Peterhead 0 - 2 Aberdeen

There were senior debuts for new skipper Anthony Stewart, Kelle Roos, Liam Scales, Jayden Richardson and Mason Hancock as Aberdeen began their competitive season with the trip to the Balmoor Stadium in Peterhead.

On a bright, if blustery afternoon, it took just five minutes before the Dons were in, nice passing football culminating in a shooting chance for Ross McCrorie. He rifled the ball at goal from 20 yards but it thumped off the crossbar and hit goalkeeper Newman on its way back out, the ball bouncing away for a corner that came to nothing.

Persistence from Matty Kennedy won the Dons a free-kick 30 yards out in the 14th minute. He stepped up to take it, the wall doing its job, deflecting the ball over the bar. There were muted calls for a penalty as Vicente Besuijen chased down a clever pass in behind from Scales a minute later, but the referee wasn't interested in the striker's tumble as Newman was quick off his line to smother.

A strong tackle from McCrorie won the ball for Besuijen. His clipped cross to the back post was just inches in front of Christian Ramirez, stretching at the back post in the 26th minute.

McCrorie trued his luck from distance again on 28 minutes, Newman down low to his right to paw the ball behind. A couple of corners followed in the aftermath but the Dons couldn't find a way through. Hancock took a knock as he tried to win the second corner at the near post and a few minutes later, he needed some treatment.

Newman was Peterhead's saviour again on 34 minutes. Ramirez set Hayes away down the right then bustled into the box to get on the end of the cross. His first time shot looked bound for the bottom corner but Newman produced a quite brilliant save to his right. In the aftermath, Hancock had to give way to his injury and was replaced by Marley Watkins, Hayes going back to left-back.

Close again on 38, lovely footwork from Kennedy on the left creating space for him to put in a delightful cross to the back post. Richardson was on the end of it, steering the ball across the six yard box first time, but Watkins was unable to get on the end of it to score.

McDonald became the first man in the book on 40 minutes after flattening the lively Kennedy, but the free-kick came to nothing. It looked as though the Dons had scored on 42, Richardson bustling his way into the box and pulling the ball box for McCrorie to crash the ball into the roof of the net. Sadly, the referee had spotted an infringement and ruled out the goal, much to the confusion of the Dons.

HALF-TIME: PETERHEAD 0 ABERDEEN 0

The half opened with Ritchie throwing himself into a challenge with McCrorie and coming off far worse as he gave away the foul. He needed lengthy treatment after what looked like a nasty knee injury and was eventually stretchered off, to be replaced by McGale.

McCrorie was away down the left on 50 minutes, clipping in an early cross. Ramirez was up to win it, heading down, Newman clutching the ball to his left on the line. Ramirez was close again with a lovely backheel at goal after 54 minutes. The move began with a nice crossfield pass from Besuijen to Kennedy. He curled a ball into the box, slightly behind Ramirez who had to manufacture a clever finish, but again Newman was equal to it.

Peterhead had their first pop at goal on 58 minutes, Dow drifting inside to unleash a 25 yarder that Roos pushed over the bar. From the corner, there was real confusion in the box, Scales having to clear from within the six-yard box with McDonald set for a tap-in. There was further chaos from the second corner, Jordon Brown having a dangerous looking shot blocked away by Stewart.

Straight back up the other end went the game as Watkins curled a cross to the back post, just fractionally behind Ramirez. The number nine got his head to it, but again, Newman plucked the ball out of the air.

Kennedy was on the ball on 62, drifting in from the right with Jack Brown trailing in his wake until he eventually dragged him down in the box. No question about the penalty kick, Ramirez stepping up. The American striker sent Newman the wrong way, burying the ball into the bottom right corner. McLeod immediately replaced Adeyamo.

Ryan Duncan became Aberdeen's first change, replacing Kennedy after 72 minutes.

Ramirez doubled the lead after 74 minutes. Watkins wriggled into space on the right to fire in a cross to the back post, Ramirez losing his marker and getting up well to power in a header that Newman could only parry into the net as Aberdeen made the game safe. Jack Brown collected a yellow card for the hosts a couple of minutes later.

Stewart went down under challenge in the box in the 78th minute as he challenged for a Duncan corner, but the referee was not interested in his vehement calls for a penalty. Three minutes later Jack Milne and Liam Harvey replaced McCrorie and Ramirez.

Besuijen wasn't far away on 84 minutes, running onto a long pass forward from Stewart. Besuijen caught the ball first time at the edge of the box, his effort flashing past the near post with the goalkeeper flatfooted.

Dante Polvara advanced on goal and saw the space open up for him on 88 minutes. His low drive from 30 yards was again well handled by Newman in the Peterhead goal.

The keeper, arriving on loan from Dundee United yesterday, had an outstanding game.

Watkins was next to try his luck, another low snapshot from the edge of the box skimming across goal and just wide as the Dons completed a first victory of the season.