Saturday April 23rd 2022 Bucksburn S1 vs Portlethen S1 Match Report

Report on Bucksburn Academy First Year v Portlethen Academy First Year, CNR International League First Play Off - Saturday 23rd April 2022, by Walter Craig

Portlethen Are Unstoppable In the First Play Off Game

Bucksburn Academy First Year

Toby Catto, Jack Fordyce, Logan Taylor, Tyler Cosgrove, Milan George, Lewis Mair, Clark Whyte, Dahen Vixamar, Miller Giles, Alex McMurray and Ethan Reid. Subs: Seb Castillo, Noah Sahar, Fraser Bruce and Ashley Monjamu.

Portlethen Academy First Year

Ross Kerr, Logan McDonald, Cody Duncan, Archie Robertson, Jake Bonner, Kaden Watson, Aiden Smith, Nico Petty, Codi Hughes, Logan Irvine, PJ McBain, Robert Malcolmson and Aaron Fraser.

Referee D.Yule

Bucksburn and Portlethen who, along with Westhill, made up the trio of table topping contenders for the CNR International First Year League title, met at Bucksburn Academy in the first of the three round robin deciding games.

April’s fine weather had been in marked contrast to that in March, and although there was no need for an early morning inspection before the game, the pitch was still likely to prove testing for the players.

The opening exchanges were played in a furious style with the visitors having a chance in the first minute and then Ross Kerr requiring to rush outside his box to kick clear after a long Bucksburn ball had penetrated the defence.

It was then the turn of Logan Irvine and Nico Petty to fashion a chance down the right but there was not enough power in the shot to trouble Toby Catto.

He had to admit defeat in five minutes, however, as a fine pass found Irvine onside and clear on the left. He moved into the box before shooting low past the keeper’s left hand and into the net.

Petty almost netted another goal seconds later when sent clear on the right, but Catto was able to kick the ball away.

Bucksburn were looking to hit back and in the twelve minutes Lewis Mair had the ball in acres of space down the left, but it was his turn to find it difficult to get any power behind his shot.

The ball was quickly down at the other end and only a tight offside decision prevented what looked to be a certain Portlethen goal.

Petty and Irvine continued to run riot on the visitors’ right wing and when the ball came across two chances were created with one being blocked and the other drifting wide.

At the other end a snapshot from Miller Giles when he collected a pass from the left went narrowly wide of the post as the game entered the last ten minutes of the half.

There was a great chance for Portlethen to double their lead with nine minutes left in the half. Irvine bore down on goal but Catto brought off a super save pushing the ball wide. Codi Hughes was first to it but could not keep his shot low enough and the ball sailed over the bar.

The visitors were certainly worth a second goal at this point and seconds later it duly arrived. Kaden Watson picked up the ball in midfield and his drive from twenty-five yards went low beyond the despairing dive of Catto and into the net.

Into the last five minutes, and again Mair was sent clear down the left, but was thwarted by a fine block from Archie Robertson before keeper Kerr made an excellent catch from the resulting corner.

A third goal for the visitors came in twenty-nine minutes. Hughes was sent clear down the left and he moved in on goal before sending his shot beyond Catto at the keeper’s near post.

An entertaining first half with Portlethen good value for their lead. Bucksburn will begin the second period looking for an all-important goal to see them back in the game.

Half Time: Bucksburn Academy First Year 0 - 3 Portlethen Academy First Year

Bucksburn attacked straight from the whistle and sub keeper Robert Malcolmson brought off a fine save from Clark Whyte.

It proved to be a crucial stop as a fourth goal arrived in the third minute. A Petty cross from the right fell kindly for Hughes ten yards out and he pushed it carefully well beyond Catto.

The winger was at it once more seconds after this, but his shot flew narrowly wide of the keeper’s far post.

Catto had been working hard and did well to stop another shot this time from Irvine in the tenth minute but was powerless to prevent a fifth Portlethen goal sixty seconds later.

A low cross from the right was converted at the near post by Aaron Fraser.

A penalty was then awarded to Portlethen a couple of minutes later when Petty was brought down when clean through just inside the box. He took the kick himself dispatching it past sub keeper Seb Castillo.

A seventh goal for Portlethen in sixteen minutes saw Bucksburn wondering just what had hit them. The ball was played through to Fraser, and he ran into the box to slot past Castillo.

A long free kick over the heads of the Bucksburn defence fell to Hughes who took deliberate aim before steering the ball home for number eight.

Ten minutes from time Bucksburn pulled a goal back. A snapshot from Whyte soared over the head of Malcolmson and into the net.

A nice touch from PJ McBain found Hughes on the left and he moved in and beat the keeper at his far post.

Dahen Vixamar hit the Portlethen post with a smart drive before Castillo brought off the save of the match from a close in drive from Petty in the last minute. He somehow managed to push the ball over the bar.

The last goal was scored in added time. Fraser took the ball along the goal line and his cut back was met by PJ McBain in acres of space and he tapped home from a couple of yards out.

The final whistle went soon afterwards and Portlethen had completed the task in outstanding fashion. They deserved the win especially considering their all-round dominance.

Credit must go to Bucksburn who did not play poorly but were just overrun by a very good team. The advantage, then, is certainly with Portlethen, who can now clinch the title with victory against Westhill at home on Thursday.

Final Score: Bucksburn Academy First Year 1 - 10 Portlethen Academy First Year