Win % = 52.2%         Loss % = 32.6%

The campaign began strongly with the confidence from the successful 08/09 double winning season continuing in the opening few games. After 6 league games the Abos sat top of the table with the only dropped points coming in a 3-3 draw with eventual league winners Bon Accord.

The season was very much one of two halves. At the turn of the year the Abos were still involved in every cup competition and were sitting 4^th in the league with a chance they could mount a surprising push for the title.

Due to the horrendous weather over the winter only two games were played between 5^th December and 6^th March which seemed to really affect the team. Cup exits to lower league teams Hazelhead and Rattrays were followed by a poor run of league results including 7 consecutive defeats when the team was faced with 3 games a week from the beginning of April. A number of injuries and suspensions to key players didn’t help and it wasn’t until the likes of Clark, Roper and Marshall returned that results began to improve and a strong finish meant an Abos record of 4^th place was secured in the league.

Over the course of the 43 matches the team scored on average 3 goals a game whilst conceding 2. As a team we conceded too many goals over the season with just 8 shut outs and 3 or more goals conceded in a game on 17 occasions which makes it very hard to win no matter how good a team you are attacking. On the plus side we scored 3 or more goals in a game on 22 occasions.

The main problem was the lack of continuity in defence with a lot of unavailability. Good, a key player of the previous campaign only appeared 19 times while 2 red cards early in the season meant Craig was also badly missed through suspension.

Goals scored from set pieces (corners & indirect free kicks): 19

Goals from direct free kicks: 0

Goals from throw ins: 13

The Abos scored 29 headers over the season, many of those coming from set pieces, mainly against the weaker teams. Cameron and Pocock were often the ones to get on the end of Wilson’s corners and free kicks while the Edwards/Pocock long throws caused enough problems over the season to bring 13 goals. Direct free kicks reaped no reward with Wilson, Cameron and Pocock the most guilty of wasting any opportunities.

Goals conceded from set pieces (corners & indirect free kicks): 9

Goals conceded from direct free kicks: 3

Although it’s always frustrating to concede from set pieces, 9 in 43 games is not a bad effort.

Penalties Awarded (Scored): 5 (4)

Penalties Conceded (Scored): 11 (6)

We seem to be a team that gets very few penalties while being guilty of giving away a number of soft ones at the other end. Cameron ended with an 80% conversion with just the one miss against Great Western while a sterling effort from Clark and Pocock saw almost 1 in 2 penalties saved.

League Campaign

After a strong start the league campaign was put aside for a few months as cup matches took priority. A run of 5 defeats in a row sent the team tumbling down the table and were briefly threatened by relegation. A strong finish with 13 points from the final 6 games meant 4^th place was sealed which was a fair reflection of the team’s ability. Not quite good enough to challenge at the top as shown by the gap between the top 3 teams and 4^th place but the best of the rest.

 Most Goals in a match: (13) 4-9 Vs Echt 

Player Stats

A total of 32 players were used throughout the season with 10 starting 29 games or more while 12 appeared less than ten times.

Outstanding effort from Cameron and Fraser in particular who were responsible for 46% of the Abos goals. Even more remarkable was the fact that Cameron played 27 of his games in midfield and 2 in defence.

Wilson lead the way on assists in part due to the fact he takes most of the set pieces. The strike duo of Fraser and Marshall proved how crucial they are to the teams attacking play by contributing 34 assists between them to go with their 43 goals.

Hat-tricks:

Graeme MacLennan Vs University Strollers – 26/09/09 

Stewart Fraser Vs Windygates – 07/11/09 

Andy Cameron Vs Bankhead – 06/03/10 

Matt Roper Vs United Services Glendale X1 – 10/04/09

Andy Cameron Vs Echt – 05/05/10

Stewart Fraser Vs Sportsmans Club – 26/05/10

End of season awards:

Players Player of the Year: Andy Cameron

Committee Player of the Year: Stewart Fraser

Golden Boot for Top Goalscorer: Andy Cameron

Goal of the season: Andy Cameron Vs Cowie Thistle – 19/04/10

Opponents: Banchory

Competition: League

Venue: Banchory

Meet:6.00 for 6.45 pm kick off

Opponents: United Services GlendaleXI

Competition: League

Venue: Balgownie

Meet:1.00 for 2.00 pm kick off

Opponents: Echt

Competition: League

Venue: Balgownie

Meet:6.00 for 6.45 pm kick off

Opponents: University

Competition: League

Venue: Hillhead

Meet:6.00 for 6.45 pm kick off

Opponents: Westdyke

Competition: Premier Trophy

Venue: Balgownie

Meet:1.00 pm for 2.00 pm kick off

Opponents: Cowie Thistle

Competition: League

Venue: Balgownie

Meet:6.00 pm for 6.30 pm kick off

Opponents: Cowie Thistle

Competition: League

Venue: Stonehaven

Meet:6.00 pm for pm kick off

Opponents: Great Western United

Competition: Premier Trophy

Venue: Woodside Sports Complex

Meet:1.00 pm for 2.00 pm kick off

Opponents: Westdyke

Competition: League

Venue: Balgownie

Meet:6.00 pm for 6.30 pm kick off