Arbroath 1 - 3 Aberdeen

Pre-Season Friendly | Arbroath 1 Aberdeen 3

Aberdeen won their second pre-season game this evening against Arbroath in front of a very healthy crowd at Gayfield. Miles Storey set up Adam Rooney for the opener and then Miles created a second for Greg Stewart at the end of the first half. Substitute Jayden Stockley added a third with an excellent header whilst Kane Hester scored a late consolation for the Division One side who were a strong and well organised opponent throughout. Although it is early days there are some very encouraging signs and some good partnerships being formed.


match report
Early on Greg Stewart set up a couple of chances for Considine to cross, the second of which should have led to a goal but neither Christie or Storey could get a touch as the ball fizzed across the goal line. A downpour just before kick-off had meant the playing surface was in perfect condition.

After seven minutes Aberdeen forced the first corner. From the left Tansey swung in a great ball which keeper Ricky Gomes did well to punch clear. McLean then tried an effort from distance but his shot was always on the rise.

On the 12 minute mark Storey showed good pace to get on the end of a bouncing ball but his header did not have quite enough on it to lob the keeper. Aberdeen had a lot of possession in the opening 15 minutes but Arbroath were doing well to limited any space in behind.

In the 16th minute Stewart produced a neat lay off for Tansey but the midfielder tugged his shot wide.

Christie was showing some nice touches playing in behind Rooney and in the 20th minute he set up Storey but his reverse pass was just a bit short. A minute later Christie played a great through ball for Storey who beat the offside trap. The striker could have scored himself but very unselfishly squared it to Rooney who tapped home from close range to give Aberdeen the lead.

Moments after the restart Christie played another great ball to Rooney and his chip looked in but the keeper just managed to scramble back. Goalie Gomes then did well in a race with Storey on the edge of the area. After that McLean once again tried his luck from distance and this time was not far away.

On 27 minutes Christie played a perfectly measured ball inside the full back for Storey to run onto. The striker though pushed a shot just wide when one on one with the keeper.

A minute later Tansey sprayed a ball wide for Considine who played a delightful first time ball in for Rooney but at full stretch the striker could not quite get a touch. A chipped ball from Stewart was then just too strong for Rooney.

Although it was one way traffic the League One side battled well throughout and were very well organised.
On the half hour mark Tansey then played a great ball forward for Rooney but the keeper had read the situation and come well out of his box to clear the danger. Very good goalkeeping.

Christie, who was again looking in fine form and looking like he was continuing the form from the end of the season, produced some neat skills in the first half but on this occasion he could not quite tee up Storey at the near post.

On 35 minutes Storey produced a deep cross from the right which Considine knocked down but no one reacted quick enough. Christie then almost found the run of Tansey. The two Inverness players were linking up well.

After a slightly quiet spell Aberdeen doubled their advantage when Storey did well on the left to take down a long diagonal and force his way into the area. He looked up and picked out Stewart who fired a low shot past the keeper.

A second assist for Miles Storey who was making some good runs in behind.

HT Arbroath 0 Aberdeen 2

At half time Arbroath brought on last season Dons' U20 captain Jamie Henry who was listed as a trialist. Jamie had a very good 45 minutes at right back.

On 50 minutes Logan produced a deep cross which found Considine, the left back did well to win his header but Stewart did not quite react quick enough to get on the end of it. Joe Lewis did not have much to do but the stand in skipper produced a great save to keep out a header from David Gold after Arbroath player had made a late run into the area.

An hour in Considine had another knock down at the back post and then Christie played another lovely through ball but it was not quite happening inside the area. On 65 minutes Christie fired over as the chances started to become less frequent than they had in the first half.

On 66 minutes Aberdeen made their first changes when Stockley and Ross came on for Storey and Rooney.
After a decent spell from the home side Aberdeen added a third on 78 minutes. A Tansey corner was brilliantly headed home by Stockley. It really was a brilliant header. Youngsters Anderson and McLennan, who both impressed on Saturday, came on for McLean and Stewart.

The home side continued to enjoy some possession with Blair Yule impressing in the middle of the park along with Gavin Swankie.

On 83 minutes substitute Kane Hester got in between Reynolds and Lewis but his lob landed on the roof of the net. The same player almost scored a minute later but Lewis produced another top save to palm the ball away. Hester then did score a late consolation when he tucked home a cross from the left. Aberdeen were slightly unhappy as Tansey had gone down with a knock inside the area but play was allowed to continue.

Although Aberdeen will have been disappointed not to keep a clean sheet it was another good nights work ahead of next Thursday Europa League tie.