Pre-season friendly - Wednesday, 27th July 2010
Vale Park, Stoke-On-Trent
After a day spent sensation seeking at Alton Towers, another drab pre-season friendly soon brought me back to grim reality.
At compact Vale Park, a paltry 1824 hardy souls braved a typical pre season encounter.
Mind you, there were some meaty moments. An early Van Bommel-esque challenge by Darren Mackie on Port Vale’s Fraser resulted in the victim limping off, followed by the Dazzler himself some minutes later.
That was nothing to the two footed challenge that went in the second half from Fraser Fyvie on Griffiths who also didn’t hold back. A mighty collision resulted in Fyvie receiving treatment and both getting booked, and Mark Mcghee losing the plot on the touchline.
Aberdeen lined up with Howard in goal, a back four of McArdle, Ifil, Diamond and Considine, a midfield of Mackie, Young, Fyvie and Yoann 'Axel' Folly, with Vernon and Maguire up front.
Considine looked solid in an unfamiliar left back role, before worryingly pulling up lame just before half time, and being replaced by Basey.
It was Considine who provided the first direct shot of the game on 22 minutes with a right-footer held at the second attempt by the keeper.
Both sides produced some neat link-up play, a great move between Maguire and Fyvie resulting in the latter swinging in a dangerous cross which only just eluded the incoming Vernon and Collins.
Collins who had replaced the injured Mackie went close with a shot from the edge of the box.
At the other end, Howard produced an excellent save with his feet, and Ifil, excellent throughout, had a couple of great penalty box blocks.
The second half flow was interrupted by the usual spate of substitutions, which didn’t help the game as a spectacle.
As the game wore on Port Vale took control, Riggs firing over after a mazy run, before Rob Taylor burst through the centre of the Dons defence being foiled by a last gasp Ifil challenge.
Taylor soon turned sinner though, pulling down Mitchell Megginson at the edge of the box, resulting in a penalty coolly converted by Michael Paton around the 80th minute.
The Dons continued to hang on, repelling wave after wave of Vale attacks, Howard and Ifil standing tall.
A win's a win though as they say, and I suspect we will play better and lose but there were some definite positives. Howard and Ifil were outstanding, the latter being my man of the match, Foley was solid, and Basey good when he came on in the second half.
Again though it is obvious we desperately need a creative midfielder. Scott Vernon and Collins had little to work with and a penalty was the only way it appeared we would break the deadlock.
Dontilidie
Aberdeen-Mad - written by the fans for the fans. Together we can make a difference.
