Colony Park Juniors -v-Banks O' Dee

If you want to beat Banks O’ Dee, you need to field your strongest side, and hope that every player performs to his maximum. The task facing the manager was made even more difficult when 8 players were missing through unavailability or injury, and several of those available for selection were carrying injuries, or were recovering from illness.

Right from the start, Dee flooded forward, and their speed and movement was causing the home defence problems. Robertshaw saved well after only 5 minutes, but Colony were able to break now and then, and Stuart McKay had a shot blocked 6 minutes later.

Dee were pressing so hard that it seemed inevitable that they would score, and despite the efforts of Robertshaw and his defenders, Dee opened the scoring on 15minutes. It was virtually one-way traffic, and every time Colony pushed forward, they left their defence vulnerable.

The visiting forwards were relentless and by the 22nd minute, they had added another three goals, as their passing and moving allowed them to carve through the home defence.

Stuart McKay and Greg Cowie tried to hold up the ball in attack, but Banks O’ Dee pressed hard, and Colony forays up front were few and far between.

One minute before the interval, the visitors added a fifth.

Half-time: Colony Park 0-5 Banks O’ Dee

The Colony players came out for the second-half determined to perform better, but lost another two goals in the opening 5 minutes.

The tiring Barry Peden was replaced by Harrison Hinks, in the 55th minute, and 5 minutes later Graeme Cochrane and Andrew Mitchell replaced Conor Killoh and Greg Cowie.

Within two minutes, Graeme Cochrane made an impact as Colony at last got reward for their efforts. A free-kick was awarded just outside the box, and when the ball was rolled to Cochrane, he struck a well-placed effort low into the corner of the Dee net.

This gave the home side a boost, and they began to play some decent football, getting forward more frequently.

Unfortunately, in the 73rd minute, out of nowhere, Dee scored a wonder goal. Stuart Duff who has played football at the highest level struck an unstoppable shot from an acute angle into the top corner with Keith Robertshaw a spectator. A lovely goal, but harsh on the home team.

Dee then rounded off the scoring with the final kick of the match.

Full-time: Colony Park 1-9 Banks O’ Dee

Banks O’ Dee were mindful of the performance that Colony had produced against them two weeks ago, and came out of the blocks determined to dominate. Both sides showed several changes, and Dee looked to be far stronger than in the previous game. Although it was a day to forget for the home side, there is no shame in being beaten by a side with the class and ability of Banks O’ Dee. A mention must be made to Keith Robertshaw who kept the score down, all of the substitutes who performed well when given the chance, and to Kevin Bonarius who had been ill all week, but made himself available when he knew that the team was short of numbers. More important fixtures await at the start of the New Year.

(Picture shows the goal being scored by Graeme Cochrane - No.14)