Date	Tuesday, 08 September 2026
Competition	KDM Evolution Trophy
Fixture/Score	Ross County 3:4 Aberdeen (B)
Venue	Global Energy Stadium at Victoria Park
Referee	Mark Daly
Ross County
Manager	Stuart (Ketts) Kettlewell
Starting 11	31: Bradley Wade, 2: Adam Forrester 1, 8: Dean Cornelius, 11: Kieran Phillips 2, 16: Chris Hamilton, 17: Ricco Diack, 18: Andrew MacLeod, 20: Jack Turner, 24: Lewis Jamieson, 28: Jamie Williamson, 43: Josh Reid
Bench	1: Bradley Foster, 3: Lewis Strapp, 5: Lewis Reid, 9: Brian Graham, 10: Jamie Lindsay, 15: Dylan Smith, 19: Luke McCarvel 1, 22: Adam Emslie, 39: Joe Coyle
Aberdeen (B)
Manager	Stephen Craigan
Starting 11	Rodrigo Vitols, Nicky Devlin, Jamie Mercer, Cooper Masson, Andrew Fasanya 2 1, Joseph Teasdale 1, Jack Searle, Mitchel Frame, Findlay Marshall 1 1, Ante Palaversa, Jack Milne
Bench	Conlan Waldron, Dylan Ross, Lewis Carrol, Aaron Cummings, Zak To, Heath Duncan, Sam McLean, Max Pocklington, Joel Okhuoya
Attendance	430
Match Report	Ross County Goal Scorers: Kieran Phillips (52' 66') Luke McCarvel (93') Ross County Substitutions: Joe Coyle for Ricco Diack (46') Luke McCarvel for Lewis Jamieson (74') Adam Emslie for Andrew MacLeod (74') Brian Graham for Dean Cornelius (83') Dylan Smith for Jack Turner (83') Ross County Caution: Adam Forrester (65') Aberdeen (B) Goal Scorers: Andrew Fasanya (13' 21') Findlay Marshall (62') Joseph Teasdale (94') Aberdeen (B) Substitutions: Dylan Ross for Jack Searle (60') Zak To for Andrew Fasanya (75') Lewis Carrol for Mitchel Frame (83') Aberdeen (B) Caution: Andrew Fasanya (53') Aberdeen (B) Red Card: Findlay Marshall (69') Report by Paul Chalk for the Press & Journal. Ross County 3 Aberdeen (B) 4 Coach Stuart Duff praised the character of his Aberdeen B side for winning a thrilling KDM Evolution Trophy tie 4-3 at the death at Ross County. Andrew Fasanya, the 15-year-old attacker who has made a couple of senior team appearances this season, hit a first-half brace for the Dons. An unlucky Jack Milne own goal early in the second period was just reward for County’s efforts, but Findlay Marshall crashed home a third. Kieran Phillips netted County’s second goal to make it 3-2 before Marshall was sent off by referee Mark Daly for dissent. Luke McCarvel seemed to have sealed a 3-3 draw for the Dingwall men in the 92nd minute but there was still time for Joseph Teasdale to hit a winner for the Dons. The result, County’s first loss in 13 matches this term, means Aberdeen are on seven points from three games and are likely to advance to round two. Coach Stuart Duff, who said Marshall “said something” to the referee to be shown a red card after a challenge, was pleased with many positives. He said: “The team went down to 10 men and the game ebbed and flowed in either direction. Ross County are a quality side and you could see that. “We had to stand up to quite a lot of pressure and that was pleasing, the character and willingness to do the basics of football which is ultimately what will get you quite far in the game. “When we get first team players down with us, that’s as good as we will get with regards to their attitude and application towards games. “A lot of them have not played many games, Nicky Devlin, Mitchel Frame, Ante Palaversa and Jack Milne and you add in the younger lads who have not played many minutes, it’s a tall order.” Ross County boss Stuart Kettlewell said: “I think a point would have been the least we deserved, but irrespective of that we can’t defend the way that we did. “I thought their keeper was the best player on the park with the saves he made, and we had a couple off the woodwork, but I still expect that we defend properly in the game.” Aberdeen’s starting XI included first team players Fasanya, Milne, Marshall, Nicky Devlin and Mitchel Frame. There was also a place in the side for 2025 Scottish Cup winner Ante Palaversa. The Croatian midfielder has yet to feature for Stephen Robinson’s team in a competitive game this term and remained at the club despite interest during the window. In this Challenge Cup competition so far, the Dons squad defeated Forfar Athletic 3-0 and drew 1-1 at Breedon Highland League side Fraserburgh. County went into this tie on the back of 2-1 and 4-0 Challenge Cup wins over League Two club Elgin City and Highland League opponents Banks o’ Dee. Most of the early play was being driven by the Dons and they took the lead on 13 minutes when teenager Fasanya latched on to a pass from Marshall and he tucked away a low drive past advancing goalkeeper Brad Wade. On 22 minutes, the scoreline was doubled when a long ball from Jack Milne picked out Fasanya and he got the better of two defenders before guiding the ball past Wade. County striker Kieran Phillips had a shot blocked and Lewis Jamieson’s long-ranger rattled the crossbar as Stuart Kettlewell’s team sought a way back. The Staggies got on the scoresheet seven minutes into the second half when, from Jamieson’s corner, Phillips’ header flew into the net after coming off Milne. Aberdeen added a third on 62 minutes when Marshall lashed home a third after he advanced towards goal from the halfway line and tucked a low shot past Wade. County kept at it though and Phillips knocked home a close-range effort five minutes later just before Marshall saw red. The hosts’ late pressure earned them what seemed like a draw when McCarvel guided home a header in stoppage-time then Teasdale broke free in the dying embers to seal a win.