in competitive situations. Even with the extra team now in regular service there are times when there are not enough places to go around. Graham Ferguson (an unused sub at St Johnstone) and Graham Lawrie are two who have recently suffered in this regard but opportunities spread them¬selves out as the season goes on.

Source: Match Programme, 24th November 1987