Challenge Cup kick-off: Peterhead thrash Banks o’ Dee, but Highland League successes, Ayoub Mouloua Aberdeen double and late Ross County win at Elgin City

Peterhead co-manager Jordan Brown was thrilled with their impressive start in the KDM Evolution Trophy.

The League One outfit defeated Breedon Highland League side Banks o’ Dee 5-1 at Spain Park courtesy of a brace from Jason Brown as well as counters from Lyall Keir, Dylan Forrest and Fraser Mackie.

The top 22 in the league phase of the Challenge Cup progress to the knockout stage, and with five more fixtures to come in the tournament, boss Brown was delighted with this display.

He said: “I thought we were outstanding, the application and everything good about the group was there in abundance, the only slight frustration was conceding a goal late on.

“We want to get through in this competition, we trust every single person in the squad and the ones that came in for this game showed why we trust them and we’ve got a lot of other options to come back in.

“We’ve had success at Peterhead in the past in this cup (notably reaching the final in 2016) and our aim is to go as far as we can.”

Match action

It took the Blue Toon just 50 seconds to break the deadlock when Tobias Davies-Browne’s inswinging corner from the right was nodded into the net by captain Jason Brown at the back post.

The visitors struck again on 19 minutes when the industrious Davies-Browne got forward on the left flank and passed to Keir inside the penalty area, who finished well from 12 yards.

Just shy of the half hour mark Peterhead’s third arrived when Keir’s inswinging corner from the left was headed home by Brown at the back post.

In the 43rd minute the woodwork stopped the Buchan club adding a fourth. Cammy Smith’s deflected shot broke for Keir, who hit the left post from an acute angle.

But on the stroke of half-time Peterhead did find the net again as Forrest fired a spectacular first time shot from 35 yards over goalkeeper Jack Robertson and into the net.

Four minutes into the second half number five arrived as Smith teed up Mackie just inside the area and his low finish went under the body of Robertson.

After that the Blue Toon introduced striker Louis Jacobs as a substitute. The 25-year-old, who was most recently with Welsh Premier League side Newtown AFC, has joined on a short-term deal and also featured in Saturday’s League One victory against Queen of the South.

Although Jacobs didn’t have any chances he did display an eye-catching turn of pace.

Late riposte from hosts

In the 88th minute Dee grabbed a consolation when a slack pass from Peterhead player-co-manager Ryan Strachan allowed Michael Philipson to set up fellow sub Lachie MacLeod to score from 18 yards.

Banks o’ Dee co-manager Josh Winton said: “We’re disappointed with the two goals from set plays because we spoke before the game about trying to stop Jason Brown who is a real threat at set plays.

“Peterhead are a very good side who moved the ball well, but in the second half we were more like ourselves and caused them some issues.”

Forfar Athletic 0-3 Aberdeen B

Aberdeen B cruised to victory as they swept Forfar aside 3-0 in their opening game of the KDM Evolution Trophy at Station Park.

A young Dons side bolstered by first-team members Nicky Devlin, Mitchel Frame and Ayoub Mouloua, dominated their League Two opponents and were well worth their three-goal half-time lead thanks to a Cooper Masson goal and two penalties from Mouloua.

The Dons set the tone from the first whistle as they put the Loons under pressure and Aberdeen’s early play was rewarded by the opening goal in the 11th minute.

Mouloua’s flick on the halfway line fell to Zak To, who sent Andrew Fasanya through on goal.

The winger won his side a corner and from the resulting delivery the Forfar defence cleared the danger as far as Masson on the edge of the box and the midfielder drilled a shot which went in off Marc McCallum’s right post to give Aberdeen the lead.

Penalty brace

With the impressive Masson and Aaron Cummings dominating the midfield, and To’s movement and tenacity causing the home side problems, the Dons doubled their lead in the 22nd minute with their first spot kick of the game.

It was To who won the penalty when he went down just inside the box after being caught by Forfar’s Callum Wilson. Mouloua stepped up to beat McCallum low to his right to make it 2-0.

Forfar created their first chance just after the half hour mark from their first corner but Mackenzie Lemon’s header from Adam Brown’s delivery went over the crossbar.

Aberdeen responded by adding a third, again from the penalty spot.

The Loons had felt aggrieved at the award of the first spot-kick but there were no complaints on this occasion as a driving run from Devlin ended with him being caught from behind by Lemon.

Mouloua stepped up again to send McCallum the wrong way as he again opted to place his effort low to the goalkeeper’s right.

Changes

The over-age Dons, Devlin and Mouloua, were replaced for the second half by Joseph Teasdale and Joel Okhuoya.

Forfar, for their part, had to improve after a poor opening 45 minutes and the home side were more competitive after the break.

Aaron Arnott blazed a shot over from 25 yards before Lemon became the first booking of the night for a foul on Fasanya.

But the home side were then forced into two changes as goalkeeper McCallum limped off before Ross Maclean followed him after suffering an injury.

Aberdeen had a chance to make it 4-0 midway through the second half when Jack Searle and Frame exchanged passes only for Searle to see his shot blocked.

The Loons responded with a drive from substitute Martin Rennie which went over the crossbar.

Sam McLean fired straight at substitute goalkeeper Neil Stafford as the Dons chased a fourth, but in the end Stephen Craigan’s side had to settle for their three first-half goals in what was an assured display against Jim Weir’s side.

Elgin City 1-2 Ross County

League One side Ross County kicked off their KDM Evolution Trophy campaign with a nail-biting last-gasp 2-1 victory at League Two Elgin City.

