Aberdeen 9 - 0 St. Mirren

Aberdeen came into the game off the back of their Erasmus+ funded training camp in Portugal, were they had recorded an impressive 4-0 victory over Hull City U18s.

In hot but windy conditions Aberdeen kicked off their new season, wearing the new red kit. Within the first minute Alfie Bavidge had created room for a shot which was well blocked by Daniel Delvin.

It was a very fast start from the young Dons and a couple of minutes later a Findlay Marshall cross found Liam Harvey but he could not direct his header on target.

The pressure continued, Adam Emslie cut in from the left and his shot was not far away and then keeper Kenzie Smith tipped a Marshall shot over the bar. Marshall wore the skipper armband today as Dylan Lobban is out injured at the moment.

On 12 minutes Aberdeen took the lead. After a stop in play for an injury, Aberdeen were given the bounce ball. Marshall was very alert to the situation and played a quick ball over the top which found Harvey who ran through on goal and fired it across the keeper into the net.

Two minutes later it was two.

The visitors failed to clear their lines, Harvey took the ball to the by-line and he pulled it back for Emslie who found the net with a good finish.

Not long after, Harvey from an identical position almost set up Bavidge but on this occasion he was well tackled.

Then 20 minutes in, the very impressive Brendan Hamilton played a superbly weighted ball forward which found the run of Harvey, the striker settled himself before firing home his second.

St Mirren continued to try and play their way out from the back, but the Dons pressing all afternoon was very good. As was the tempo and speed, with or without possession.

On 25 minutes Blair McKenzie played a clever diagonal ball which eventually was won by Timi Fatona after good determination from the right back. He then ran in on goal and slotted the ball past the keeper, into his near post. A clever finish from the right back.

A Bavidge cross from the right then found Emslie, Jaspreet Sambi produced a very good block to prevent another goal but then on 29 minutes Emslie latched onto a loose ball and brilliantly riffled it home first time.

5-0 with half an hour gone. The quality of the Aberdeen's play had been superb, especially the level of crossing and finishing.

The chances kept coming. A corner was headed into the ground by McKenzie and the ball bounced up and clipped the bar. Then on 36 minutes it was 6.

Another very good ball from Hamilton was headed home at the back post by Harvey to complete his hat-trick.

Liam has been in fine form pre-season - scoring his first goal for the first team against Brechin and also he scored a number of goals in Portugal. The striker looked very confident this afternoon and took his goals well.

Ethan Sutherland almost pulled a goal back for the visitors, after doing well to create room for a shot, he fired just over. There was a final chance for Harvey before the break but his first time volley flew over.

HT Aberdeen 6 St Mirren 0

At the start of the second half Aberdeen forced a couple of corners, the second of which Kai Watson headed just wide.

The very lively Cameron Wilson then failed to convert a Harvey cutback after he was well crowded out and then the same player pulled a shot just wide.

The first change of the game saw Hamilton replaced at left back by Jamie Mercer on the hour mark. Ten minutes later young striker Lewis Pirie replaced Liam Harvey who could be well pleased with his afternoon's work.

Aberdeen continued to dominate but St Mirren were showing plenty of determination to keep them out. Andy Webster's side to their credit never gave up. Not surprisingly the tempo of the second half was not quite as high, but still opportunites were being created and more goals soon followed.

On 72 minutes Alfie Stewart set up Bavidge who showed real strength to hold off his marker before cutting inside and his effort went in off the far post.

More changes then followed as McKenzie and Marshall were replaced by Finlay Murray and Milosz Ochmanski.

With fifteen minutes to go Emslie's cross for Wilson was well saved. The keeper then made another good stop from Emslie a minute later.

On 81 minutes another superb ball across goal led to another goal. Stewart?s ball in from the left was tapped home at the far post by Bavidge for goal number eight.

The scoring was complete on 84 minutes and a big moment for Lewis Pirie, his first goal at this level. The U16 star, who was away in Portugal with the squad last week, watched on as a well worked free kick saw Bavidge's shot saved but like all good strikers, Lewis was following up and was well positioned to net goal number nine.

A really strong start for Barry Robson's side.