Dons open up with impressive win
The Dons opened their Group A campaign in style with an emphatic victory over north rivals Caley Thistle at King’s College on the opening morning of this year’s Denis Law Soccer Tournament.
Inverness started strongly with striker Chris Blackett’s 4th minute effort just going wide of the post before the Dons immediately broke upfield to fire the opener. Scott Wright brought the ball down before releasing Michael Jones on the left. The winger powered forward before crossing for WRIGHT, who prodded the ball home from six yards.
Dons keeper Craig Burns picked up a rib injury in a collision with Blackett but was able to continue but was helpless after twenty minutes when the same player beat him with a low shot, only to see the ball comeback off the upright before being cleared.
Jamie Wilson hit a shot from distance that wasn’t far away before the Highlanders levelled from the spot in the 34th minute after a clumsy challenge on Stephen Rennis by full back Lewis Dunbar. BLACKETT sent Burns the wrong way with the resultant penalty.
Two minutes later, Aberdeen restored the lead when the impressive Michael JONES fired home from an acute angle, his fierce effort giving Daniel Hoban no chance.
Two minutes after the restart JONES made it 3-1 with a great turn and shot and six minutes later a Dunbar cross was slotted home by WRIGHT before Kalvin ORSI evaded a Lewis Grant challenge and the ball looped into net to put the game well out of Caley’s reach.
With seven minutes remaining, the Dons failed to clear a corner kick properly and substitute Alastair VELZIAN took full advantage with a well taken effort to reduce the advantage.
A late flurry saw Aberdeen score twice more to put a somewhat flattering scoreline on proceedings. In 76 minutes a Wright cross took a deflection off defender Struan McARTHUR and shortly afterwards WRIGHT completed his hat-trick with a wonderful finish after being put clear by his skipper Michael Kelly.
Team: Burns, (Tait 41), Dunbar, Harvie (Norris 58), Kelly, Petrie, Orsi (Buglass 58), Henry, Wright, Ross (Craig 61), Jones (Gibb 61), Manson.
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