Two first half goals from Michael Ruth were good enough to see Aberdeen’s Under 18 starlets get the better of Rangers and win their way through to the final of the SFA Youth Cup where they will meet either Kilmarnock in April. 

Rangers had the first shot at goal in the third minute, Malcolm Ebiowei doing well to create the opportunity with a neat turn, his shot though too high to trouble Tom Ritchie. Aberdeen responded quickly, Michael Dangana firing over from Michael Ruth’s driven cross.

The Dons struggled to clear the box following a Rangers corner and the ball fell to King on the 18-yard line, but again the shot was lifted high over.

On nine minutes, a long ball from Connor Barron sent Dangana racing down the left and the striker did well to cut inside and fire in a fierce shot which was well saved by Lewis Budinauckas in the visiting goal. 

A dangerous cross from Ebiowei flashed across the face of the Aberdeen goal, but there was no-one in a blue shirt to get a telling touch. The game was screaming out for a goal however no teams grabbed the deadlock after the midway point of the 1st half. 

Aberdeen had settled into the game well and were beginning to dominate possession. And they got their reward in the 20th minute. The ball was played to Ruth in the box, but he couldn’t get a shot away so laid it back for Ramsay whose left footed effort was spilled by the keeper. The alert Michael Ruth was first to react to the loose ball and fired it into the net despite a defender’s desperate effort to keep it out. First goal to the Dons which proved to be quite decisive. 

Nine minutes later it was two. Ruth again the scorer as he turned Barron’s corner in from close range after the keeper had been caught out by the flight of the ball. A very wind assisted delivery & goal however not a care in sight was had by Aberdeen who were 2 to the good & the advantage was certainly doubled. 

Rangers fought back and after a good spell of possession, full back Adam Devine broke clear on the right to provide the perfect cross for Ross McCausland to slide the ball past Ritchie to make it 2-1 on 39 minutes. Rangers were always proving to be a danger however until this particular moment hadn’t done enough to find the back of the net.

Rangers missed an early chance to draw level when O’Connor couldn’t get on the end of a dangerous free kick then McCausland fired over after creating space in the box. Lots of Rangers pressure however nothing materialised as a result of that, Malcolm Ebiowei in particular was proving to be a handful for the Aberdeen backline with the winger getting into some dangerous positions. 

Rangers were totally dominating the ball in the opening part of the second half but weren’t able to create much in the way of shooting chances. Ebiowei tried his luck from a 25-yard free kick, but the shot was too straight to trouble Ritchie.

With the visitors still on top & tensions rising, this forced a couple of bookings in the match including for Aberdeen Under 18s manager Barry Robson alongside a few Dons players. 

Connor Booth and Michael Dangana combined well on a rare break forward from the Dons but they were unable to fashion a shot as the Rangers defence closed ranks. The visitors continued to press, and McKee’s deflected cross swirled across the face of the Aberdeen goal and away to safety.

None of this Rangers pressure had led to any goals and the clock struck 3:48pm after a few minutes injury time & it was time for Aberdeen to celebrate a place in the SFA Youth Cup final in what was a fantastic result for all connected to the club. 

Aberdeen haven’t won the competition yet however & a tough assignment in Kilmarnock awaits, respect to Derek McInnes & Tony Docherty who turned up to the game after a time consuming last few days & Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley also took a Friday afternoon off from game planning to take in the game.