In what was a rematch of last seasons Under 18s National Trophy final, Aberdeen and North Under 18s faced off at the Balmoral Stadium, home of Highland League side Cove Rangers. Both sides are hugely changed from last seasons final with goalkeeper Jakub Biorka still between the sticks for Aberdeen City. North won 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in an enthralling game of football.

North gained an extra point as a result of their penalty success.

Aberdeen City had a range of withdrawals for the game as did the North Of Scotland, SFA President Alan MacRae was in attendance for the match with many good individual performances for both teams. Kick-off time was delayed because the North team bus had arrived late, whilst Aberdeen started the game with nine men before last minute arrivals turned up.

North had the opening chance of the game on 13 minutes; a long kick from Jamie Stephen found Fraser Russell however his header went just over the top of Biorka's goal.

On 18 minutes, North took the lead. A good Liam McDade ball found Russell whose goalbound effort was parried by Biorka before Lewis Hyde guided the ball into an empty net to give North a deserved lead.

Fraser Russell was giving the Aberdeen side all sorts of problems and a good ball found the striker who tried to get his second goal of the game but a good effort hit the side netting.

Aberdeen got into the game with Daniel Middler causing a threat to the North backline, the Lewis United Rangers forward had an audacious overhead kick denied by Stephen in the North goal.

Both teams could have played better football in the first half however - on a cold day - it was hard for either side to play good football on the surface.

North tried to extend their advantage six minutes after the interval when another excellent ball came in from McDade which was met by Joel Martin after a missed clearance, but his effort went just wide.

Martin had a major part to play in the second goal for the North after his effort was denied by Biorka before it came into the path of Shane Harkness who tucked the ball into an empty net.

Aberdeen reduced the deficit on 70 minutes, a Dylan Forsyth ball found centre half Ewan Reid who rattled the ball home into the back of the net past Stephen.

A Daniel Middler free kick then found Finlay Ness whose long range effort on goal was denied by an excellent stop from Stephen as Aberdeen went in search of the great escape.

With four minutes left, Aberdeen got the equaliser. An excellent ball in by midfielder Dylan Forsyth was met by Ewan Reid who volleyed home past a starstruck North defence to force a draw for Aberdeen City, which meant the game would go to penalties to determine who would get a bonus point.

Next door to Balmoral Stadium at Lochside Academy, North played Aberdeen City Under 15s with the visitors coming away 4-1 winners thanks to goals from James Graham, Reece Riddell, Ben Barron and Nairn Hall.