Aberdeen hit high five but Goodwin’s hungry for more
Manager wanted no mercy in second half but admits he’s delighted with display at Stirling
J0 5
IM GOODWIN was still left hungry for his side to score more goals despite all but sealing Premier Spirts Cup qualification with a thumping victory over Stirling Albion.
The Pittodrie boss included six of his seven summer signings in his matchday squad for the 5-0 triumph over League Two Albion – with Bojan Miovski the only new boy missing the match.
Aberdeen’s new-look line-up looked slick in the routine win, but Goodwin after the match revealed he was desperate for more goals after the break after a breathless first 45 minutes.
He explained: “I’m really pleased. I thought the opening 45 minutes was brilliant.
“It was a professional approach with a good urgency and tempo in the build-up play.
“And yes, some really good goals within that.
“I’m a little bit disappointed in the second 45 minutes that we didn’t manage to score another two or three goals, although we hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions.
“I think it was only natural that the tempo of the game decreased a little bit. I think as a player, subconsciously, you do come off it and save the legs.
“We tried to keep pushing them and to remind them that we needed the match fitness for the preparation for the league campaign.
“But I can’t be too hard on them. Five good goals, a clean sheet – that’s three in three games, albeit we know the level of opposition without being disrespectful to part time teams, but people would have expected us to win in the manner we did.
“But the players deserve all the credit for their attitude and approach.”
The Dons raced into an early lead with just 12 minutes on the clock when Vincente Besuijen and Ross McCrorie combined with a clever one-two to send the Dutchman clear into the box.
The Aberdeen midfielder looked ready to deliver into the centre but he was instead afforded the time and space to take aim himself to slam low into the bottom corner courtesy of a deflection off of Stirling skipper Paul McLean who had thrown himself in a desperate attempt to block.
Ten minutes later and Goodwin’s men survived an early scare as Kelle Roos misjudged a floated ball in the box which was headed goalwards by Adam
Cummins before Dale Carrick managed a touch only for
Jonny Hayes to hack clear off the line.
Minutes later and Aberdeen made their hosts pay with Hayes again instrumental albeit this time at the other end of the park. Liam Scales played a perfectly weighted ball to the winger who was unselfish to square to Christian Ramirez for a simple finish.
A water break threatened to ruin momentum, but it proved not to be the case with the Dons extending their advantage further on the half-hour. Matty Kennedy showed quick feet to drive towards the box before he was felled. The forward took the resulting free-kick and curled expertly into the top corner.
Five minutes from the break and Aberdeen were celebrating again with Ross McCrorie adding his name to the scoresheet. Hayes again showed his quality to latch onto a defence-splitting Scales ball and cut back for McCrorie to turn home.
And it was five almost immediately after the restart. Hayes would again lay the ball on a plate for Ramirez but
the striker fluffed his shot, however Besuijen was on hand to hammer home and spare the American’s blushes.
Besuijen should’ve completed a hat-trick 12 minutes into the second-half but was left desperately unfortunate. The creative playmaker was again teed up by Hayes but rattled the post with an effort from close range.
Lopes was handed his Aberdeen debut in the secondhalf and was another cursing his luck not to join in on the scoring action.
On 67 minutes he was presented a golden chance to open his account but couldn’t connect with the ball on the first attempt before rattling the bar with his second effort.
Lopes was again inches away from a debut strike moments later when he burst clear and flicked goalwards but was denied by a strong hand from Blair Currie.
Stirling boss Darren
Young commented: “We knew it was going to be hard. They showed their quality and almost every shot they had went in.
“Half-time comes round and it’s just damage limitation.
But it was just a big step up in class.”