Aberdeen 8 - 0 Falkirk

Aberdeen played host to Falkirk in the 1st leg of a League Cup 2nd round tie. The Dons were clear favourites to beat the Bairns but the fans expected a tough contest and the general attitude going into the game was not very confident. In their two preceding League games Aberdeen had failed to score in successive draws at Dens Park and a disappointing 0-0 draw with St. Johnstone in the League at Pittodrie. Falkirk were expected to defend in depth and on their showing against the Perth Saints there was a question mark over the Dons ability to break down a determined in depth defence. If ever a game lent itself to the cliche "a game of two halves", it was this one. Sure enough Willie Cunningham's side set out their stall early and the Bairns seemed content to let the Dons batter away against their solid looking back division. Ally Donaldson looked sound in between the sticks and centre-half, ex-Don Tommy McMillan, was ably assisted by a resolute supporting cast that included two future Dons in the shape of full backs Stuart Kennedy and Jim Shirra.
The Dons huffed and puffed throughout a frenetic first half but lacked the poise that would have turned some of their frantic pressure into something more tangible. Indeed with only 15 minutes gone Falkirk came closest of all to scoring in the first period, when a Harley header was cleared off the line by Jim Hermiston.

Jimmy Bonthrone replaced the limping Ian Taylor with Jim Forrest at half time and almost immediately the switch paid off. Within 5 minutes of his introduction in the second period Forrest displayed the composure that had been lacking in the first 45 and scored with a cute chip over Donaldson to break the deadlock. Presumably Falkirk would have been content with a 0-1 scoreline to take to Brockville in the second leg but we'll never know if the Bairns intended to keep to their defensive plan or not as they were swept aside by an avalanche of goals.
With 53 minutes gone Drew Jarvie made it 2-0 after great lead up work by Henning Boel and Dave Robb down the left flank. The visitors' plans were further upset by a knock to Shirra that led to his replacement by Dennis Setterington on the hour mark and before they had time to reorganise the Dons were 3-0 up when Joe Harper nipped in to punish the hesitant Falkirk rear-guard. Aberdeen were now playing with complete confidence and after another spell of pressure Drew Jarvie got on the scoresheet again following a lengthy goalmouth scramble. With 77 minutes gone Jarvie was up-ended in the visitors' penalty area and Joe Harper stepped up to make it 5-0 for the Dons. Five minutes from the end Joe Harper looked to have capped a great night's entertainment when he tapped home his hat-trick after Boel and Willoughby had pulled Falkirk apart but incredibly there was more to come. A minute later Arthur Graham scored with a spectacular flying header and right on time Dave Robb was rewarded for his con¬siderable effort on the night when his shot slithered under Ally Donaldson to round off an amazing 8 goal second half performance.

Source: Match Programme, 7th January 1995