First team

Match Report | Aberdeen 1-1 RCFC

29/08/2021

Ross County were held to a point by Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon after a valiant performance on the road in the cinch Premiership.

Regan-Charles Cook’s first league goal for the Staggies gave the visitors the lead in the first half before Christian Ramirez equalised to agonisingly draw level in the closing stages of the match.

The first clear chance of the match fell to the hosts when Austin Samuels missed a glorious opportunity to give his side the lead in the 11th minute. Two English Premier League loanees combined to create the chance as debutant Matty Longstaff done well to spin his marker in the box before digging out a cross to the back post for Samuels in space. However, the on-loan Wolves youngster could only direct his weak header directly into the thankful arms of goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw.

Just a minute later, Ross County squandered their own chance to get themselves in front when a poor touch in midfield from Scott Brown allowed Jordan White to charge towards goal. The forward then slipped in Ross Callachan one-on-one with the Joe Lewis but Callachan’s effort was also aimed straight at the opposition goalkeeper.

However, the Staggies did eventually draw first blood with Regan Charles-Cook’s first league goal for County in the 33rd minute. Blair Spittal’s left-footed cross was partially cleared by Ross McCrorie to Harry Paton, who had his resulting effort blocked before Charles-Cook could calmy slot the ball into the bottom left corner.

County’s resolute back 3 continued to repel any Aberdeen threat for the rest of the half, reducing to hosts to only 1 more half-chance before the break. 5 minutes later, Calvin Ramsay’s clipped reverse ball had breached the Staggies’ backline but Austin Samuels’ subsequent attempted lob landed on the wrong side of Ross Laidlaw’s right post.

Malky MacKay’s side took a 1-0 lead into the break for the first time this season after a much-improved team performance. Aberdeen’s only source of enjoyment came through Austin Samuel, but the debutant’s lack of conviction in front of goal meant the hosts were still trailing at half-time.

Just 2 minutes after the restart County nearly doubled their lead and nearly doubled Regan Charles-Cook’s goal tally. Ross Callachan burst through the home side’s disjointed midfield before sliding the ball over the goal scorer, but the Grenada international’s unconvincing left-footed attempt did not challenge Joe Lewis in goal.

Shortly after the hour mark, Samuels was involved again as he charged down the left-wing before fizzing the ball across the face of goal. Funso Ojo should have been able to tap the ball in at the back post but Ben Paton’s heroic defending done enough to put Ojo off as he failed to successfully connect with the ball.

With 21 minutes left to play, Ross Callachan must have thought he had extended his side’s lead. A disguised flick round the corner from Regan Charles-Cook released Ross Callachan in on-goal as he rounded Joe Lewis and sent the ball goalward from a tight angle. Yet, somehow, teenage defender Calvin Ramsay got back just in time to spectacularly clear the ball off the line.

The Dons then immediately broke away on the counter-attack in quest of an equaliser but Ferguson’s shot Scott Brown’s resulting rebound failed to beat Ross Laidlaw.

In the 73rd minute, Aberdeen came close again to an equaliser when Lewis Ferguson’s looping header from a Calvin Ramsay cross was headed off the line by Alex Iacovitti to deny the lurking Christian Ramirez of an open goal.

With just 2 minutes of regulation time remaining, Aberdeen levelled. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas broke through midfield and found Jonny Hayes on the right-hand side. Hayes then opened up his body to send a rather tame shot towards goal, but the ball squirmed underneath the arms of Ross Laidlaw to allow Christian Ramirez a tap-in to equalise at the death.

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