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Fifers Hit For Six...

08 January 2011

…as Maguire hits hat trick.

Aberdeen produced a professional performance to defeat East Fife 6-0 to progress to the next round of the cup. Maguire claimed a first half hat trick and Scott Vernon grabbed a double although he could easily have repeated the feat as he missed a couple of chances in front of goal. Maguire opened the scoring in the 13th minute before adding a second ten minutes later. Vernon then found the net before Maguire rounded off a great first half performance by completing his hat trick in the 42nd minute. The second half was a bit flat compared to the opening period, but another goal from Vernon and a first goal for Magennis with the last kick of the game completed the scoring.

Derek Young suffered a knock in the opening minute, but quickly recovered as the game started franticly, but with little shape to the play. Vernon and Jack combined well in the 6th minute, but they failed to find Maguire with the final pass, Two minutes later Aluko had the opportunity to run at the full back for the first time, but the Fifers managed to scramble the ball clear as it was swung across goal. Vernon then won the first corner of the match in the 10th minute after running on to a Young pass. The visitor’s defended the set play well and broke up field.

Sloan had a pot at goal from that break but failed to threaten Langfield’s goal. Aberdeen then went ahead in the 13th minute when McNamee broke wide and delivered a great near-post cross that was turned in by Maguire. A minute later Aluko played a dangerous ball for Vernon, but an awkward bounce denied the big striker. Two minutes later East Fife were forced into an early change as Durie replaced Campbell. They then won their first corner and Muir was gifted a free header, which fortunately went wide.

A second corner for the Fifers followed in the 19th minute and Langfield was forced into a fine save from McGowan as once again the Dons defending was poor. Aluko then forced a corner at the other end and Hartley fired inches over as the game opened up. Maguire went close to adding a second in the 20th minute when he collected a Hartley pass in his own half, ran the length of the pitch and forced a fine save from Brown. Three minutes later another home corner followed and Vernon poked the ball wide of the target.

The pressure eventually paid off when Maguire added a second goal in the 24th minute following good build up play by Vernon. The big striker intercepted a pass back and forced a save from Brown, but Maguire was following up to score. Aberdeen were now full of confidence and everyone was willing to have a pot at goal. Good build up play presented Young with a chance, but the effort was blocked. Then on the half hour mark Aberdeen made it 3-0 when Vernon tapped in following a great cross from Ryan Jack.

Vernon should have added a fourth in the 34th minute when he somehow managed to head another Jack cross over when it looked easier to score. Maguire and Vernon combined well again in the 42nd minute, but Vernon drilled the ball wide. The Dons were not to be denied and seconds later Maguire grabbed his hat trick when he raced forward, cut inside and drilled the ball low into the net. To be fair to the Fifers they didn’t stop trying and in the final minute of the half Langfield was forced into another fine save to maintain their clean sheet.

Aberdeen made a lively start to the second half and continued to show the hunger of the first half. Jack continued to impress and supplied another wonderful cross in the 49th minute, but Aluko was a bit slow to react. Two minutes later Pawlett replaced Aluko who looked to have picked up a knock. Langfield was forced into another save in the 52nd minute as the visitor’s continued to be positive. Jack went close to claiming the fifth when he cut inside, but watched in agony as his effort was deflected wide.

McNamee collected a caution for a professional foul in the 56th minute and on the hour mark Linn was close to pulling one back as the Dons work rate had dropped. The lull continued as Aberdeen failed to reproduce the sparkle of the first half. In the 67th minute Magennis replaced Young and he would be sure to be itching for his first Dons goal. Four minutes later Vujadinovic replaced McNamee and almost immediately Pawlett won a corner. Aberdeen failed to convert the chance and in the 75th minute another chance was wasted as Pawlett and Vernon squandered chances.

Pawlett won another corner in the 78th minute but Vujadinovic was unable to convert the delivery from Hartley. Vernon finally made it 5-0 when Pawlett and Magennis combined to set the big striker up. Vernon should have completed his hat trick a minute later when Magennis set him up, but the big man screwed the ball over from close range. Another corner followed in the 85th minute, but once again Vujadinovic headed wide. Seconds later Vernon set up Magennis and despite a great shot the ball went inches wide. Vernon was denied his hat trick in injury time when Brown made a terrific save when he looked sure to score. There was a sting in the tail seconds later as Magennis rounded the keeper before rolling the ball into the net to make it 6-0.

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