Aberdeen 8 - 0 Banks o' Dee

Barry Robson gave a vote of confidence to the players who started the game in last week's 3-3 draw with Rangers, naming an unchanged line up which meant Aberdeen fielded ten sixteen year olds, only Finn Yeats being a year older.

The Banks O'Dee side were also mainly sixteen year olds, the exceptions being Callan Reid, Lewis Brougham and Brett Findlay, all seventeen, while Brendan Madden at fifteen was the youngest player in either starting eleven.

After a fairly even start to the game, the Dons began to exert their superiority and after Emslie had fired over from a Finn Yeats cross, they took the lead on the quarter hour, Yeats playing a nice 1-2 with Liam Harvey before calmly placing the ball in the bottom corner.

Three minutes later it was two as skipper Evan Towler turned the ball home from an Adam Emslie cross. Forsyth saved well from Yeats but was left absolutely helpless on 27 minutes as Liam Harvey finished emphatically with a blistering shot.

On the half hour Emslie burst in off the left side to squeeze the ball home then doubled his personal tally and completed a nap hand for Aberdeen with the goal of the game. A fabulous ball from Yeats picked out the winger's run perfectly and Emslie finished with aplomb.

Yeats was again involved on 35 minutes, passing to Masson whose shot was fumbled by the keeper to allow Harvey to tap in his second and Aberdeen's sixth goal.

The lightning pace of Timi Fatona and the powerful running of Adam Emslie were a feature of Aberdeen's play throughout.

Some sparkling football from Aberdeen against a Dee side which just couldn't cope with the pace and movement of their opponents.

Half time - Aberdeen 6 Banks O' Dee 0

Jamie Shingler and Findlay Marshall took over from Blessing Oluyemi and Finn Yeats for the second half and the Dons only had to wait nine minutes to add to their tally, Ethan Duncalf rifling a fine 20 yard shot high into the net.

Substitute Marshall got his name on the scoresheet three minutes later getting the break of the ball before slotting the ball past Forsyth.

Fourteen year old Lancelot Pollard came on for Towler and showed some lovely touches and great promise for the future. Despite incessant pressure, Aberdeen could not add to their tally due to some off target shooting and some staunch defending particularly from Dee skipper Abolfahi.

To their great credit Banks O' Dee never let their heads drop and kept trying to play football but it's Aberdeen who progress to the next stage.

Full time - Aberdeen 8 Banks O' Dee 0

Reaction ? Barry Robson

"It was always going to be a game where we were stronger than them tonight. With the greatest of respect, you have expected us to win the game and score a few goals but getting the boys who needed some game time was more important.

"It also gave us a chance to play a few of the younger members of the squad.

"Young Lancelot is only 14, so credit to him for stepping up to this level. You could see the talent tonight in him. Hopefully he is going to be a big player for Aberdeen in the future. That is why we took him up tonight so we could have a look at him. He is still very young, but the talent and technique is all there, and is movement is very good.

"At Aberdeen there is always an expectation to do well in the SFA Youth Cup. The last time we competed in this competition we go through to a final, but it called off because of COVID. Hopefully we can have another good run at it this year."