Aberdeen safely made it through their SSE Scottish Cup first round tie with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Morton at Notre Dame High School.

The Dons started the game on the front foot with Kelly Forrest bring a good save from Katie Campbell in the Morton goal after getting on the end of Lauren Gordon’s sixth-minute free-kick.

Francesca Ogilvie then shot wide after getting on the end of a Bayley Hutchison pass just a few minutes later, but the Dons didn’t have to wait long to break the deadlock.

Thirteen minutes were on the clock when Eilidh Shore’s corner from the left was cleared back out to her. Shore then sent a cross into the front post area where OGILVIE was lurking to fire a low shot past Campbell to put the Dons in front.

It was almost two just three minutes later as Gordon’s powerful long-range effort was well parried by the Morton keeper. Johan Fraser picked up the rebound and squared for Shore who shot just wide.

Aberdeen continued to dominate possession as the half wore on and Gordon came within inches of a second after 35-minutes. Shore was fouled almost 30-yards from goal and Gordon’s well struck free-kick clipped the top of the Morton crossbar.

The second goal arrived just two minutes later as the visitors got the reward that their dominance deserved. Gordon played Ogilvie in down the right wing and she made her way to the by-line with a powerful run. Ogilvie then fired the ball across goal and Campbell failed to gather it and Hutchison was in the right place to make it 2-0.

The home-side had to wait until the 45th minute for their first shot on target with Caitlin McKee trying her luck from distance, the shot never troubled Anna Blanchard in the Aberdeen goal though as the Reds went in two up at the interval.

HT: Morton-0-2 Aberdeen

The Dons made a bright start to the second-half as they looked to finish the game off. Fraser got on the end of an Ogilvie cross in the opening minute of the half but she couldn’t find a way past Campbell.

Hutchison saw a long-range effort fly wide before Shore headed another Ogilvie cross just wide of the post. Gordon then tested the keeper from distance after being set up by Shore on the edge of the Morton penalty area.

Amy Phillips brought out a great save from Campbell as she dived to tip the ball past the post before substitute Chloe Gover shot over the bar after a neat turn just outside the area.

Aberdeen finally added a third after 70-minutes as captain Kelly Forrest got herself on the scoresheet. Fraser had been causing Morton problems down the right throughout the second half and more good work from her created space for a cross. Fraser’s ball into the middle was slightly behind FORREST but the defender gave the keeper no chance with a powerful header into the top corner.

It was 4-0 just two minutes later and again Fraser had a big hand in the goal. After gathering the ball out on the right-wing, Fraser sent in a dangerous cross to the back post where SHORE was waiting to head home from close range.

The goal was no more than the Dons deserved for all the possession that they had enjoyed and it could have been more if they had taken more of the chances which they had created.

Aberdeen could have made it five before the end of match as they continue to attack despite their comfortable lead. Shore had a shot from distance saved by Campbell but nobody was there in a red shirt to benefit from the rebound off the keeper.

Campbell used her legs to keep out a Gover shot and in stoppage time Carrie Doig shot wide as she got on the end of Ogilvie’s deep corner.

The Dons couldn’t score a fifth but their comfortable 4-0 win means they head back to Aberdeen with a place in the Scottish Cup second round draw.

FT: Morton 0-4 Aberdeen

ABERDEEN

Anna BLANCHARD
Sophie BROWN (Deirdre O’RIORDAN 56mins)
Louise PROCTOR (Chloe GOVER 56mins)
Kelly FORREST(c)
Carrie DOIG
Francesca OGILVIE
Eilidh SHORE
Bayley HUTCHISON
Lauren GORDON (Sophie JAMIESON 68mins)
Johan FRASER
Amy PHILLIPS (Natasha BRUCE 68mins)