Match Report - By Grant Hood

A slick Aberdeen side tested City to the full in an entertaining friendly at Glebe Park.

First half goals from Scott McKenna and Miles Storey had the Dons two goals ahead before a quickfire double through debutant Kari Arnason and a penalty from Adam Rooney early in the second half sent the healthy travelling support back north happy.

Although the game had long since gone, Ally Love pulled a goal back for the Glebe Park side with a terrific strike from distance to give the home fans something to cheer too.

With City fans only just getting used to seeing their favourites wearing squad numbers, familiarity was to be further tested with the Glebe Park side adorned in their new second choice kit for the first time of white shirts, red shorts and white socks. As if this wasn’t enough, The Dons were sporting an unfamiliar blue – and both sets of fans were seeing the newly installed dugouts for the first time – bringing a welcome modern look to the technical areas in stark contrast to the previous old-fashioned breeze-block versions supporters had become familiar with.

On the park, it was the blues of Aberdeen who started the brighter. Striker Adam Rooney headed against the crossbar after only 5 minutes and seconds later a Nicky Maynard overhead kick went over the bar. A pre-planned corner kick saw Danny Harvie arrive late and his considerable blast from outside the box was deflected wide. Another corner proved City’s undoing as, 8 minutes in, defender SCOTT McKENNA was given time and space to take a touch and stroke the ball past Paddy O’Neil – the affable keeper getting a run out instead of ‘Buzz’ on this occasion.

City looked to hit back and 2 set piece deliveries from Finn Graham, allowed Sean Crighton to create an impact in the Dons’ box, with Ryan McGeever then Paul McLean not quite able to capitalise.

The visitors went 2 up just beyond the half-hour mark with Adam Rooney crossing from the right for MILES STOREY to head home, and moments later a shot from Isaac Layne swung narrowly past the post as City continued to compete. Just before half-time, City survived a penalty scare as Nicky Maynard tumbled over the onrushing Paddy O’Neil – with a goal kick awarded.

City’s vulnerability at set pieces was exposed again as, 10 minutes into the second half, KARI ARNASON bulleted home a header following a corner on the Aberdeen right. Shortly afterwards, City skipper Paul McLean was adjudged to have impeded Maynard as he turned in the box, and ADAM ROONEY stepped up to confidently dispatch the resultant penalty past O’Neil in the home goal.

ALLY LOVE forced a stinging save from Rogers in the Aberdeen goal with a long range effort, and found himself on the scoresheet shortly afterwards with an equally powerful effort from a similar distance which fairly pinged past the keeper’s despairing dive to his right.

New Aberdeen signing Greg Tansey then narrowly missed the target before drawing a diving save from O’Neil from a free kick. Paddy was in action soon afterwards as a flurry of goalbound efforts continued – producing saves in quick succession from Scott Wright and twice from Nicky Maynard.