Aberdeen 2 - 0 Dumbarton

There was just one change to Jim Goodwin's Aberdeen side after the 2-0 win at Peterhead on Sunday. New arrival Ylber Ramadani came straight in for his Dons debut with Dante Polvara starting from the bench. Tom Ritchie dropped out of the matchday squad.

After losing 2-1 home to Stirling Albion at the weekend, Dumbarton made two changes Ryan Blair and Kalvin Orsi in the starting line-up in place of Joe McKee and Declan Byrne, who were both on the bench.
Ramadani made an immediate impact too, darting onto a through ball from Vicente Besuijen on five minutes, Long quickly off his line to narrow the angle and make a good low block.

Jayden Richardson was next to threaten a couple of minutes later. A good interchange between Mason Hancock and Jonny Hayes down the left started the move, the ball played back to the edge of the box via Christian Ramirez and Ramadani, Richardson's drive deflected behind.

No mistake from Ramirez on nine minutes though, a lovely finish on the turn from 12 yards out and into the top corner after good work by Ross McCrorie and Hayes, only to see the linesman's flag raised as the ball flew over Matty Kennedy standing on the line in an offside position on its way in - a debateable decision perhaps.

Kennedy almost atoned for that in the 11th minute, combining with Richardson, getting the ball back and arrowing a low shot across the face of goal and inches wide of the target. All part of a breathless Aberdeen onslaught in the opening minutes.

Kennedy was in again on 16 minutes, a brilliant deep cross from Hayes picking him out at the back post. On the run, he met the header on the corner of the six yard box, the ball clipping the top of the bar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Hayes tried his luck in the 19th minute, a 25 yarder that skipped up awkwardly in front of the goalkeeper who did well to get his body behind it. He turned creator on 25, galloping onto a raking ball forward from Liam Scales. His cross reached Ramirez six yards out, but he got his angles slightly wrong and turned his effort wide.

On 31 minutes, Anthony Stewart was the next who perhaps should have found the back of the net. His late run to the near post from a right wing corner saw him rising to win the header but he headed down into the ground, the ball ballooning up and wide of the target.

Four minutes later, Besuijen pounced on a loose ball from a corner, his low drove deflected just wide of the post. But from the resulting corner, the Dons were finally, and deservedly, in front. Hayes' corner came in at the near post, Ross McCrorie finding a perfectly judged glancing header at the corner of the six yard box that flew beyond Long for 1-0.

A controversial moment came on 42 minutes when Besuijen went in the book for simulation as he fell as he tried to round the goalkeeper, despite getting instantly back to his feet and not claiming a spot kick. The striker seemed pretty hard done by.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 DUMBARTON 0

A lightning start saw the Dons almost score in the opening minute. A lovely first time pass around the corner from Ramirez set Richardson on the run at goal but Long did well to stand up and block his shot with his left arm at the near post.

Kennedy was next to fire in a shot on 49 minutes, his 18 yarder well clutched by Long after Besuijen's pass got him a sight of the Dumbarton goal. Ramirez poked wide of goal two minutes later after a sweeping Aberdeen move down the left. Mason Hancock found Ramirez 10 yards out, but he stabbed his effort just the wrong side of the post. Ramirez was close again in the 55th minute header, a great header back across goal from a Hayes cross that was hacked to safety inside the six yard box with Kennedy lurking.

Kennedy was on target on 57 though. Collecting a defence splitting pass from Ramadani on the edge of the area, he skipped around the advancing goalkeeper and deposited the ball in the vacant net to double the lead.

With the Dons in control, the first substitutions of the night were made on 61 minutes. Marley Watkins and Ryan Duncan were introduced in place of Kennedy and Hancock, Hayes dropping into left-back. Dumbarton then brought on Gray and Love in place of David Wilson and Orsi. Five minutes later, Blair made way for McKee.

Watkins could have opened his account for the season on 69, a dinked ball forward from Besuijen setting him clear on goal but again Long stood up well to save. Wallace and MacLean were then replaced by Byrne and Callum Wilson before Kelle Roos made his first save of the evening, low to his left at his near post.

It was almost 3-0 on 73 after Besuijen set Hayes away down the left. His low cross was bound for Ramirez until Wylde stretched to intercept, his clearance whacking against the post and then away to safety. Stewart was the next Don to be subbed, Milne taking over from him in the 74th minute.

Poor Ramirez was denied a goal again on 82 minutes, his powerful diving header from a Duncan cross brilliantly saved by Long to his left, his parry taking the ball just away from Besuijen as he followed in.