The season kicked off on Saturday with a fresh faced crop of students taken on a confident Hearties team. Unfortunately due to a bad crash on the road we were left with a depleted side as three players failed to make the game.

The uni started well, playing out from the back and Turek was first to set sight on goal but he slashed high and wide. Hearties were quick on the counter and their no. 10 was a skillful player upfront.

On 20 minutes McNaught was called into action when he tipped over a front post header from a corner before McColgan slashed into the side netting at the other end and Chilaka fired a free kick straight over and one into the keepers hands.

Hearties took the lead on 30 minutes in freak fashion. A wide free kick from deep was punted towards the box and whilst usually these are directed for the penalty spot, this one was overhit and caught everyone out and flew straight it.

McNaught then made a great save to his right to stop the lead extending before Donnelly at wing back danced down the right but his pass across goal could pick out a man to apply the finishing touch the move deserved.

HT AU 0 – 1 BH

The second half the students dominated but Hearties defended deep and in numbers to great effect, leaving us with few options to squeeze through.

They doubled their lead on 67minutesvwhen a midfielder broke from the halfway line. The tracking Uni defender resisting the temptation to make a “professional foul” and try win the ball back fairly but credit to the attacker. He kept control of the ball and drove into the box before slotting home.

McColgan, if anyone, was looking most likely to score and he slashed one shot over before firing a curling effort just wide as time ran out.

FT AU 0 – 2 BH

Squad: Fraser McNaught, Aaron Scully, Murray Addison, Joe Sutherland, Brandon Donnelly, Gregor Morgan, Kurtis Turek, Luke Spence, Alex Clark (Mourad Ahmanache), Nduoma Chilaka, Owen McColgan

AU MoM: Murray Addison – Calm and confident in possession at the back and won his aerial battles when called upon. A good showing from the Formartine loanee