Brechin City 2 - 8 Aberdeen

Aberdeen this evening played their first official pre-season game and put in a very impressive performance at Glebe Park, scoring eight goals. New boys Paul Quinn and Graeme Shinnie both made their debuts, playing forty-five minutes each, whilst Ryan Jack led the side out and after the game manager Derek McInnes confirmed that the Aberdeen born youngster will be his captain this season. Adam Rooney started where he left off last season with a hat-trick and all the Dons players looked extremely sharp.


Match report |

Aberdeen started their pre-season campaign in Brechin this evening. The Dons lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Brown in goal, Logan at right back, Taylor and Quinn were in central defence with Considine at left back. The midfield four were Flood, McLean, Jack and Pawlett. Rooney and Goodwillie were up front.

In the second minute a good move involving Flood saw Rooney play the ball across the six yard box but Goodwillie could not get a touch. A minute later Pawlett had a shot on target but his effort was too close to the keeper. On 6 minutes a mistake by Darren Dods let in Adam Rooney but the Brechin City player/manager used all his experience to re-position himself so he could make a block from Rooney's shot. A minute later Ryan Jack picked the ball up on the edge of the area. The Dons captain was given too much room and had time to look up. He then curled a glorious shot into the top corner which gave the Brechin keeper O'Neil absolutely no chance. Ryan scored an almost identical goal in the corresponding fixture last season.
A good start to his captaincy!

After 10 minutes David Goodwillie, who looked very lively all night, did well to create room for a shot but the Brechin keeper had his angles correct. The Dons first corner came after 11 minutes but Kenny McLean hit it beyond everyone. A second and third corner from the other side followed shortly after but Aberdeen failed to create anything.

On 15 minutes the home side had a golden opportunity to equalise. With their first real attack, Jackson was brought down by Flood in the box at Mat Northcroft pointed to the spot. Tapping took the penalty but his effort was very well saved by the legs of Scott Brown. Two minutes later a great ball in by Jack was met by the head of Goodwillie but he directed his effort wide. On 20 minutes the same two players combined, this time Goodwillie laid the ball into the path of Jack but this time his shot failed to find the top corner. On 22 minutes Goodwillie again set up Jack and his shot was only just deflected behind. On 23 minutes Adam Rooney scored a second after being given a half chance on the edge of the area. The Dons top scorer from last year was allowed to turn and his low shot was well angled into the corner of the net. Again the keeper had no chance.

On 26 minutes Quinn had a header cleared off line before the Dons then won a penalty. Goodwillie turned his marker just inside the area and Dods was very late with his strong challenge from behind. Rooney took the spot kick and confidently sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 3-0.

To be fair to Brechin they only had one pre-season training session prior to the game, and that was last night. Also of the squad of twenty one, fourteen players were trialists. On 33 minutes the home side got reward for their efforts when pulled one back. A great through ball picked out Andy Jackson who had managed to get himself in between the two Dons centre halves. The Brechin number nine showed good composure to slide the ball pass the advancing Brown with an early low shot.

The Dons responded and a minute later Aberdeen scored again. Rooney did well in the area to hold the ball up and he played it onto the onrushing Pawlett who stroked it home. On 40 minutes McLean hit a great strike which forced a good diving save from the keeper. Goodwillie then did really well to get a shot away on the turn which hit the post and then Considine hammered the rebound over. On 42 minutes the Dons made it five. Logan linked with the impressive Goodwillie and after receiving a one-two the right back hit a shot from close range across the keeper into the corner of the net.

HT

At half time Reynolds, Hayes and Graeme Shinnie all came on. They replaced Quinn, Considine, and Pawlett. On 49 minutes McLean played a great through ball for Rooney. The striker was brought down by Harwood who failed to get any of the ball with his tackle, although the initial challenge may have been just outside the box. Anyway it was a pen and Rooney completed his hat-trick when he again put the keeper the wrong way.

On the hour mark superb play by Shinnie inside the area impressed the Aberdeen fans but his cross just failed to find a red jersey. The left back looked really good during the 45 minutes he played. Jonny Hayes also really impressed when he came on.

The Dons had taken their foot of the gas slightly and they were made to pay when on 65 minutes some slackness at the back allowed substitute Robert Thomson an opening and he was able to scoop the ball high into the net.

Aberdeen continued to create chances but credit to Brechin, who had a lot of trialists now of the field, made a number of goal-line clearances and blocks. After about 70 minutes there was a hold up in play after left back Allan had to be stretchered off after he injured his ankle. Certainly not something you want to see in a pre-season game. With fifteen minutes to go McLean, Flood, Goodwillie and Rooney made way for Smith, Shankland, Wright and Robson.

On 77 minutes possibly the goal of the night. Shinnie played a great ball into the box for his ex-Inverness team mate Hayes to run onto. Although he was at an angle Jonny hit a superb first time shot into the far corner. That made it seven.

With ten minutes to go Shankland and Smith did really well to combine and Smith had a shot which O'Neil saved with his back leg and the ball rebounded onto the bar. The keeper certainly deserved a bit of luck. On 81 minutes Taylor and Jack came off, Rose and Storie came on. On 85 minutes Robson set up Shankland who curled the ball just past. On 87 minutes a Wright corner was headed into the ground by Rose and the ball bounced up past sub keeper Johnsen. That completed the scoring.

The best bit of skill came in the final minute when a Rose long ball was brilliantly chested into the path of Hayes by Shankland but the flag went up for offside.

N.B. No Programme was issued for this match.