Inverurie Locos 0 - 5 Aberdeen

Aberdeen kicked off their Youth Cup campaign against Highland League Inverurie Locos as they looked to go one better than last year when they were runners-up to Hibernian.

Inverurie had beaten Keith 6-1 in the second round to set up this North East derby and would be keen to pit their wits against the more experienced Dons Colts.
Both sides took time to settle on a cold, wet evening in front of a healthy crowd. McLauchlan of Aberdeen and Locos' Mitchell picked up early bookings for fairly trivial offences. Great tenacity from Lewis Duncan created mayhem in front of the Locos goal, but Shanks wasn't able to capitalise. Home skipper Wood picked up an injury and unfortunately had to be stretchered off, Cocker taking his place.
Locos were keeping their shape well and Aberdeen's attackers were finding it difficult to find the space to play through them.
Duncan again did well on the left wing to fashion a cross, but Shanks' header didn't trouble the Locos' keeper. On 22 minutes the Dons took the lead. A superb break out of defence by Power saw the big Irishman beat three players before sliding the ball through for Ethan Ross who showed great composure to guide the ball past Buckham and into the corner of the net.
It should have been two three minutes later when the dangerous Duncan picked out Linden at the far post, but the winger fired wide. Tyler Alexander was the third man to be booked as the ref deemed his tumble in the box to be simulation.
Connor Barron was booked on 34 minutes to the bemusement of many in the crowd as the wee man's offence seemed to have been seen by no-one bar the referee. Locos were still very much in the game but were unable to mount any serious attacks on the Dons goal. Ethan Ross produced a fine piece of skill in the box to create a shooting opportunity, but he blazed his shot high over.
Referee Bart Misiak reached for the yellow card once again on 43 minutes after Ethan Ross bumped into keeper Buckham, but the collision looked accidental and the booking harsh on the Dons skipper.

Half time: Inverurie Locos 0 Aberdeen 1

The home side were first to threaten in the second half, Quantrill's shot being turned past the post by a diving Mair. On 49 minutes the Dons doubled their lead when Shanks scrambled the ball home after good work from Ethan Ross.
Four minutes later it was three as Connor Barron showed his class with a delightful finish after being set up by Linden. Rankine and Mitchell of Locos came off on 59 minutes with Cowie and Halliday taking their places in Dave McGinlay's side.
Locos full back Taylor was booked for a foul on Duncan to take the crime count to six bookings but it had never been anything more than a keenly contested game. Hanratty took the place of Ross for the final quarter with the Dons firmly in control, Barron taking the captain's armband.
The Dons made a double change on 78 minutes introducing Dangana and Aikamenze in place of Shanks and Linden. Michael Dangana made an immediate impact firing home a Hanratty cross to make it 4-0, a fine finish from the younger brother of David. The fifth goal followed soon after, Kevin Hanratty curling the ball home from the corner of the six-yard box. A combination of the Dons' superior fitness and playing uphill was making it a tough shift for the Locos youngsters but they deserve great credit for hanging in as best they could.

In the end a comfortable win for Aberdeen in a very entertaining cup-tie.