Cameron Hat-trick Not Nearly Enough
Echt 9 – 4 Old Aberdonians
Association Cup Quarter Final on Wednesday 5th May at Echt
The Abos last chance of silverware meant facing league leaders Echt in this quarter final tie. Despite an encouraging start which saw Cameron come close with a header it was Echt who broke the deadlock when the referee handed the home team a penalty after a soft handball against Purdon. Immediately confidence was drained from a number of the Abos players perhaps as a result of the wretched run of form they have been on of late.
Goal number two followed with a quick break up the right and a controlled finish from the edge of the box. Only 5 minutes later Clark’s throw was intercepted with the ball promptly lobbed over his head to make it 3-0.
While in possession the Abos looked threatening but defensively they were off the pace all over the pitch. Number four came from a clever free kick and it was five when the winger cut in and chipped it into the top corner from 20 yards. Incredibly Echt had only had 5 shots on goal at this point.
Roper pulled a goal back when he took a chance and bravely knocked in Pocock’s cross. However the home team got a sixth before the break when more sloppy defending left Clark exposed and although he saved the first shot it was the Echt striker who reacted quickest to knock in the rebound.
Half-time: 6-1
With the game effectively over the Abos aimed to salvage some pride in the second half. Johnston replaced the ineffective Fraser up front as the Abos began stringing some nice moves together.
One move resulted in a goal when a neat one two between Purdon and Murison down the right saw the veteran full back pull the ball back for Cameron to smash into the bottom corner. Echt hit back when a tricky free kick was spilled by Clark and again it was the home team who were more alert to the loose ball.
Cameron again replied for the Abos, latching on to Roper’s long ball and somehow beating the keeper from an acute angle.
The soft goals kept coming at the other end with Roper being caught on the ball and Wyness losing out in a challenge allowing the Echt striker to chip over Clark. It was simple again with 10 minutes to go when a cross saw the same striker unmarked 6 yards out and Clark was left to pick the ball out the net for the 9th time.
Cameron salvaged some personal glory, sealing his hat-trick with a bullet header from Wilson’s corner to end the scoring for the night
Full Time: 9-4
Team: G. Clark, B. Purdon, F. Pocock, S. Wyness, J. Dempster (A. Russell), B. Munro, A. Barr (S. Murison), M. Roper, A. Cameron, S. Fraser (M. Johnston), E. Wilson.
Unused Subs: G. Ashton
Goals (Assists): Roper (Pocock), Cameron (Purdon), Cameron (Roper), Cameron (Wilson)
