Peterhead 2 - 3 Aberdeen

Aberdeen were 2-0 behind after 15 minutes, but fought back to win 3-2 in a match that they dominated. This will have been a useful exercise as they started their second pre-season match. The only downside was an injury picked up by Considine that may cause some concern with the first competitive match only a week away. Aberdeen now face Dundee on Saturday in their final match before the opening European tie next Thursday.

Aberdeen started well with Sone Aluko looking particularly dangerous in the 4-4-2 set up. He showed great skill in the fourth minute, but the final cross was too high for the strikers. Minutes later Miller tested the home keeper with a fierce shot that was parried away. The Dons then went behind in the 12th minute when Diamond conceded a foul outside the box. It looked to be set up for Mann to take, but Cameron stepped up and curled a beauty into the right hand corner of the net giving Langfield no chance.

Matters took a turn for the worse three minutes later when a stray pass by Duff was picked up by Bavidge. He fed the ball to ex-Don Ross who turned and drilled his shot into the top right hand corner of the net. Once again there was little Langfield could do to prevent the goal. Aberdeen tried to hit back straight away and a Mulgrew free kick went inches wide in the 16th minute. Four minutes later Miller controlled the ball on his chest and hit a superb volley that cracked off the crossbar. Miller had the ball in the net in the 28th minute, but Aluko had been flagged offside at the point he supplied the cross.

Miller was not to be denied however and scored two minutes later from the penalty spot. He had well to release Mackie and the Dons striker was adjudged to have been the meat in the sandwich of two Peterhead defenders. Technically it was a penalty, but the award looked soft and the home players were unhappy with the decision. Miller was unconcerned as he stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way. The Dons finished the half on top and Foster went on a good run before back heeling the ball into the path of Aluko who fired inches wide. With half time approaching Mackie headed a difficult chance wide.

Young replaced Duff at the interval with Foster moving back to right back. Considine then picked up an injury and although he tried to play on he was replaced by Holm in the 49th minute. With the European match next week this will be a concern for the Dons. McDonald had half a chance in the 51st minute, but the ball wouldn't fall kindly for the Dons midfielder. Aberdeen were level two minutes later following a wonderful solo effort from Sone Aluko. McDonald found Aluko in the centre circle and the Nigerian U21 star showed great pace to get past his marker before reaching the penalty area, side stepping a defender and calmly wrong footing the keeper with a shot in at the near post.

Peterhead tried to hit back in the 56th minute when the impressive McVitie was sent clear. His brilliant lob beat Langfield, but fortunately it went just over the bar. The 1,954 crowd were being treated to an entertaining match and the Dons made a double substitution on the hour mark as Maguire and Paton replaced Mackie and Miller. A minute later Paton set up Aluko, but his shot was blocked. The two combined again two minutes later and produced what proved to be the winning goal on the night. Zander and Kerr had done some good pressing and fed the ball to Aluko. He in turn sent Paton clear and the youngster went one-on-one with the keeper before producing a cool finish.

Two minutes later Maguire hit a 25 yard curler that Jarvie did well to tip over before Mann was forced to head clear off his own line. Stewart replaced Aluko in the 70th minute as Aberdeen continued to dominate despite the changes. A minute later a great Mulgrew cross was missed by everyone. Kerr and McDonald were dominating the middle of the park although Bavidge always looked dangerous for the home side. The Dons were nearly caught out in the 80th minute in a two-on-one situation as the speedy Graham Sharp powered down the left and tried to play a cross to the unmarked striker, but Foster did enough to put him off and the pass was too far in front of his team mate.

Stewart picked up a knock and was replaced in the 85th minute by Crawford while Ross replaced Mulgrew. The home side had a great chance to level in the 90th minute after Bavidge dispossessed Holm, but then shot wide with Langfield stranded.