Oli Colloty fired the Moray men in front after a bright start, but the Dingwall team’s pressure paid off with a Richard Chin equaliser late in the first half.

With the match heading for a share of the spoils, Adam Emslie’s deflected drive sealed three points for County.

It was nip and tuck in the second half, with Elgin asking plenty of questions and they will be delighted to have shown up so well against their higher ranked opponents but also gutted with the way it ended.

Elgin made six changes and the Staggies 10 to their line-ups for this first group game, coming on the back of strong starts to their respective league seasons.

County have won their opening two league fixtures, while City have taken four points from their opening two matches.

Ross County youngsters Lewis Mackay and Calum Brown, who are on cooperation loans with the Moray side, were both included for the hosts, with the former starting.

There was a place on the visitors’ bench for defensive midfielder Chris Hamilton, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since joining Stuart Kettlewell’s side this summer from Dunfermline Athletic. He made his debut midway through the second half.

The evening began with a minute’s applause following the passing of former Elgin goalkeeper Steve Marsella, who died aged 59 at the weekend. He also was chief scout for Terry Butcher at Inverness, helping find many of their 2015 Scottish Cup winners.

Montrose 2-0 Fraserburgh

Fraserburgh put up a spirited performance at Montrose in their Challenge Cup opener, with the League One team scoring once in each half to record a 2-0 victory over the Highland League side.

Montrose had the better of the early stages at Links Park, but Broch trialist goalkeeper Greg Sim showed his confidence with a couple of good claims.

Liam Strachan’s cross from the left for Fraserburgh then flashed across goal with Flynn McKay just failing to make enough contact to steer the ball in.

After 21 minutes, Montrose’s Jake Sutherland got the better of Alexander Johnston on the right side of the box and flashed a shot just wide of the far post.

Eight minutes later, a ball over the top of the Broch defence found Sutherland in space, but Sim raced out to block the striker’s effort.

But Montrose were awarded a penalty on 37 minutes when McKay handled inside the area and Gary Oliver sent Sim the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick.

On 41 minutes, Fraserburgh’s Greg Buchan picked up a loose clearance 25 yards out and fired in a volley, which Gable Endies keeper Cameron Gill pushed away.

Just before the break, the home side’s Harry Craig crashed in a shot which Sim saved.

Montrose doubled their lead on 47 minutes when Sutherland nipped in between defender Will Sim and goalkeeper Greg Sim to slot the ball home from 12 yards out.

A dangerous cross by the Broch’s Strachan was subsequently turned behind by Sean Dillon with Ryan Sargent lurking at the back post.

Just after the hour, Montrose were awarded a second penalty kick for a trip on Ross Clark – but Sim saved Oliver’s tame effort.

Strachan whipped in a corner on 69 minutes which Logan Watt flicked over the crossbar as Fraserburgh continued to hunt for a goal back.

Sutherland then had a late header for Montrose from Keir Bertie’s corner which flew over the crossbar.

Formartine United 4-1 Dundee B

Formartine United got their KDM Evolution Trophy campaign off to the perfect start as they defeated Dundee B 4-1 at North Lodge Park, aided by cracking goals from Tyler Mykyta and Christopher Parton.

The young Dees started the better. Ashton Leiper – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Formartine’s Highland League rivals Banks o’ Dee – was causing problems down the right and played in one particularly good ball which saw a header clip the bar.

Formartine, however, struck on 38 minutes, when a poor clearance fell for Mykyta, who hit it into the net from around 30 yards.

The hosts would get their second in similar fashion just a few minutes later, as Parton drilled low and hard past Ruaridh Lynch.

On 61 minutes, the third came when Julian Wade teed up Gafar Abari, who then ran forward and smashed a rocket past goalkeeper Lynch.

The fourth arrived on 76 minutes when Parton played the ball across goal to a wide-open Aidan McCormick on the right and he placed it almost perfectly into the top right-hand corner.

United’s Wallace Baird was sent off two minutes later for a second bookable offence, and Dundee’s youngsters nabbed a late consolation through Lewis Wiseman with four minutes left to play.

Clachnacuddin 5-0 Dundee United B

Highland League Clachnacuddin went nap in a 5-0 victory over Premiership club Dundee United’s B team to put three points on the board.

A curled Mikey Mackenzie finish got Conor Gethins-bossed Clach rolling at Grant Street Park, before further first half goals from Sam Thompson and Troy Cooper.

In the second period, after keeping United at bay, Jordan MacRae scored the home side’s fourth, then Mackenzie netted an impressive solo second to make it five for the Inverness side.

Stirling Albion 4-2 Cove Rangers

Cove Rangers’ KDM Evolution Trophy campaign got off to a bad start as they were beaten 4-2 by their League Two opponents Stirling Albion.

Stirling midfielder Robin Raine lashed home the opener on 36 minutes for his first senior goal, and Albion doubled their lead four minutes later when last season’s top-scorer Russell McLean coolly converted a penalty after Zeke Cameron had been tripped.

It got even better for the Binos right on half-time when Callum Crane swept the ball into the net from close range.

Cove boss Paul Hartley made half a dozen changes to his starting XI, with a trip to East Kilbride to come at the weekend, but, after a first half to forget, Cove brought on Jordan White, Max Barry and Chris Maguire at the break.

They were back in the game on 49 minutes when Destiny Oladipo sent a superb shot into the top corner to end the team’s recent goal drought.

But any hopes of a comeback were all but over on 52 minutes when McLean did well to turn a brilliant Lucas Fyfe cross into the net.

Former East Fife striker Oladipo reduced the deficit in 71 minutes when he drove a low shot past Robert Duffy from eight yards.

[Source: Press and Journal]