2024/25 – Bridge of Don 3 v 3 Bon Accord City

Westfield Park, AAFA Division 1 (East), 26/4/25

Me 343 , Wee Man 205

Bridge of Don Football Club

Founded – 2012

Nickname – N/A

Honours – AAFA Division 2 (East) – 2016/17

Random Fact – The longest half time I have ever witnessed was during a Bridge of Don game. This when the floodlights would not go on at Kaimhill one Friday night against Great Western United. A sparkie turned up and took 28 minutes to illuminate the joint and we got a magic long kick about. This in season 2022/23

Bon Accord City for the third time in a week? Was it deliberate, Monday v Ellon Thistle was for obvious reasons. Wednesday was just more vicinity related. Today was totally out of my hands as it was literally a lottery as it was picked out of bingo machine. This because we selected seven local games, giving them each a number and this is what came out. So after a morning at the Duthie Park, the wee men and me (and a crow we have befriended over time, genuinely, it’s quite astounding) and some Chinese dragon dance type stuff at the bandstand, we were off to Bridge of Don to somewhere where I drive past on a daily basis Westfield Park.

With the weather promised by the telly not materialising the afternoon was a bit dreich and misty but it didn’t put a damper on what was to unfold. To start there was a warped corroded set of goals for the pre match kick about. A result on its own. Then no sooner had we sat down to watch goings on it was 2 v 1 Bridge of Don. Three minutes had unfolded and we had seen the net rustle three times. The first goal could have been quicker if not for City keeper Ferguson who blocked the onrushing home striker Bryan Lovie brilliantly then made an even more impressive save to tip the rebound over. The resulting corner led to a goal kick which came straight back at the City defence and finished off by Lovie. Centre was taken with possession ceased by City with Bridge of Don winning a freekick out on the left around 35 yards from goal. Blair Bowie swung it into the crowed box and with nobody getting a touch saw it curl into the far corner of the net. 2 v 0 and two minutes gone. The two goal lead lasted a matter of seconds as Bon Accord burst forward and were awarded a stonewall penalty for a foul by Brock on the advancing visiting striker. Michael Fraser took the kick and buried it into the top corner with aplomb. This was an explosive start to a game of fitba. Long live the bingo machine. This woke Bon Accord up who had started the match pretty much asleep. The were unlucky not to equalise when Corry Booth looked a cert to score but was denied by some fine goalkeeping by Brock. Then from the following corner Cammy Dunbar sent a header over the bar after seemingly getting slightly under the ball. Bon Accord were playing some slick bonnie fitba as Lyle and Scott clad(I have never seen that before in fitba) BoD were left to chase at times. It was the bonnie that created the equaliser. With a move commencing in the back line the ball made its way out left to wide man Grant who beat his man and fed Booth who slotted the ball past Brock. 2 v 2 and going how the half had panned out, deservedly so too. A superb game was unfolding here and while some 60 odd miles away the fans of some mob were holding up a game with tangerines and fitbas in a protest against prices they had been charged(bit of a dumb protest as they already have your money you fucking morons), we were being treated to exactly what you want from a game, entertainment and excitement and it was for nothing. People may look down on this level of the game but these “high and mighty” types dinna ken their apples.

HT 2 v 2

Half time saw not much of a kick about as Wee Man was ball boy for all the wayward shots from the City subs. This gave me time to admire Jasper the dog who I had also seen on Wednesday too. I am no dog person but I appreciate that beast, the size of a small horse and just a beauty of a specimen of Wolfhound or whatever. Top non-league dog action for sure. By the time the second half kicked off, we could hear the atmosphere building at Pittodrie with the drum beating carrying in the air from three miles away. At Westfield the game carried on in the favour of the visitors and they were to spurn another decent chance when Duncan fired wide from a corner. The game gradually swung back Bridge of Don’s way and the fashioned out a few chances with the best falling to Wright but it was soundly saved down in the corner by Ferguson. It seemed a goal was coming and the inevitable happened when Bowie this time bagged an assist from a set piece when his corner found the head of Gibson who using his neck muscles changed the direction of the ball giving Ferguson no chance. Bon Accord could have equalised in a flash when Fraser was clean through and as the the angle was running out on him he let rip pulling out a decent stop from Aaron Brock. The same man was to pull off the most fortunate clearance I can remember ever seeing in a game. A Bridge of Don man arrowed an effort which left Ferguson stranded and as he looked over his shoulder Fraser just seemed to be running across the goal mouth and just as the ball was away into the bottom corner, Fraser without trying backheeled the ball into a relieved Ferguson’s arms, it was down to the motion of his running legs and not deliberate at all. I doubt he could have pulled it off again if he tried. Amusing but a very important touch. Ferguson released the ball and with a swift full pitch length attack Grant saw a bending effort miss the rusty goal by millimeters. He was to miss again soon after but with a completely different outcome. With Bon Accord pushing for a late equaliser, substitute Lewis Ross hit a huge speculative up and under cross into the box, Grant tried to head goal ward at the back post, the ball was not hitting the target until Bridge of Don defender Rose running toward goal knocked the ball into the net. All square once again and that was it for the game. We never chose the teams or the venue, but we were treated to a highly enjoyable cracker. No complaints can be made towards the bingo machine. There are no complaints at retaking the lead in the score predictions for the season either. I wonder if Jasper enjoyed it as much as us.

Entrance – Free

Attendance – 27

Pie – Took my own coffee and fine piece

Pint – £4.25, Tennent’s , Blackdog

Score Predictions – Me 3 v 3, Wee Man 2 v 1

Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 5 v 4 Wee Man