Wednesday 30th March 2022 Bucksburn Seniors vs Bridge of Don Seniors Match Report

Report on Bucksburn Academy Seniors v Bridge of Don Academy Seniors, President’s Trophy - Wednesday 30th March 2022, by Walter Craig

Bucksburn Take Their Chances Against Bridge Of Don As They Race To The League Title

Bucksburn Academy Seniors
Lewis Lindsay. Matthew Phillips, Kyle Wood, Dagan Rait, Ethan Barkham, Jake Buirds, Ryan Brand, Clark Sharp, Euan Bridgeford, Kurtis Williams and Jack Gerrie Subs James Coull, Jack Low, Aaron Carroll, Anania Bedru and Lewis Dalgarno.

Bridge of Don Academy Seniors
Archie Mackay, Jake Cocker, Lucas Taylor-Youngson, Alfie Brock, Dylan Shaw, Dylan Boyce, Jamie Watson, Matt MacFarlane, Samuel Davidson, Taylor Boyd and Lewis Pirie. Subs Stas Boron, Jay Louriero and Bradley Greenhowe.

Referee B. Eden

Bucksburn Seniors met Bridge Of Don Seniors in a clash of the two remaining unbeaten teams in the Presidents Trophy competition.

Such were the vagaries of the weather that when there were all four seasons present on the morning of the match the venue had to be switched from Bridge Of Don to the Northfield Astro. The pitch was playable but that did not stop the wind and at kick off time the temperature was hovering around the zero degrees Celsius mark.

That did not dismay the teams, given what was at stake, and the game got off to a rip roaring start. Bridge of Don kicked off and Dylan Shaw made good progress down the right but Ethan Barkham just managed to clear his fine cross.

Ryan Brand came even closer at the other end. Good Bucksburn play saw the ball fall kindly for him just outside the box but his well struck shot beat Archie Mackay before hitting the top of the crossbar before going behind.

Two minutes later the homesters took the lead. Clark Sharp picked up the ball in midfield and sent a low pass through the visitors’ defence to Kurtis Williams just outside the box. The striker collected well and moved into beat Mackay with a low drive which entered the net at the far post.

Bridge of Don did not take this lying down and Jamie Watson was sent clear on goal but Lewis Lindsay was out smartly to block his shot and the clearance was completed by his defender who managed to block the ball when Bridge of Doon were first to the rebound.

Midway through the half Bucksburn had a close call when a shot from just outside the box took a wicked deflection before just going over Lindsay’s crossbar.

Bucksburn then took a quick free kick in midfield .The ball went to Jake Buirds on the right but his cross narrowly evaded all the attackers and went out of play.

There was nothing much in the game at this point but Bucksburn were looking like they were after what would be a telling second.

They nearly got it with just over ten minutes left in the half. The wind took Mackay’s goal kick and fell kindly for Sharp on the right who moved swiftly in on goal. He struck his shot well but the keeper redeemed himself with a smart block with his legs and the ball went wide for an unproductive corner.

Buirds was prominent in the home midfield and he came close as the half entered its last five minutes before Williams had a better chance after a fine flowing Bucksburn attack but his try went narrowly wide.

It was no surprise when the advantage was doubled in thirty eight minutes. Barkham sent a long ball from halfway which found Williams clear and just onside on the edge of the box. He moved towards goal before chipping the ball over Mackay and into the net.

A free kick to Bucksburn which went narrowly wide of the far post brought the half to an end.

Bucksburn were good value for their lead and the half time talk would surely have centred around increasing it or at least holding on to it.

Half Time: Bucksburn Academy Seniors 2 - 0 Bridge of Don Academy Seniors

Bucksburn took only ninety seconds to put the game just about out of reach of Bridge of Don. A long ball into the box saw the defender for once get to it before Williams, but the ball went back to the homesters after bouncing about in the box, It eventually came to Lewis Dalgarno who sent a fine curling shot over Mackay’s head and into the corner of the net.

It was a long way back for the visitors now and it nearly became worse minutes later. Sharp moved in from the right and shot for goal from a central position on the edge of the box but the keeper brought off the save of the match to turn the ball behind.
Brand met Buird’s flag kick but could only put the ball narrowly over the bar.

Bridge of Don did manage to fashion a chance in twelve minutes, however. A long cross from the right from Jake Cocker evaded everyone except Dylan Boyce at the back post. Try as he might he could not force the ball home and the chance was lost.

Sharp had a chance just after the quarter hour mark but his shot went narrowly wide but he was to make up for that a minute later. Gathering the ball once more on the edge of the box he sent a low drive into the corner of the net leaving the keeper helpless.

The game now looked to be over as a contest, which was the signal for a number of changes in personnel to take place. This coupled with the testing conditions took a little of the edge out of the match and apart from the odd challenge the game drew to its inevitable conclusion.

Bridge of Don did come close to scoring late on, however, from a couple of half chances.

Congratulations to Bucksburn on winning the league, a feat which was as deserved as their victory in this match.

Most observers have agreed that they have been the best team in the division. A word of praise, too, for Bridge of Don who have been very positive in how they have approached their games.

Finally a “well done” to all the players and officials of our teams in the senior league. In spite of all the challenges encountered this session, more than half of the fixtures have taken place.

Final Score: Bucksburn Academy Seniors 4 - 0 Bridge of Don Academy Seniors