Brechin caused some panic in the Dons defence after 90 seconds when Derek Young was disposessed on the edge of his own penalty area, but the bearded David Preece collected the attempted shot comfortably. After a fairly scrappy opening 5 minutes it was Brechin who were looking the more likely, as they managed to get in and around the Dons box with some ease. Aberdeen did manage an attempt on the Brechin goal in the early period when a Thornley cutback was directed by Mackie into the path of Derek Young whose shot was well saved by Brechin keeper Cairns.

The home side's adventurous play paid off in the 7th minute. Jamie Smith got on the end of a cross and sent a looping header goalwards. David Preece in the Aberdeen goal was left clutching fresh air as the ball nestled in the back of the net. The Dons immediately tried to hit back and Darren Mackie had a good effort well saved by Cairns. A minute later a Thornley corner was met by Derek Young, but his header flew wide. The Dons were stepping up a gear now and produced a spell of sustained pressure to put Brechin on the back foot. Mackie and Derek Young both had good efforts saved, but Brechin were managing to break to good effect.

Any thoughts the Dons fans in the 1600 crowd might have had about coasting to a comfortable sun-drenched victory had to be put on hold as their hosts drew level on the stroke of halftime. Jamie Smith added a second for Brechin as he rose virtually unchallenged to power home a header beyond the helpless Preece.

Halftime: Brechin 2 Aberdeen 2

Aberdeen made the perfect start to the second half when Darren Young netted in the 47th minute to put the Dons 3-2 ahead. He latched onto a Leon Mike pass and went one on one with the keeper before keeping a cool head and slotting home. Darren Mackie came close in the 49th minute but had to watch as his shot flashed across the face of the goal. The good start to the second half by the Dons stung Brechin into action. A fine turn and shot by Chris Templeman was well saved by Preece.

With 56 minutes on the clock the Dons made a double substitution. Mike and Thornley made way for trialist Omer Riza and new signing Laurent D'Jaffo who received a warm ovation from the Dons fans.

Brechin pulled level again in the 72nd minute when Dons substitute Robbie Hedderman was harshly adjudged to have fouled Chris Templeman in the box. Kevin Fotheringham stepped up and made no mistake with the spot kick. The Dons were rocked again three minutes later when Derek Clark grabbed a fourth for Brechin with their third on-target header of the match. The Dons blushes were spared in the 85th minute when trialist Omer Riza did his prospects no harm by calmly slotting home the equaliser.

Bookings:  None  None