Pre-Season Friendly | ABERDEEN 0 CONNAH’S QUAY NOMADS 0 | Fota Island

Defences were on top as Aberdeen and Connah’s Quay Nomads played out a goalless draw in fine conditions at Fota Island in the Republic of Ireland.

All of the Pittodrie travelling party, other than Stevie May (virus), Frank Ross (back) and recuperating trio Niall McGinn, Connor McLennan and Craig Bryson, were included in the squad with all of the outfield players getting some vital game time against the Welsh side who lined up as they will in their Europa League tie against Kilmarnock with the emphasis very much on goal prevention.

Aberdeen enjoyed the bulk of possession and a 4th minute Ryan Hedges free kick found Lewis Ferguson who shot wide before a good move down the left involving Greg Leigh and Scott Wright came to nothing.

Michael Devlin then found Shay Logan whose pass to Jon Gallagher, the only outfield player to play the full ninety, saw the Atlanta United loanee backheel the ball back to the full-back whose effort went close.

In 17 minutes, Leigh and Wright again combined to set up Hedges who couldn’t get a shot away and immediately afterwards Scott McKenna required treatment after a clash with Michael Bakare.

With half-time approaching, a promising move involving Hedges and Curtis Main ended with the latter flagged for offside.

The well organised Welsh side were almost caught out by a 56th minute Sam Cosgrove snap shot that keeper Lewis Brass palmed away for a corner while, in a rare sojurn upfied, Michael Wilde came close with a couple of headers, the second of which was well saved by Joe Lewis at the expense of a corner.

In 78 minutes a wonderful Scott Wright free kick was saved by Brass while, at the other end, Ash Taylor’s half clearance was almost pounced on by Ryan Wignall.

With ten minutes to go Gallagher’s fine deliver saw Seb Ross’s header go agonisingly wide and a minute later younger brother Ethan won a corner after a great run down the left.

Two Scott Wright corners in quick succession were met by Ash Taylor, the second a free header that went wide before, with the last move of the game, Scott McKenna and Seb Ross combined to set up Main, whose fierce low effort was not far away at all.

Thank you to the Nomads for the game and we wish them well for the season ahead.

Stats

Aberdeen starting XI: Lewis, Logan, Leigh, Devlin, McKenna, Ferguson, Campbell, Gallagher, Wright, Hedges, Cosgrove.

Substitutions:
31 minutes – Considine and Main on; McKenna and Wright off
46 minutes – Taylor on; Devlin off
61 minutes – McKenna and Wright (back on), Anderson, Virtanen, E Ross, S Ross on; Logan, Leigh, Hedges, Campbell, Ferguson, Cosgrove off.
Unused sub: Cerny.

Nomads starting XI | Brass, Holmes, Farquharson, Horan, Roberts, Harrison, Morris, Poole, Owen, Bakare, Insall.

Substitutions:
46 minutes – Insall, Harrison, Farquharson off; Wilde, Woolfe, Disney on
70 minutes – Bakare off; Wignall on
80 minutes – Owen off; Harwood on
88 minutes – Poole off; Weir on

Officials:

Referee – Anthony Buttimer
Assistant – Trevor Cotter
Assistant – Eoin Harte
4th Official – Jason Mannix