The young Saints travel up to Aberdeen to face an unfamiliar Banks o’ Dee side in the third round of the Scottish Youth Cup. Murray Binnie- scorer of the only goal in Saint’s recent win over Livingston- starts alongside Brodie Dair, who has made the first team bench in recent weeks. They will be looking to build on impressive form in the Scottish Youth Cup, making the semi-final in 22/23 and the quarters in 23/24. Banks o’ Dee come into the fixture having overcome Nairn County 8-0 in the previous round, where they will look to overcome the performance level side.

St Johnstone got the action underway, with early flashes of danger through James Muir on the left wing which was well defended by the Banks o’ Dee backline. It would take just 10 minutes for Saints to break the deadlock, when a scuffed volley fell fortuitously to Murray Binnie. He skillfully lofted the ball over the keeper and into the far corner.

Banks o’ Dee looked to respond but St Johnstone kept the pressure on, and almost doubled their advantage through Muir, who lofted the ball just over from a set piece situation. Banks o’ Dee got their first clear chance on the 26th minute, with Fisola Onafeko’s long ranged effort glancing the side netting. More chances fell to the away side as half time approached, but Banks o’ Dee clung on till the 45th minute, when St Johnstone doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. The ball dropped to the feet of Jacob Fleming from a corner, and the young striker poked the ball beyond keeper Matthew Duncan.

The second half brought more goal-mouth action for the young Saints, with chances falling to Muir, Binnie, and Fleming, who were unable to find a third goal. Banks o’ Dee won a corner on the hour mark through tricky play for substitute Jack Higgins, but the home side were unable to capitalise on their first chance of the half. With 7 minuets to go Banks o’ Dee are given a slimmer of hope through Sam Bavidge, who fired through a crowded St Johnstone box and past Kyle Thomson in goal.

Just as Saints tried to slow the game down, Onafeko wrestled through the defense and gave Banks o’ Dee a miraculous equaliser on the 85th minute, with a huge cheer erupting from the Gordon Christie stand. There would be no time for a decisive fifth goal in normal time, with the match going straight to a penalty shootout.

Brodie Dair stepped up first and saw his kick saved with a fantastic diving stop from Duncan, who then saved from Arran Brookfield. Onafeko had the chance to win it for Banks o’ Dee but his missed his kick, before Zack Stephen gave the home side a fantastic win.

Match facts

Goals:

Banks o’ Dee	St Johnstone
83′ Bavidge	10′ Binnie
85′ Onafeko	45′ Fleming

Penalty shootout:

Banks o’ Dee	St Johnstone
Connor ✓	Dair ✗
Higgins ✓	Brookfield ✗
Brown ✓	Cord ✓
Onafeko ✗	Ashworth ✓
Stephen ✓	Cairns ✓

Banks o’ Dee	St Johnstone
55′ Youngson↓ Higgins ↑	56′ Robertson ↓ Ashworth ↑
65′ Lukaszewicz↓ Bavidge ↑	72′ Fleming ↓ Cairns ↑
	77′ Binnie ↓ Evans ↑