Brechin City 1 - 7 Aberdeen

The game started in bright sunlight at Glebe Park, but there was an early stoppage as a Brechin player required treatment out on their right. Aberdeen threatened first in the fourth minute when a cross was hoisted in by Hancock from the left, Ramirez up at the back post to head into the side netting. Next, a mazy run from Kennedy set Hancock up for a shot but his effort from 20 yards flashed wide.

Route one was the way in the 11th minute, a long kick from Roos flicked on by Ramirez but Kennedy could not get his shot in as the Brechin defence closed in on him.

The Dons were enjoying plenty of the ball in the early stages and looking sharper than against Buckie ten days ago, but the massed ranks of the Brechin defence were proving committed, so much so that Inglis was down and requiring treatment on the quarter hour. That required the first change, Macleod coming on in the 17th minute.

Aberdeen were in front two minutes later, Richardson and Kennedy combining well on the right. The cross reached Besuijen who helped it back into the path of Hayes. His effort was blocked on the line by McHattie, but Ramirez was on hand to tuck the rebound away from six yards ? the Dons would have had a penalty for handball had he not done so.

It was 2-0 on 24 minutes, Besuijen getting in behind the defence to collect a long ball forward before cutting in from the left and clipping his shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner, a lovely finish from the number 10. Brechin immediately made their second change, Cruickshank replacing Thomson.

Brechin had a first sighter on 28 minutes, Davidson driving over the bar from the edge of the box after good work down their right by Scott. Straight up the other end, Ramirez scooped over the bar from a dozen yards out after Richardson had wriggled into space to cross.

McCrorie took a whack in the face on 34 minutes that brought the Aberdeen physios onto the pitch for the first time, McCrorie ultimately able to continue.

It was 3-0 on 37 minutes, the Richardson and Kennedy combination down the right again unpicking the Brechin defence. Kennedy?s low cross was met first time on the run by Besuijen who wrapped his foot round the ball and buried it past the goalkeeper.

Besuijen caused chaos again two minutes later after more good work down the Aberdeen right, his clipped cross awkwardly tipped over by Wilson for a corner that ultimately came to nothing.

There was better from Brechin in the final minute of the half, a shooting opportunity worked for Macleod on the edge of the box, but he dragged his effort harmlessly wide of goal. Aberdeen responded immediately and a clearance dropped invitingly for Polvara 20 yards out, but his volley was high and wide of goal.

HALF-TIME: BRECHIN CITY 0 ABERDEEN 3

Watkins and Lewis replaced Ramirez and Loos at the break for the Dons. There were loud shouts for a Brechin penalty in the opening minute as McGrath went down under a challenge from Hancock, but the referee was unimpressed.

Polvara got off a ferocious shot at goal on 50 minutes that the goalkeeper dealt with well, but he was caught by Davidson after the ball had gone, a late challenge that incensed the Aberdeen players.

Brechin were in behind courtesy of a long ball on 52 minutes, but Stewart came across to cut out the danger with two imposing blocks from Ross, continuing an impressive display at the heart of the defence

A minute later, a mix up in the Brechin defence saw the Dons make it 4-0, Wilson?s attempted clearance rebounding off Watkins, allowing Kennedy to force the ball into the net.

Worse was to follow for Brechin for it was 5-0 on 54, a looped ball to the back post from Polvara on the left reaching Hayes who got up well to thump a header beyond the helpless Wilson.

Good work from Scott on the hour allowed him to pick out Patrick on the edge of the penalty area, but he slashed at his shot under pressure and put it well over the bar.

On 62 minutes there were seven changes for Aberdeen with Lobban, McLennan, Duncan, Bates, Milne, Ngwenya, Harvey all coming on in place of Richardson, Scales, Stewart, Polvara, Hancock, Kennedy and Besuijen.

There was a penalty for Brechin on 65 minutes, Bates bringing down the lively Scott. McGrath sent Lewis the wrong way to bring it back to 5-1. There was a change for Brechin two minutes later, Loudon on for Ross.

Lovely football on 68 made it 6-1 for the Dons, McCrorie releasing Hayes down the left. He drove in a low cross through the six-yard box and coming in at the back post, Harvey produced a neat, controlled finish to score from close in, a real poacher?s goal. His first for the Dons senior side so a moment to remember for the youngster.

Things quietened down after such a hectic opening to the half but with 10 minutes left, Wilson spilled a cross from Milne and Watkins tapped into an empty net. Naglik then replaced McGrath, Easton replacing Wilson for Brechin.

Harvey had a goal disallowed on 84 minutes, coming in at the back post to bundle a Hayes lob over the line, but the flag was up for offside. Harvey wasn?t far away two minutes later, getting in front of the goalkeeper to collect a long ball forward, but as the angle worsened, he could only put the ball into the side netting.

Patrick then almost put the ball past his own goalkeeper in the 88th minute, skying an attempted clearance, Easton across smartly to gather as the Dons remained camped in Brechin?s half but it would finish 7-1.