Hamilton 0 - 5 Aberdeen

The suspended Dylan Lobban made way for the trip South; young Lewis Pirie took the captain?s place in the XI for just his second start for the 18s, completing a strong line-up which included Alfie Bavidge, fresh from making his debut for the 1st team the previous weekend.

Games between the sides so far this season have finished 2-6, 6-0 and 2-5, and with Stuart Duff and Robbie Hedderman fielding an attacking side, it looked like being on paper another entertaining evening.

Within just the first few seconds of the encounter Gabriel Forsyth was allowed the space to shoot from the edge of the box, but his attempt was high.

Hamilton followed up their early effort with another through Josh McDonald, his curling shot was palmed away by Blessing Oluyemi in goal. The hosts continued to dominate the first ten minutes, coming close from multiple set pieces, but they were unable to grab the opener.

With their first venture forward, Aberdeen took the lead.

Lewis Pirie picked the ball up after some great play from Brendan Hamilton, the young striker charged the length of the Accies half, blitzing the chasing defenders before expertly slotting under the helpless Reece Murray. Pirie?s goal was the 50th the team had scored in the league this season.

With ten minutes of the first 45 left Aberdeen got their second goal. Findlay Marshall, who captained the side in Lobban?s absence drove into the host?s box, nonchalantly flicking over the head of Cian Newbury in the process. The midfielder unselfishly squared the ball to the patiently waiting Bavidge who unsurprisingly made no mistake with the simple finish. 2-0!

Two became three just minutes later, Bavidge swung a beautiful ball in for Pirie who was lurking at the near post and reacted first upon its arrival to send the ball into the back of the net. The young Dons were really in their groove.

Bavidge and Pirie both had chances to further their team?s advantage before the break. Alfie?s shot came back off the post with Emslie inches away from being able to tap in the rebound, Pirie found himself through on goal but had his shot smothered by the onrushing keeper.

HT. Hamilton Academical 0-3 Aberdeen.

The side picked up where they left off in the second half and within minutes were 4-0 to the good. It was Pirie again who raced onto a long ball and smashed home for his hat-trick. An incredible performance from the young striker who had only just turned 16 at the end of January.

Hamilton squandered an opportunity to get back in the game after Liam Morgan found space to get down the line and whip a ball in to the feet of Ben Black, but the number 9 was unable to convert.

Pirie looked as hungry for a goal with fifteen minutes to play as he did at kick off. He danced through a sea of sliding Hamilton defenders into the box as he looked for his fourth and the teams fifth goal of the night, this time his shot was eventually saved.

The fifth goal did eventually come, and it was Bavidge who claimed his second goal of the game. The two Alfie?s combined with Stewart hanging a beautiful ball up in the air for his team mate to attack, and he planted his header over the rooted keeper and into the back of the net.

Up the other end Oluyemi made a breath-taking acrobatic save to deny Liam Morgan?s header, and the clean sheet remained intact.

Stuart Duff introduced Cammy Wilson and Timi Fatona for the closing stages. Liam Harvey and Kai Watson came off for a well-deserved rest. Jamie Mercer and Milosz Ochmanski entered the fray a few minutes later, this time it was Blair Mckenzie and Brendan Hamilton who made way.

Oluyemi was forced into one more great save near the end in what was the last chance of the game. Aberdeen had put in an exceptional performance on the road against a good team and were rewarded for their efforts with a high scoring victory that saw unstoppable attacking play coupled with a solid defensive performance that earned them back to back clean sheets in the league for the first time this season.