Gala Fairydean 0 - 14 Aberdeen

Despite the poor pitch conditions Aberdeen passed the ball about well throughout and scored some excellent goals. McManus scored after 6 minutes and then added a second on 17. Conor Devaney, who is from the Borders, scored from the penalty spot on 26 minutes and then Ryan Fraser added number 4 on 35 minutes. McManus completed a first half hat-trick on 39 minutes to make the half time score 5-0.

The scoreline allowed Neil Cooper to make some changes at half time and with Dean Carse and Craig Duguid coming off the bench it highlights the strength of the squad at the moment.

The scoring started again straight after the break when Jack Grimmer ran from his own half, played a one two with Cameron Smith before finishing well. McManus grabbed his fourth on 50 minutes and then Craig Murray scored arguably the pick of the goals with a superb individual effort. With an 'Archie Gemmill style' run the midfielder beat 4 or 5 Gala players before slotting the ball home.

Just after the hour mark Jamie Masson scored the second spot kick. Five minutes later Stephen O'Neill scored the first of his two goals. The winger has been in outstanding form this season and deserved to get on the score sheet after assisting with a number of the goals this afternoon.

Neil Cooper then made his final change and replaced Scott Rumsby with Michael Dunlop. Michael's career at Aberdeen has been curtailed by a couple of serious injuries so it was great to see the big centre half back on a football pitch.

Dean Carse made it 11 on 73 minutes before McManus got his fifth on 77 minutes. In the closing stages O'Neill and Carse both grabbed a second of the game to complete the scoring. It could have been more as Aberdeen hit the woodwork on a number of occasions and Dean Carse had a goal cancelled out for offside.

Credit to Gala though who never threw in the towel and kept playing till the end.

Neil Cooper spoke to RedWeb before the long journey home "I was really pleased with the boys efforts this afternoon. Despite the conditions they passed the ball about really well and scored some excellent goals."