Brechin City 1 - 4 Aberdeen

The first 20 minutes were quite low key as Aberdeen failed to break down a well organised Brechin side. Former Don Ray McKinnon had his team set up very well. The only time they really got in behind was on 6 minutes when Ryan Jack battled well for the ball before playing it to Barry Robson. He swept in a dangerous cross to the back post area but the experienced Graeme Smith in the Brechin goal held on well.

The first attempt came on 21 minutes when Russell Anderson, playing his first pre-season game, played a good ball wide to Smith on the right. Cammy cut the ball back to Adam Rooney but he fired the ball over the bar. 3 minutes later Brechin had their only attempt on goal when Gary Fusco hit a shot from the edge of the box but it failed to trouble Scott Brown in the Aberdeen goal.

On the half hour mark good persistence by Rooney won the ball on the edge of the area. His effort on goal was blocked but the ball fell to Robson about 25 yards out. His shot was on target but took a deflection and went just wide. On 34 minutes Aberdeen showed good pace when they broke quickly. McGinn raced up the field and played a dangerous cross to the back post the ball was headed behind for a corner. On 39 minutes a Hayes cross from the left found Rooney but he could not get enough power on it and Smith who was well positioned was able to make an easy save.

Then on the stroke of half time Aberdeen took a deserved lead. There did not seem much on when Considine's throw in found Jack about 30 yards out. However Ryan looked up and noticed the keeper was slightly off his line. The midfielder then hit a brilliant curling effort from about 25 yards into the top hand corner of the net.

HT

At half time Derek McInnes made three changes - Flood, Pawlett and Taylor replaced Considine, Anderson and Smith.

The first chance of the second half was on 49 minutes after a good ball forward and although Rooney produced a good header Smith saved well. Five minutes later the striker had another chance. Robson played in a dangerous cross from the right and although Adam made good contact he pushed his shot wide of the post. On 58 minutes Robson tried an ambitious shot from outside the box but the ball went over the bar. Then on 66 minutes Rooney headed over after another good cross into the box, this time from the left.

The Dons were by now well on top and on 69 minutes Peter Pawlett sent a shot inches past the post from close range. On 73 minutes Aberdeen finally got a second. Jack played Rooney in and the ball was deflected into the path of Niall McGinn who then produced a brilliant lob to chip the ball over the stranded keeper.

After 75 minutes Scott Wright, Declan McManus, Joe Shaughnessy and Lawrence Shankland came on for McGinn, Logan, Rooney and Robson.

On 78 minutes the home side pulled a goal back. Robert Thomson was not closed down and he hit a left footed shot from about 18 yards which clipped the post and went into the net. Brown had no chance. A minute later though Aberdeen scored a third. Willo Flood took a quick free kick which put Lawrence Shankland in. The U20 striker did really well to make a run across the defenders before side footing the ball home. On 83 minutes Scott Brown made a good save from a free kick low to his right. On 88 minutes Masson and Murray came on for Reynolds and Jack and then seconds before the end Declan McManus got a fourth. The goal came from good work by Murray down the right and his cross was headed in by Declan. The striker has looked very sharp so far in pre-season.