Montrose 0 - 3 Aberdeen

After only 2 minutes young Irish striker Kiely had a chance but he shot narrowly past. Minutes later Montrose should have taken the lead as Rodgers had a chance but from a tight angle he put his effort past the post. He should have done better.

On 8 minutes Kiely again went close but his shot was cleared off the line after a mix up in the Montrose defence. 2 minutes later Aberdeen took the lead. They won a corner after good work by McVitie. Dempsey took it and found Considine unmarked. Although his first effort was blocked he was quick to react and blasted the ball high into the net from 6 yards.

Young star Chris Maguire was playing down the left and was beginning to cause the Montrose defence problems. On 15 minutes he was taken down after a bad tackle. From the free kick Lovell's shot was blocked by the keeper.

23 minutes, Finlay in the Montrose goal missed Donald's cross but fortunately for him Maguire could not quite connect. A minute later Winter played a superb long through ball for Lovell but he miscued his shot from 18 yards.

Aberdeen then went two up after 26 minutes. Dempsey played Kiely through, and the striker did really well to round the keeper and set up Lovell who scored from 6 yards. Just after the half hour mark there was another mistake by the Montrose keeper but the ball would not fall kindly for Kiely. Then another mix up at the back caused the ball to fall to Considine, who in turn found Lovell but he put the ball just wide.

On 41 minutes Willie John Kiely got a deserved goal for all his hard work. A Donald shot was saved by the keeper but the Irish U17 international scored from close range. The two youngsters combined again just before the break but this time Kiely put the ball over.

HT

The second half got off to a slow start. Eventually on 52 minutes Dempsey played the ball through to Lovell but he put his shot just past. 56 minutes Maguire set up Macaulay but he blazed over from 8 yards.

On the hour mark Lovell set up Dempsey. The ball broke to Considine and his shot hit a Montrose hand but Alan Freeland waved play on. 62 minutes and Steve Lovell was replaced by Michael Paton. Montrose then had there best chance of the game but substitute Watson put the ball over from 18 yards after being put clear.

There was then a major injury scare for the Dons on 62 minutes. Kelly and Considine seemed to collide. Kelly was able to resume after treatment but Considine was taken off. He seemed to be walking ok so hopefully the move was more pre-cautionary than anything else. With doubts still hanging over Ritchie Byrne and Russell Anderson, the last thing Jimmy would have wanted was to lose another central defender. Considine was replaced by Martin Skinner.

On 70 minutes Maguire beat three Montrose players and won a corner. The keeper Finlay then made a good save. 75 minutes the impressive Kiely was replaced by Brian Neill. Two minutes later Maguire forced another good safe from the keeper. Montrose then had another chance but Watson put it over from distance. 86 minutes and 16 year old Ryan Strachan replaced Stuart Smith.

The second half was rather uneventfully but the Dons were in complete control and this was a good performance by a young Aberdeen side. Chris Maguire, playing out of position again looked very lively down the left and Willie John had an excellent game up front. The more senior Gary Dempsey and Kyle Macaulay controlled the midfield with Dempsey pulling all the strings.

The Dons were rarely troubled but the only concern will be over the fitness of Andrew Considine.