Awards all round
14 May 2009
The annual Northern League awards for the 2008/2009 season saw three Aberdeen players in the top category, with Michal Zacik picking up “Best Keeper”, Jan “Honza” Felcman “Best Forward” and Captain Osku Rantala winning the leagues “Best Player” for the second year running. The Aberdeen Oilers “Most Valuable Player” award went to Lorna Teal.
Oilers 3rd in Play-Off Cup
13 May 2009
Easter Sunday brought some last games for the Oilers in the Northern League this season with the leagues play-off cup. Having won the league, the Oilers were seeded number one and faced Dundee in the semi-finals. With a number of the usual red army missing, it would be tiring day for the few left behind. The game against Dundee didn’t quite go to plan, with many missed chances and solid defending by the yellows making it hard to score. The Oilers eventually lost 3-0 and so came up against Edinburgh in the play-off for third place. Following the captain’s words of “just go and enjoy”, this game started off on a better note with the captain showing the way forward by putting the first goal in the oppositions net. Many more followed, with a much better performance all round and the Oilers won 6-1 to secure 3rd place. Next up the Nationals!
SCOTTISH CHAMPIONS 2008/09
11 March 2009
And so it arrived. The final league date and the Aberdeen Oilers, the youngest club in the league at only 2 years old, stood three wins away from the league title. The tension in the team was noticeable and the team did not settle in the first game at all. Balwearie Thunder were fighting for a place in the top 4 and showed their determination from the start. Despite many opportunities the goal posts remained better friends than the back of the net, but the Oilers still secured a 2-0 win. Second up were Edinburgh, again an expected tough game and after going down 1-0 the Oilers knew there was no place for nerves today. The important equaliser was scored by Lorna Teal from a very tight angle after a pass from Sascha Fässler via the boards behind the goal. From then on the game improved with the Oilers pulling out a 5-2 win. So, final game of the day against Lightning and with Chapel winning both their games on the day, a win was needed and it came! After a nervous start, the Oilers won the match 7-0 and earned their first Scottish league title! Champion celebrations continue….!
Two more wins for the Oilers
12 February 2009
The Aberdeen Oilers faced off against Dundee at T4 knowing that only a win would do to keep them in line for the league title. As expected Dundee played a fast and furious game and the reds worked hard at their game to keep shots on goal. The first period ended 1-1 but Aberdeen felt positive they could dominate and sure enough the Oilers shots started to go in. 15 seconds before the final whistle, Sascha Fässler then scored the final goal for the reds from a free hit well inside Aberdeen’s own half, ending the game 6-1. Next up were Edinburgh, the team currently heading the league table and the first time the two teams have met in the league. Another frenzied game at high pace which required much concentration but after going down 0-1, the reds pulled back a 2-1 lead which they kept up until the game ended at 6-3. 2 wins and 6 points puts the Oilers in 2nd place just 1 point behind Chapel but with a game in hand. All eyes on T5!
Exam time for Aberdeen
12 February 2009
Congratulations to Aberdeen’s newly qualified referees. Sascha Fässler and Oskari Rantala both passed the 50 question exam and thus qualify to referee at National level, Lorna Teal, Mikko Mäkimartti, Jasmin Godbold and Linda Glass all passed the 25 question exam and qualify to referee in the northern league. Thanks to Iain Carrie and Pete Heggie for travelling north to give the course and Kimmo Karjalainen, team chef, for the 4 hour endurance slog in the kitchen to keep brain cells live and kicking..