East Fife 2 - 4 Aberdeen

The Dons defeated East Fife by four goals to two at Bayview this afternoon. Adam Rooney gave them the lead early on before Anthony O'Connor headed home before half time. East Fife hit back after the break when a cross from Lamont deflected off Ryan Jack into his own net. Minutes later a challenge by O'Connor was punished by Bobby Madden and Paul McManus made no mistake from the spot. Jayden Stockley headed two goals after that to hand the Dons victory.

Aberdeen took a strong squad to Methil for the Dons second public pre-season game of the season. Only Niall McGinn, Shay Logan and the injured Callum Morris and Willo Flood missed out, Derek McInnes using the game as a useful run out ahead of Thursday night's Europa League tie at Pittodrie.
Ex-Don Gary Naismith, who guided East Fife to promotion last season, unfortunately missed the game this afternoon. Aberdeen lined up with Alexander in goal, a back four of Jack, O'Connor, Reynolds and McKenna. The midfield four were Ross, Pawlett, Storie and Smith with Storey and Rooney up front. The Dons got off to a great start when Frank Ross laid the ball back to Ryan Jack and the skipper produced a great cross from the right which was headed home by Adam Rooney inside the six-yard box. It was a neat header from Adam who just guided the ball into the corner. In the sixth minute, Aberdeen won their first corner which Frank Ross took. He put over a good ball but East Fife keeper William Muir punched clear. A minute later, the Dons won another corner which Pawlett swung in from the other side but again the home side defended the set piece well. Pawlett then put in a free-kick which was again dealt with comfortably by the defence. Aberdeen, obviously keen to get Thursday night's performance out of their system, had started at a very good tempo. On 12 minutes came another chance for Rooney when McKenna found him with a deep cross. Adam made good contact but his shot was too close to the keeper.
Then delightful play by Frank Ross set up another opportunity. He beat three players before playing it wide to Rooney. His low cross to the near post was nearly turned into his own net by Jason Kerr but in the end, the centre-half did well to put the ball behind for a corner. On 16 minutes, the pace of Storey created an opening for Rooney but the striker failed to get the ball under control. After 20 minutes, a Ross corner from the right was left by everyone and O'Connor, coming in at the back post, had a great chance but he could not keep the ball down. O'Connor impressed in the centre-half role and also a right back in the second half. East Fife came more into the game and did have a few attacks. On 25 minutes, full-back Scott Mercer had space inside the box but his cross was way over hit. And then on 27 minutes, the East Fife trialist produced a neat turn and shot from the edge of the area - Alexander was forced into a smart stop.
After a quiet spell, Aberdeen came to life in the closing stages. Smith did well to force a corner on 38 minutes. Ross swung over a good ball which was attacked by O'Connor coming in at the back post and he produced a fine header to beat Muir and double the lead. On the stroke of half-time, Storey had a chance but failed to get a shot away. The new boy impressed with his strength and speed.

There were four changes at half-time as Taylor, McLean, Stockley and Wright came on for Pawlett, Storie, Ross and Rooney. O'Connor moved to right-back, Jack into the middle of the park. In the 47th minute, Storey powered down the left wing. His cross was just missed by Stockley and ran through to Smith. Cammy did well to create an opening for himself but fired into the side netting. Seconds later, Jack hung up a cross for Stockley to attack and the big Englishman was unlucky to see his effort just go wide. On 51 minutes, Smith and Stockley combined well and from close range, Smith was unlucky to see his shot blocked by Muir. But then on 53 minutes, out of nothing, a cross from Mark Lamont rebounded off Ryan Jack and Alexander was unable to react as it flew past him. The goal lifted the home side and a few minutes later, they were level. Kevin Smith received the ball in the area and O'Connor went into challenge him but referee Bobby Madden judged it to be a foul. Paul McManus took the spot kick and sent Alexander the wrong way. The home side nearly took the lead when poor defending allowed Lamont to get a shot away, but his effort curled just over the bar.
On 62 minutes, Cammy Smith produced a good turn and his shot from 25 yards was not far away. The Dons at this point brought on Hayes, Shankland, Shinnie and Considine. Reynolds, Jack, Storey and Smith were the players to make way. The changes had an immediate effect. On 65 minutes, a Hayes pass beat two players and Shankland spread the ball wide to O'Connor. The Irishman produced a fine cross and Stockley rose brilliantly to head the ball into the net. Muir got a hand to it but could not keep the ball out.
On 71 minutes, Shankland produced a great forward ball for Stockley to run onto. His cross picked out Wright but Scott could not make enough contact. On 73 minutes, Bobby Madden got in the way of an East Fife clearance which allowed the Dons to work the ball to Considine and his powerful drive was on target but Muir was well positioned. A minute later, Hayes went down in the area but got up on his feet quickly to cross the ball for Stockley. The ball bounced up and the striker produced a brilliant overhead kick which beat Muir but crashed off the crossbar.
On 80 minutes, a corner was flicked on into the path of Considine but Andy failed to find the target. Taylor then had a couple of chances before, in the 84th minute, a Hayes flick on was headed back into the area by Wright and Stockley looped the ball over Muir with a clever header to make it 4-2. On 85 minutes, O'Connor and McKenna went off which allowed youngsters Henry and McLennan to get a run out in the final five minutes. In the closing stages, Wright was unlucky not to get a goal after barging his way into the box. Scott then won a free kick about 30 yards out but Taylor could only blast the ball into the wall. In the final minute, a piece of skill from Shinnie inside the area brought the biggest cheer of the afternoon from the sizeable Red Army. He then hammered the ball across goal but somehow the ball was deflected the wrong side of the post. Scott Wright still had time to set up McLennan but he dragged his shot wide when he should have hit the target.