The inaugural Club Academy Scotland U16 Cup Final took place at Balmoral Stadium in Cove with Aberdeen taking on Hearts. Both sides kicked-off their campaign back in February with Hearts getting through the group stage undefeated, the young Dons suffered just one defeat from Dundee United but comfortably progressed to face Rangers in the Quarter Final.

After a 1-1 tie the youngsters came out on top winning 4-3 on penalties to set-up a Semi-Final with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park where a 2-1 victory secured a place in the Final. Hearts defeated Hamilton Accies and Celtic on their way to the Balmoral Stadium.

Both sides were welcomed by a sizeable support who had braved the cold for the occasion. The crowd of 925 included several members of the AFC first team squad and management team.

The Dons lined-up in a 4-2-3-1 with Aikamenze leading the line up front. Within the first couple of minutes Aberdeen signalled their intent with Hanratty breaking through the middle of the park to test the keeper from 20 yards.

In the 8th minute Aberdeen had an opportunity to get the ball in the box from a wide are when Hanratty won a free-kick. Ramsay’s delivery was low to the near post, a deflection took the ball towards goal and through the legs of the keeper but The Dons couldn’t direct the ball over the line.

Aikamenze had an opportunity moments later when a through ball from Zanda set him through on goal but the striker couldn’t keep the effort on target. Encouraging signs for The Dons.

Aberdeen won another free-kick in the 11th minute and this time Booth’s headed effort from the delivery went just wide of the post.

The young Dons had started the match well with the greater share of possession, building some good attacks through the middle of the park with Hanratty involved in most passages of play.

Hearts looked a threat from cross balls but were unable to really test Ritchie in the opening 20 minutes of the match.

Darge was the first player to go in the book, the Hearts centre half picking up a yellow card for a late challenge on Hanratty.

After a lull in the play The Dons made the breakthrough in the 31st minute when a cross from wide right was deflected into the path of Booth six yards from goal, he showed great desire to get to the ball first and poke the ball into the net.

With a couple of minutes of the half remaining Charleston-King found Denholm with a through ball but Ritchie was there to make the stop at the near post and keep Aberdeen in front at the break.

Hearts started the second half strongly with the front four of Schiavone, Charleston-King, Denholm and Mitchell linking-up well to test the Aberdeen defence. Despite a few teasing crosses into the box they were unable to test Ritchie.

Just before the hour mark Hanratty was booked for throwing the ball away after conceding a throw-in.

In the 65th minute Aberdeen were forced to make their first change of the game when Booth picked up an injury, he was replaced by Dangana. Hearts also made a change when Ramos replaced Mitchell.

A few minutes later Aberdeen were forced into another change when Leslie picked up a knock after a late challenge from Watson, he was replaced by Milne. Whilst The Dons were looking to make that substitution Hearts almost made the extra man count as Charleston-King had a shot deflected agonisingly wide of the post.

From the corner that followed there was a moment of controversy when Darge was sent off for an off the ball incident with Ritchie reducing Hearts to ten men for the final twenty minutes of the match. The Aberdeen keeper was also booked.

In the next passage of play Ramos picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Milne.

As the match entered the final ten minutes Dangana found Aikamenze with a cross and the striker would have been disappointed not to have hit the target with a free header. Despite being down to ten men Hearts were still well in the game keeping the Aberdeen backline on their toes.

With five minutes remaining Towler got booked for a last-ditch challenge on Schiavone who was racing through on goal. There was further controversy when the Hearts striker received a straight red card, presumably for dissent. The incident had left Hearts reduced to nine men.

Charleston-King still had an opportunity to test Ritchie with the free-kick twenty yards from goal and was unfortunate to see his free-kick land up on the roof of the net. The midfielder let out his frustration moments later with another late challenge, Hearts had lost their discipline but with one goal in the game you couldn’t rule them out.

Aitken picked up a yellow card in the final minute of the 90 as Livingstone looked to be through on goal.

With the game stretched Hanratty had two chances in added time but was unable to beat the keeper, it remained 1-0 as Aberdeen saw out the match against the nine men of Hearts to win the first ever Club Academy Scotland Cup Final.

Aberdeen: Ritchie, Ramsay, Towler, Paterson, Livingstone, Dalglish, Booth (Dangana 65), Zanda (McIvor 90) Aikamenze, Hanratty, Leslie (Milne 71)

Unused Subs: Duncan, Webster, Leiper (GK)

Hearts: Spratt, Docherty, Watson, Darge, Aitken, McKenzie, Denholm, Somers, Schiavone, Charleston-King, Mitchell (Ramos 65)

Unused Subs: Falconer, Rae, Bain, Watson, Gordon