2023/24 – Aberdeen 0 v 2 Banks o’ Dee

Balmoral Stadium (Cove Rangers), Aberdeenshire Shield Final, 13/12/23

Me still 297, Wee Man still 165

It is not often I come into a Banks o’ Dee game and not want them to be victorious. I don’t hide my soft spot for them these days given how much we watch them. But when playing Aberdeen there can be only one team I want to win. This despite predicting the Dee would take the shield home come full time in this Aberdeenshire Shield final containing no Aberdeenshire teams.

To Balmoral we headed for the final, somewhere we had not been for a while even though it is one of our most visited together. A few changes were abundantly clear on entrance. The make shift gazebo stands behind each goal being two. But more importantly the Balmoral pie for sale was also noticed and scoffed and it was a very welcome delight. I struck it lucky as I usually go steak and as it turned out they weren’t cooked properly as Wee Man found out as the arse fell out his pie leaving him disgruntled. Speaking of Wee Man’s mood. He was really apprehensive going into this as he was scared he would get into trouble for having his ball with him after his run in with a steward on Saturday. But as always at Balmoral there is no issue there and my shoes and jeans ended up in a minging state come full time given the dirt track surrounding the pitch.The game, the first of two finals for Aberdeen this week but only one for me though as I leave for work on Monday and being with the kids on Sunday is all I want to do before another stint offshore. Witnessing an Aberdeenshire Shield lift for the Dons was hoped for. Something the club have never managed to do in the tournaments thirty two year history. This being only the second final they have reached. But it wasn’t to be and I am sure they are kicking themselves after some decent chances spurned. The Dons babies were the better team in the opening stages and they were unlucky not to take the lead when the shit off a shovel striker Alfie Bavidge got in behind the Dee defence and unleashed a thumping drive which rattled off the post. What a sound the connection with the upright let off. Even at the opposite end of the pitch it seemed to reverberate around the Balmoral. The Dons looked up for it and kept most of the play in the Dee half, but incredibly they shot themselves in the foot allowing the Lachie MacLeod to put the Dee up 1 v 0. A long cross ball looked like it could be dealt with but the Dons defender seemed to have lead in his boots allowing the ball over his head landing perfectly at MacLeod who took a couple of touched past two defenders opening up a space to smash past Tom Ritchie against the run of play. This allowed the Dee to come into the game and make it a more even contest. The Dons were almost dealt an incredible slice of luck when Alfie Stewart from on the right fired a free kick low into the box seeing it take a nick of a Dee defender sending it inches wide leaving keeper Hoban stranded. Banks o’ Dee were getting more and more into the groove as the half wore on and especially up the left where they were tormenting the Dons right side at times. To the extent it seemed Chris Antoniazzi was taking a freekick in front of us every two minutes as the youngsters were struggling to cope leading to a high level of fouls. The Highland League side had chances to add to their tally through Golding and MacLeod but it wasn’t to be. The Dons were not without their own efforts with Lobban narrowly missing the goal with a freekick and the last action of the half seeing the woodwork again being cursed, this time when Finlay Murray let fly only to see the ball crash off the crossbar and away.

HT 0 v 1

Half time was filled in with the inevitable kick about which was a good thing as the temperature seemed to drop drastically throughout the half and it was good to get a warmth in me. The Dons didn’t get cold during the break and came flying out of the traps and really should have been on level terms immediately after half time when Aaron Reid was in plenty of space in the box with only the keeper to beat but he put his laces through the ball and sent it flying wide. It was a huge miss. Both teams were getting the ball into each others box but were both stern at the back keeping each other out. Aberdeen had another big chance from close range but newly introduced substitute Luke Emmett threw himself in front of the ball to keep the effort out. A great piece of defending. Dayshonne Golding (playing at his parent clubs ground) should have made it two from point blank range, with only Ritchie to beat he struck a ten yard effort straight at the keeper who with solid hands palmed away to safety. The power was good but he made the Dons custodians job easy in all honesty. It was then the Dons turn once again to miss a solid chance. Alfie Stewart seemed to do everything right. His touch was good as was the opening of space but his effort was not up to the same quality of his touch and he flashed his effort wide. He really should have been testing Hoban at least. Then moments later it was game over when Aberdeen FC employee Chris Antoniazzi struck from close range to double the Dee’s lead. Golding and substitute Wood did well on the right with some swift passing leading to Golding claiming an assist bonus after picking out Antoniazzi who couldn’t miss as he side footed past Ritchie. The goal came with thirteen minutes left Wee Man told me “Aberdeen don’t have two goals”. The wise kid was correct. I couldn’t see it either . It was a case of Banks o’ Dee seeing out the time and ensuring they got their hands on a second ‘shire Shield. But the action wasn’t finished for the night as a punter next to Wee Man asked for a shot of his ball to show him a trick. After a couple of keepie ups he caught the ball on his nose and held it there for a decent amount of time before getting it up to balance on his head. Impressive stuff and Wee Man loved it. I fully expect some bleeding noses in the near future. The Dee held out and the Aberdeenshire Shield was to head the mile north to Spain Park. The first of two Dons cup finals this week but as long as the Sunday one does not end in defeat. On another night this could have been different but congratulations to Banks o’ Dee. The better team on the night on the whole. Another piece of silverware we have witnessed them winning over the last 5 seasons. Wee Man asked how many that is we have seen now. I have lost count in all honesty.