Brechin City 1 - 3 Aberdeen

Brechin City 1-3 Aberdeen 7.45pm kick off. Glebe Park

Mckenna 54

Megginson 9
Bengondo 37
Mackie 45

The Dons lined up this evening with six trialists in the starting eleven. Chris Oldfield was in goal, with Jason Beardsley at right back, Clark Robertson at left back and Shaughnessy and Carlos Nunez in central defence. In midfield Peter Pawlett played wide left with Megginson wide right and Galdos and James Ashmore in the middle. Up front Darren Mackie returned to action for the first time since his long term injury and he partnered Patrick Bengondo.

On four minutes Mitch Megginson set up Bengondo who shot from distance but he failed to connect properly. At the other end a minute later Oldfield showed good handling when he claimed a cross. Another of the trialists was in action on six minutes. From the free kick the ball was cleared to Ashmore but his snap shot was comfortably saved. The English midfielder showed some nice touches and range of passing throughout the game.

Despite having so many new faces on show the Dons were creating early chances. After a good move the ball fell to Bengondo but again he failed to time his shot properly. On 9 minutes the Dons took the lead. Bengondo showed great strength in the box and was unlucky not to find Mackie, but Brechin failed to clear and Megginson placed the ball past Craig Nelson.

Brechin had their first chance on 10 minutes when Derek Carcary had a shot but Oldfield had plenty of time to get down and save. Five minutes later the home side almost equalised. Hesitation at the back left Oldfield stranded but Joe Shaunessy did well to get back and clear on the line. Then Craig Molley shot just over.

Dons captain for the night Darren Mackie produced a fantastic turn on the edge of the box to leave his marker stranded. His shot was fumbled by Nelson on the ground but Galdos just failed to connect. Brechin then had a good chance when a corner was missed by everyone. The ball fell kindly to Molloy but Oldfield saved well with his feet.

On 15 minutes Jason Beardsley played an excellent cross field pass which set up the Dons first corner of the night, however nothing came of it. On 20 minutes McKenna was given far too much space outside the box. He hit a powerful shot which Oldfield could only parry back out into play. The ball fell to Craig Molloy who hit a first time shot but the English keeper made a fine stop down to his left.

Three minutes later Joe Shaughnessy, who has an impressive scoring record from corners, almost did it again but he just could not get enough on his header. Brechin then had another good chance when Weir was put through on goal but from a tight angle he could only find the side netting.

On the half hour mark a great run from Clark Robertson set up a chance. He squared the ball to Mackie and although his powerful drive was on target it was too near the keeper who managed to tip the ball over. The home side had another good chance when the ball fell kindly to Weir in the box but Beardsley put in a good block. Then at the other end another great cross from the right back Beardsley set up Bengondo for the second. The powerful striker did well to get ahead of Nelson and headed into the net.

The Dons scored their third on the stroke of half-time. Peter Pawlett showed great pace and left the Brechin defence for dead. He picked out the unmarked Mackie who coolly placed the ball into the net.

At half time Craig Brown made a number of substitutions. Jack Grimmer replaced Shaughnessy, Josh Magennis replaced Mackie, who handed the captains arm band over to Pawlett. Olderfield, who did well, was replaced by Matt Jones in goal and Michael Paton replaced Megginson.

One of those substitutes, Paton, almost made it four. The ball was well worked to the right hand side and Paton put in a good shot but substitute keeper Scott did just enough to scramble the ball past the post.

Brechin then had their best spell in the game and their hard work was rewarded in the 54th minute when they pulled a deserved goal back through David McKenna. The ball was played in from the left by Carcary and McKenna was unmarked in the 18 yard box and had the simplest of tasks of steering the ball home. The goal gave the home side a lift and shortly after that it should have been 3-2. As the Dons appealed for a free kick the ball was worked to the impressive Carcary who hit a dipping shot off the cross bar. The ball rebounded off the line and after a stramash in the box Carcary was given a second chance but this time he snatched at his shot and the ball ballooned over.

The Dons for the first time in the game were looking a bit disjointed and McKenna went close to getting his second. Carcary then had two more efforts which he just failed to convert.

On 70 minutes Spanish midfielder Galdos took a knock and had to be replaced by Nicky Low. Patrick Bengondo was then replaced by Jordon Brown with the striker getting warm applause from the Aberdeen fans as he left the field. As the game wore on both sides began to make subs and the game as a contest was over.

On 80 minutes Josh Magennis went close with a header from a corner and in the final stages Jack Grimmer was in the thick of the action. He had to leave the field after a head knock. When he returned he made an excellent block in the box and then at the other end almost scored with the final touch of the game

The Dons trialists will now have to wait and see if they've done enough to claim a place on the flight to the Netherlands this weekend.

Aberdeen: Oldfield (Jones 45), Beardsley, Shaughnessy (Grimmer 45), Nunez, Robertson, Megginson (Paton 45), Ashmore, Galdos (Low 70), Pawlett, Bengondo (Brown 76), Mackie

Brechin: Nelson, McLean, Dunlop, Fusco, Buist, Janczyk, McClune, Molly, McKenna, Weir, Carcary

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