Aberdeen 3 - 0 Hibernian

Scottish League secretary, Jim Farry, had the Aberdeen fans in the 18,000 crowd in good voice when he unfurled the Premier League championship flag for season 1984-85. New £300,000 signing, Jim Bett, scored a sensational goal to mark his debut.
The first chance fell to Steve Cowan, a striker on familiar territory following his £45,000 transfer to Hibs in mid-week. The champions wanted to please their fans on this special day and, despite some spirited play from the visitors, Aberdeen provided most of the danger. Twice in quick succession Rough proved his worth by blocking shots from Neil Simpson and Frank McDougall's header came back off the post with the keeper beaten.
Rough then positioned himself expertly to deal with a strong drive from Billy Stark. Hibs hit back and Kane flashed a 20 yard shot over the bar. There was a brief interlude of attacking play by Hibs but the action soon returned to Rough's end again and he saved a low McDougall flick from a crafty back-header by Eric Black. Newcomer Jim Bett marked his contribution to proceedings at his new club by forcing Rough into another fine save from Peter Weir's clever pass. Despite the home side's territorial advantage, Hibs should have taken the lead when McBride cleverly chipped the ball through Stewart McKimmie's legs and, as Jim Leighton raced from goal, the young attacker slid the ball past the post from a narrow angle. So far, with the interval approaching, the visitors had ruined Aberdeen's red-letter day and the home side would have to show more incisiveness and finishing power in order to gain both points.

The home side restarted with some determined play and Weir's long free kick resulted in Black's header just clearing the bar. Hibs had lost all four league matches against Aberdeen in the previous season but they were full of enterprise and energy in this particular game, Rough was still performing heroics and foiling the Dons' best efforts and young John Collins, playing his first game for Hibs, almost gave them a glorious goal as the Edinburgh side realised they could win both points. He jinked past McKimmie and Willie Miller only for Jim Leighton to deny him his moment of fame. The talented teenager continued to prompt his colleagues as the Dons began to look sluggish.
John Hewitt replaced Black in 67 minutes and a minute later came the opening goal, Bett raced through in the inside left position and cracked a tremendous shot past the startled Rough. The rather subdued crowd came to life and the goal gave the home side a tremendous boost, Hibs, who must have felt very unlucky to fall behind, despite the quality of the strike, sent on Durie for Irvine. In 79 minutes McDougall made sure it was going to be a happy opening day of the season when he powerfully headed the ball from a Stark cross, which Rough parried but could not stop. In the last minute the striker scored again with another typical header, this time from a Simpson cross. The size of the victory may have flattered the home side but they had put the ball in the net 3 times more than Hibs.

Source: Match Programme, 18th March 1995