Banks O'Dee 2 - 0 Dyce

The Hoops (in their change stripes for the night) travelled to Spain Park for a midweek league match against 4 time super league champions Dee. Our last 2 visits have seen pretty brutal defeats but a much improved showing this time with a number of players missing resulted in Dee being pushed and having to work hard for their victory with two late goals sealing the points.

The first half saw little of note happening early on, until the 15th minute when the home side had a flurry of attacks. Andy saved well from Henderson with his feet and then Barbour saw a low shot deflected of the base of the post. At the other end Mark B had a chance from Napier’s cross but his volley flew over. He then had a shot deflected into Shearer’s arms, but Dee came closest to scoring a few minutes before the break but Andy did well to tip away a 25 yard free kick.

Dee started the second half strongly with Andy saving from Philipson before Henderson hit the outside of the post with a low shot. After weathering that storm Dyce composed themselves and were producing a well organised and disciplined performance albeit without troubling Shearer too much. Dee had scored in every match this season and as the match headed for the final quarter hour there was a chance of becoming the first side to keep a clean sheet against them. However in the 75th minute Paul Napier appeared to impeded midway inside the Dyce half, and with the players waiting on the award of a free kick Dee wasted no time in working the ball down the right for it to be cut back to sub McLEOD and he controlled the ball well and slotted past Andy. The same player had a great chance to make it two in the 81st minute when a trip by Napier resulted in a spot kick. Not really much doubt about the award but this time MacLeod was denied as Andy dived to his right to parry away the penalty. However with 84 minutes on the clock number two did arrive, when ex-Dycer Sean NAPIER collected the ball on the edge of the box and turned well to fire one into the top corner giving Andy no chance. Overall the lads put in a good shift against what is comfortably the best team in the league which will hopefully give them some encouragement before the reverse fixture at IMP which will be in the near future.