Glenury Park, Stonehaven
I’ve been to Glenury Park a few times now actually, seen about 4 games now involving the Stonehaven juniors and juvenile teams playing their cup final here. It’s a nice little setup this area of Stonehaven with 5 eleven a side pitches outside of the junior pitch and a pavilion to store all the goalposts and other equipment. The pitch itself is well looked after with a flat surface surrounded by metal barring for spectators. Only structure here is the dugouts for the two teams. Today was a Superleague encounter between Stonehaven and Banks O’Dee. Stonehaven were wearing their home blue shirts whilst Dee were occupying their change shirts of white.
The first half was quite a dull half with little amount of chances but both teams were trying to push forward. Stonehaven were enjoying the majority of possession but couldn’t quite find an opener. Number 6 launched a free kick towards the back post which was picked up by 11 at the edge of the area, who turned his man only to see his low cross cleared away. Their next chance fell to their number after the Banks O’Dee keeper’s poor clearance fell to the striker but his first time shot went well wide of the goal. Banks O’Dee gradually came into the game as it went on and they had a chance to test the keeper after number 10 played through 11 but his cross went over the bar and never troubled anyone. Their first shot came from their number 6 on the edge of the box but he missed the target. Stonehaven’s number 4, who was controlling the midfield, played long ball out to the left to number 11 who then turned his man only to see his shot then go wide. Unlucky but he should really be testing the keeper. The far side linesman then called to the referee that Stonehaven’s keeper handled the ball outside the box which sparked controversy. However, the resultant free kick saw number 11’s effort deflect over the bar.
The first real effort at goal came from Banks O’Dee’s number 7 whose shot was cleared off the line by Stonehaven’s number 2. Their next chance fell to number 10 as he latched onto a cross from number 3 but he couldn’t handle the 1 on 1 pressure and saw his shot blaze over the bar. Stonehaven had the next chance but with loads of time to spare, number 11 decided to volley the ball from the left miles over the bar. The Stonehaven keeper then had a really good save to make after the ball came to number 8 who volleyed from 30 yards and it was heading towards the bottom right corner but for the keeper who saved it well. Banks O’Dee then received the first booking of the game after a late challenge by number 6 on 4. Stonehaven almost managed to score from a free kick but number 8 couldn’t quite get on to the end of number 4’s free kick. Finally the first goal of the game did come. I just managed to get a glimpse of the ball going in as I was reading a text from my dad. A free kick was sent in towards the back post and number 9 was left unchallenged to strike home from close range. The end of the half saw Banks O’Dee’s number 11 booked for an elbow on number 2.
The second half saw Banks O’Dee push for an equaliser. However, their job was made harder when a loose ball at the back post fell to Stonehaven’s number 2 whose shot across goal deflected off number 9 for 2-0. The Banks O’Dee keeper was then booked for moaning at the ref not long after the goal went in. This seemed to spark life into Banks O’Dee and they kept pushing for a goal. Their number 8 was played through for a 1 on 1 but the keeper managed to save his shot. They came real close when number 15 played through number 9 but his shot from a tight angle was unlucky enough to have hit the post. They did however; get a goal back with 10 minutes to play. A free kick from 25 yards was placed around the ball by number 7 and into the bottom right corner, despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball. 2-1 and game on! Their number 14 tried a spectacular overhead kick at the back post but it was a really poor try as it went over the bar and never looked to have troubled the keeper. Their number 12 was then booked for moaning at the referee and he was later sent off for moaning at the linesman on the far side which spoiled Dee’s chances of a comeback. Stonehaven did come close to sealing the game as their number 12 was through on goal and he took the ball past the oncoming keeper but he took it too far and saw his shot hit the side netting. The sending off for number 12 was to be the end of the game as Stonehaven added another 3 points which should see them finish mid table.
It was an okay game, not the best but I’ve seen a few good games here including under 13 games and under 16 games. I see this ground quite a lot when I watch my friends play on the juvenile/amateur pitches around the junior one. This has definitely got to be one of the best setup teams in Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire, with teams ranging from under 8 to under 19.
