Banks O’Dee Albion manager Alan Barry has set his sights on winning this years Scottish Youth FA Cup after overcoming Jimmy Johnstone Academy on penalties to reach the fifth round of the competition. Barry said after the game: “I think we’ve got every chance of winning this cup if I’m honest. There are certainly no teams left that we cannot give a good game. We will see.”

Jimmy Johnstone Academy took a first-half lead through Darryl Docherty’s 32nd minute goal. Two second-half goals from Joseph Wilson and Dan Morrice turned the game around for the hosts but an equaliser from Tiger Lawson meant penalties were needed to separate the sides. Albion goalkeeper Kyle Leiper's save from Ibrahim Sumbunu saw them progress to the next round. 

Albion started brightly and could have been two up within the first five minutes. Great play by Finlay Ness on the left wing saw him beat his man and cross for strike partner Lyle Adair but he leant back and skied the ball over the ‘bar from six yards with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Adair came close again minutes later when he steered Joseph Wilson’s low cross towards goal but his precise shot was well held by goalkeeper Aidan Brownlee.

Banks O’Dee Albion were looking particularly threatening on the break with Ness’ pace and that should have heralded the opening goal after 17 minutes. Ness ran free on the counter attack before eventually slipping in Wilson but under little pressure, the winger could only shoot directly into the body of Brownlee from the middle of the penalty box.

So often in football teams who miss their chances later go on to rue it and Albion were given a scare on 26 minutes. Jordon Hodd’s half-volley from 20 yards was well parried wide by home goalkeeper Kyle Leiper.

Jimmy Johnstone Academy grew in confidence after that strike and had a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 28th minute. A gutsy run by Tiger Lawson presented the ball to Darryl Docherty six yards from goal but his scooped shot was a good height for ‘keeper Leiper. A lesson for Cole Anderson to always play to the whistle as he stopped to claim for a free kick while Lawson entered Albion’s penalty area. 

Banks O’Dee Albion had the majority of the play in the first period but they found themselves one down at half-time. A neat exchange between Docherty and Ibrahim Sumbunu freed Docherty in the 18-yard box and he poked the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 1-0 Jimmy Johnstone Academy. 

The hosts came out firing in the second half and the visitors were being penned in and could barely get out of their own half.

The pressure eventually told 12 minutes after the interval when Albion equalised. Direct play by Ness saw the ball ricochet to Wilson who confidently drilled the ball low and hard into the near post giving goalkeeper Brownlee no chance. 

Jimmy Johnstone looked dead on their feet at this point after 55 minutes of hard work on a huge pitch and inevitably they conceded again. Wilson turned provider this time crossing for fellow winger Dan Morrice who emphatically arrowed the ball into the corner of the net from 14 yards.

There looked to be only one winner at that stage but Jimmy Johnstone Academy showed their fighting spirit and levelled the scores again just two minutes after going behind. The ball dropped for Lawson in the penalty area and his half-volley took a deflection before looping up and over the helpless Leiper in the home goal. Lawson then ran to the opposite end of the stadium to give the fans in the stand the finger to the mouth celebration, ssssshh.

Extra time beckoned but the Aberdeen side thought they had snatched it five minutes from time. Wilson’s low shot was parried by Brownlee and substitute Reece Wilson was on hand to convert the rebound from six yards but the goal was chalked off for offside against the scorer.