Buckie Thistle 0 - 3 Aberdeen

Paul Sheerin made five changes to the team which saw off League One Arbroath on Sunday as the Dons kicked off their first Aberdeenshire Cup campaign in seven years against thirteen-time winners Buckie Thistle.
Archie Mair, Lloyd Robertson, Max Barry, Miko Virtanen and Ethan Ross all started on a cool, blustery evening on the Moray Coast.

A long, wind-assisted clearance from Archie Mair saw Bruce Anderson break clear in only the second minute but his drive from fifteen yards flew wide. Buckie came close on 8 minutes, MacAskill's header going just past after a fine cross from the left.
The Dons took the lead in the 13th minute when a fine pass from Max Barry played in Chris Antoniazzi who unselfishly slipped the ball to David Dangana to score from six yards.
Buckie were battling hard and won a couple of corners, but they didn't seriously threaten Mair's goal. A quick break out of defence almost led to a second Dons' goal on 33 minutes but Barry's shot was deflected wide for a fruitless corner. Aberdeen were looking the sharper side but Buckie's defence, despite some shaky moments, were keeping the Pittodrie forwards at bay. Four minutes from the break the Dons doubled their advantage. David Dangana picked the ball up on halfway and burst clear of the Buckie defence before racing into the box and clipping a lovely finish past the helpless Bell. A fine goal from the striker which will undoubtedly boost his confidence for the season ahead.
A well contested first-half with Dangana's deadly double the difference between the teams.

Half time Buckie Thistle 0 Aberdeen 2

Buckie had a chance in the opening minute of the second half, but Steven Ross lifted his shot over under pressure from Sam Roscoe. More fine defending from the Dons skipper saw him clear a dangerous Scott Adams cross from right under his own bar as the home side battled to get back into the game.
MacKinnon was booked on 54 minutes for a cynical tug on Dangana as the striker threatened to race clear. Moments later a thunderbolt shot from Jack MacKenzie flew narrowly wide. Bell saved well from Anderson after another swift burst forward from the impressive Dangana. However, the keeper could do nothing to prevent Ethan Ross making it three on 58 minutes, the young winger cutting in off the left wing to waltz into the box before netting from ten yards.
Buckie made a double switch on the hour, Ross and Cheyne being replaced by Milne and McLean. Five minutes later, Jack Chesser took over from Barry in the Dons ranks. Another Buckie change saw Keiran Adams withdrawn as Morrison entered the fray. And the sub almost made an instant impact flicking a header just wide after a right-wing corner. Buckie were pressing forward looking to get back into the game and MacKenzie saw a shot deflected just over before ex-Don Sam Robertson almost connected with a cross at the far post. It would have been a sweet moment for big Sam, playing against not only his old team but also his younger brother Lloyd.
Lewis Duncan replaced Anderson for the last quarter of an hour and with only his second touch smacked a twenty-yard effort off the bar with Bell helpless. Star man David Dangana was replaced by the speedy Sean Linden as Paul Sheerin made his final change on 81 minutes, but the front man had little chance to make an impact as the Dons saw the game out comfortably to claim a home tie against either Inverurie Locos or Banks O'Dee in the next round.

A well-deserved win for the young Dons against a spirited Buckie side.