Aberdeen 2 - 0 Heart of Midlothian

Aberdeen U20s are just one win away from winning the Development league title after they beat Hearts 2-0 this evening in Peterhead. Paul Sheerin's side made the perfect start when Nicky Low set up Cammy Smith after some neat football at the edge of the area and Cammy scored with a good finish. Aberdeen were well on top in the first half and just before the half hour mark Lukas Culjak was wrestled to the ground from a corner and Lawrence Shankland scored from the resulting penalty. It was Lawrence's 30th goal of the campaign. With Barry Robson in outstanding form, he hit the bar and went close on a number of occasions, Aberdeen probably should have been further ahead at the interval. After the break Hearts played well and worked hard at closing the Dons down. It did not make for a great spectacle as there were few chances at either end but at this stage of the season the only important thing was the win.
Aberdeen now have to win one of their final two matches which are at home to Dunfermline and away to Hibs.

Aberdeen this evening lined up with Langfield in goal, a back four of Culjak, Anderson, Rose and Harvie. Robson and Gibbons were in centre midfield with Oris wide left and Low wide right. Smith and Shankland were up front. The Dons got off to the perfect start when after only three minutes they took the lead. Gibbons, Shankland and Low played some neat one touch football at the edge of the area and Low played it through to Smith who was unmarked in the area. Cammy took a great first touch and then despatched the ball past the Hearts keeper Kelby Mason. A great finish from a player who is bang in form. On 12 minutes Robson from the edge of the area put a free kick just past the post. Then from a Robson free kick Culjak got a header on target from close range but the Hearts keeper made a very good block. Robson was quite outstanding during the first period. His range of passing was a joy to watch. After 16 minutes great play down the left between Low and Harvie, Nicky got a shot in but just lifted it over the bar. After 26 minutes a long range shot from Robson went inches over and then after 28 minutes the Dons won a penalty. A corner was played in and as the players tried to win the header Lukas Culjak was hauled to the ground by his marker Liam Henderson. It was a clear penalty and Henderson was booked of his troubles. Lawrence Shankland step up to take it and he put his shot low into the corner. Although Mason guessed right he could not get near it. At this stage the Dons were well in control and deserved their two goal lead. On the half hour mark Robson tried another shot from distance and this time he went even closer, his shot clipping the top of the bar. Five minutes later a fantastic long ball from Robson picked out Shankland, he beat his marker and got a shot away which was well saved by Mason at his near post. A minute later Shankland made a neat turn in the area, crossed for Orsi but he could not force it home from close range. Another decent save from Mason. Before the break both Shankland and Smith tried their luck with shots but neither troubled the keeper. Aberdeen played some superb football in the first half and Paul Sheerin would have been very happy with his side at half time.

On 48 minutes a Robson free kick was headed just wide by Shankland. Another great delivery from Barry. The first half had been mostly all Aberdeen but after the break Hearts battled really hard and frustrated the Dons. Jack Ross's side were very well organised and extremely disciplined. They also had some good young players on show who created a couple of openings. On 49 minutes from a free kick Beith curled it just over. On 53 minutes a Hearts free kick from Oliver was well saved by Langfield and Anderson had to make a great saving block from the rebound to prevent an almost certain goal. Russell had a very good 90 minutes and talked the young defenders round about him through the game. In between that Nicky Low chipped the keeper and put the ball into the net but the offside flag had gone up and the goal did not count. On the hour mark Smith and Shankland went close to combining in the box but the Hearts defence just managed to get a foot in, something they managed to do throughout the second 45. After 63 minutes a Robson free kick was on target and well struck but the keeper's positioning was good and he was able to make a save. With one eye on Saturday Cammy Smith was replaced just after the hour mark. The game then became a bit of a non-event with Hearts defending well but never really threatening at the other end. On 83 minutes a Robson cross was dinked up for Shankland but he headed over from close range. A Shankland drive was then beat away by the keeper who had a good game this evening.