East Kilbride 0 - 4 Aberdeen

Another professional display from the Dons saw them earn three more points, scoring some outstanding goals and keeping another clean sheet as they put East Kilbride to the sword in a comfortable 4-0 win.

There were three changes to the Aberdeen side that beat Queen of the South 3-0, Ross Doohan, Angus MacDonald and Vicente Besuijen getting their first action of the season with Dimitar Mitov and Slobodan Rubezic starting from the bench, Sivert Heltne Nilsen missing the game. Bojan Miovski was among the substitutes.

East Kilbride made two changes after losing 8-0 to Airdrieonians in midweek. Adam Livingstone and Andy Stirling dropped to the bench and were replaced by Jack Leitch and Keir Samson.

Amid a bright beginning that was in sharp contrast to the grey weather, the home side could have been in front in the third minute, Robertson scampering away down the right and slinging in a deep cross. Balde was up to it at the back post but fortunately, he couldn’t get his header on target.

It was the Kilby who threatened again on 20 minutes, Watson intercepting a loose pass just inside the Aberdeen half. He advanced towards the penalty area before dragging his shot wide from 20 yards out.

Jamie McGrath had the Dons’ first shot in anger two minutes later, connecting with a Jack MacKenzie cross, the ball clawed behind by Wilson, the corner coming to nothing.

That was a warning for the home team and on 27, Aberdeen were in front. Leighton Clarkson’s corner was half cleared but Gavin Molloy seized on the loose ball, turning it back across goal to Nicky Devlin who had time to take a touch and then deposit the ball into the net from close range.

It was 2-0 on 34 minutes, an outstanding finish from McGrath. The move started with a good run from Ester Sokler who played the ball across the pitch to Shayden Morris just inside the area. He rolled the ball back to McGrath on the edge of the box and he produced a perfectly flighted lob that curled over Wilson and in – a few golfers at Troon would give plenty for that degree of control over the ball this weekend.

HALF-TIME: EAST KILBRIDE 0 ABERDEEN 2

It was an afternoon for terrific goals as Clarkson made it 3-0 in the 54th minute. Lining up a free-kick on the left edge of the area, 22 yards out, he curled the ball past the wall, past the statuesque goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Morris nearly added another three minutes later, Wilson making an important block from him as he tried to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle.

Clarkson almost had another cracker on the hour, picking the ball up in his own half, driving through the pitch and trying another lob at goal from inside the centre circle, Wilson relieved to see it drift wide. In the aftermath, Sokler and Besuijen were replaced by Ryan Duncan and Peter Ambrose.

Morris, moved out to the left after the changes, had his first Aberdeen goal after 62 minutes. He collected a long pass forward from Duncan with a lovely first touch that took him past a defender, then accelerated into the box before unleashing a fierce drive that flashed past Wilson at the near post.

East Kilbride brought on Stirling for Watson after 67 minutes. Balde had the ball in the net for the hosts a couple of minutes later, but the offside flag had long since been raised.

More substitutions followed as Richard Jensen and James McGarry came on for Morris and MacKenzie in the 74th minute. East Kilbride responded with a triple change of their own, Thomson, Daramola and Livingstone replacing Samson, Robertson and Lockie.

Jensen, playing alongside Graeme Shinnie in midfield, went marauding forward on 78, firing off a good effort from 25 yards that stung the palms of Wilson as he made the save. Aberdeen made their final change on 79, McGrath making way for Fletcher Boyd.

In the 82nd minute, a well worked free-kick from East Kilbride created a free header for Ferguson from eight yards out but he directed his header wide with the goal at his mercy. Biggar came on for the Kilby two minutes later, replacing Spence.

Boyd almost curled in a fifth goal in the second minute of added time but the ball drifted just wide of the far post, the final whistle following almost immediately.

0 minutes added at end 1st half
2 minutes added at end 2nd half

N.B. This was the first time that Aberdeen met East Kilbride in a competitive match.