Donside Tournament

K99 Triumph at Donside

After years of trying Kemnay FC Under 12's finally managed to come out on top at the Donside Football Tournament Primary 7 section after a rollercoaster of a day that saw just about everything - great play, good goals, great saves and not to mention a penalty shoot out!!

Drawn in a group alongside Donside, Bervie Caley and Milltimber, the boys first game saw them pitted against the hosts at 1.30pm in a game that would be repeated about three hours later. Kemnay started with Daniel in goal, Mason and Keiron in defence, a midfield of Matthew Law, Matthew Robertson and Liam and Jordan up front. As a spectacle it wasn't a pretty game to start with a combination of a dry fiery pitch and a very bouncy ball making good passing football difficult. If anything Donside settled slightly better and they took the lead about half way through the game. A good defence splitting pass was collected by the home striker and he shot low into the net to give the hosts the lead. Not to be outdone, Kemnay came roaring back into the game and Keiron collected the ball, before beating the defence and shooting low to the keeper's left to tie the game. Donside had a chance from a free kick to win the game but Daniel did really well to tip a fierce shot over the bar.

Final Score - Donside 1 Kemnay 1

The boys second game was against Milltimber. Callum, Robert and Lewis came in for their first games of the day and did really well. The boys were getting used to the conditions now and did play some nice football. Robert was using his physical presence and his quick feet to control things in the middle whilst Lewis and Callum were finding space on the flanks to create opportunities. Kemnay were in control of the game and deservedly took the lead when Callum swung in a lovely corner from the right. Matthew swung and missed but Lewis collected the ball and struck a sweet shot high into the net. Soon after Kemnay doubled their lead. Good build up play by Robert saw him set up Lewis again in space and he buried a left-footed shot past the keeper to make it 2-0. In truth Kemnay could and maybe should have scored a couple more goals but a win put them top of their group albeit by only 1 goal.

Final Score - Kemnay 2 Milltimber 0

With Donside drawing with Milltimber in the penultimate game in the group, the arithmetic was simple (not that you would have thought it the way I tried to explain it to the boys). A win against Bervie Caley would see Kemnay top the group and progress to the semi finals. Like the rest of the games in the group it was an extremely tight affair, with both teams cancelling each other out for the most part. Kemnay defended really well throughout the game though with Mason and Keiron really solid. Daniel too, despite not having to make any really great saves showed good handling and distribution to set up good possession for Kemnay. One goal settled the game though and Kemnay got it. Jordan showed quick thinking to capitalise on defensive hesitation before collecting the ball and rounding the keeper and poking the ball into the net for the winner.

Final Score - Kemnay 1 Bervie Caley 0

Final Group

Kemnay 7 Points

Donside 5 Points

Milltimber 2 Points

Bervie Caley 1 Point

So having topped the group Kemnay progressed to the semi finals where they would play Forehill. The second semi final was played out between Donside and Colony Park.

The semi final was an extremely tense affair, as they often are. Both teams had half chances to score, Matthew heading just over for Kemnay, but to be honest the two teams could have played for an hour and there still wouldn't have been a goal. So it was no real surprise that the game ended up goalless. That meant the lottery of a penalty shoot out to decide which team would go through to the final. And it was a sense of deja vu for Kemnay having lost out in a penalty shoot out against Albion BC in the 2009 final.

Volunteers were sought for penalties and Matthew Robertson, Callum, Lewis, Jordan and Matthew Law stepped forward.

Forehill were first to step up and their player put his kick wide. Matthew Robertson had a chance to give Kemnay the lead but his well struck kick hit the crossbar. Cue biting of nails on the touchline and parents looking the opposite direction!!

Forehill took their second penalty, their player struck a good low shot to Daniel's left but he reacted brilliantly to dive low and smother the shot - fantastic stuff! It was Callum's chance to give Kemnay the lead in the shoot-out but his shot grazed the right hand post on the way past. More nail biting followed on the Kemnay touchline and deep breaths all round!

Forehill took their third penalty and it struck the post. This time it was Lewis chance to give Kemnay the edge. Surely it would be third time lucky. He stepped up and blasted the ball straight down the middle. As the ball rippled the net he reacted by jumping in the air, fist pumping! Advantage Kemnay, but only just.

Forehill's fourth penalty was hit high over the bar meaning that if Jordan could convert his, Kemnay would be in the final. He stepped up and struck his shot straight and true into the net, to huge cheers from the sizeable Kemnay support.

Final Score - Forehill 0 Kemnay 0 (Kemnay won 2-0 on penalties)

Having lost out in a shoot out, we can sympathise with Forehill's players, but it was Kemnay who went on to the final where they'd face Donside, who had knocked out Colony Park in the other semi final by three goals to one. 

And so to the final. It was actually a really good game of football, despite it being a final and despite the nerves that go with finals. Both teams were intent on playing good football and despite Dondide having their moments, Kemnay were marginally the better team throughout. Donside were restricted to half chances whilst Kemnay always looked more like taking the lead. One goal always looked like it might be enough to settle the game and so it proved and when it came it was fit to win any game. Good play saw the ball shipped out to Lewis on the left. He looked up and swung in an absolute peach of a cross to the back post. Matthew Law had made a brilliant run and he met the cross with a spectacular volley to rifle the ball into the net from close range. The crowd went wild, the boys went wild!! 1-0 Kemnay!.

Kemnay rung the changes. Callum replaced the goalscorer Matthew, Robert came on to play up front for Jordan who had ran his heartout and Matthew Robertson replaced Liam who in his own words was 'knackered'. Donside tried to find a way back but Kemnay held on. Defensively, Daniel, Mason and Keiron gave nothing away, Matthew Robertson made a couple of outstanding tackles in the middle of the park to break up promising Donside moves and start some of our own, Robert held the ball up well and in Callum and Lewis there were willing runners to take the ball on and relieve the pressure.

The referee blew the final whistle, the boys congratulated their opponents before celebrating a well deserved victory and collecting their winners trophies. This was a terrific squad effort with every player playing their part on the day.

Well done boys!! Thanks for all your efforts and thanks to everyone who stayed on to support the boys.