U18s Report: Hibs 4 Aberdeen 2

The wee Hibees got back to winning ways with an impressive 4-2 victory over Aberdeen on Friday afternoon.

Goals from Josh McDonald (x2), Dean Cleland and Josh Landers – on his return to the team – secured a 4-2 win at HTC.

Darren McGregor’s side came into this one off the back of their first defeat of the season against St Mirren last time out – and started the game with a real intensity to get back on track.

The wee Hibees got off to the perfect start inside the first five minutes and took the lead through Josh McDonald. Rory Whittaker was heavily involved in the build-up on the right-hand side – reaching the byline before showing great composure to pick out the arriving Josh McDonald. The Hibs forward made no mistake with the finish – side-footing the ball into the side-netting from 12 yards.

McDonald doubled our advantage five minutes before the break with his second of the game. Jamie McMurdo was the provider this time – swinging in a dangerous cross into the penalty area which caused havoc inside the Dons box. After a collision between a green jersey and the goalkeeper, the ball bounced kindly into the path of McDonald who tapped home into an empty net.

We got our third goal after 55 minutes courtesy of Dean Cleland. Rory Whittaker got his second assist of the match, picking out an unmarked Cleland inside the six-yard box who fired home an acrobatic finish on the volley.

Credit to the young Dons however, who never gave up and pulled one back almost instantly. From kick-off, the visitors went straight up the park with  Victor Enem reaching the by-line on the right and cutting back to Fraser Mackie who applied the finish from a yard out.

That sparked the Dons back to life and they got another one back with 15 minutes left to play. This time Victor Enem turned goalscorer cutting inside from the right before bending a left-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

But the game was put to bed in the closing stages after an excellent Hibs counter-attack. Josh Landers marked his return to the squad following injury with an expertly taken goal. The prolific striker continued where he left off, firing the ball into the top-right corner after McDonald played him in.

That goal sealed the victory and well-deserved three points at HTC.

Full time: Hibernian 4-2 Aberdeen

Hibernian: Mallon, Whittaker, Jimenez, McGrath, Bruce, Cleland, Buckley, McDonald, McMurdo, Davidson (Landers 59), McSporran

Subs: Vickery, Landers, MacDonald, McNeill, Olson, Kitchen

Photo Credits: Simon Wootton