A healthy crowd of 1395 endured sluggish play and a game riddled with mistakes as both teams, still in the early stages of preparation for the new season, struggled to string together any cogent, flowing moves.
A stop-start game was given a boost after 23 minutes when the first goal sparked some excitement among the restless fans. Steven Tosh’s incisive pass forward was thrusted upon by Ricky Foster, who beat Hugh Dickson and shrugged off Paul Kaczan’s challenge before coolly side-footing past ‘keeper Keiron Renton from 20 yards.
Aberdeen’s Chris Clark attempted to double the visitors’ lead with a speculative half-volley, but it was inches too high to trouble Renton.
Clark turned defender just before half-time as he stood guard on the post to clear a goalbound Kaczan header, but despite a half-hearted Elgin resurgence it was Aberdeen who grabbed the next goal.
The impressive Darren Mackie doubled the Dons’ lead after half time by easily rounding Renton and slotting the ball past Kaczan and inside the near post from a slight angle.
Minutes later, controversy ensued as Mackie was floored by Elgin ‘keeper Renton’s cumbersome lunge. As his assistant raised the flag for offside, the referee clearly indicated that an Elgin free-kick was the result of the penalty box melee, however he quickly changed his mind and awarded a penalty. Derek Adams’ first 12-yard effort was saved by Renton, but he stole in to net the rebound and put the outcome beyond any doubt.
City
1. Keiron Renton, 2. Stuart Cumming, 3. Allan Dempsie, 4. Paul Kaczan, 5. Hugh Dickson, 6. Jamie McKenzie, 7. Martin Harty 8. Adam Nelson, 9. Alexander Bone, 10. Phil Reid, 11. Stephen Black
Subs: 12. Fraser Bremner, 14. Andy Roddie, 15. Matthew Noble, 16. Garry Wood, GK. Martin Pirie.
Dons
1. Ryan Esson, 2. Kevin McNaughton, 3. Scott Morrison, 4. Steven Tosh, 5. Zander Diamond, 6. Michael Hart, 7. Chris Clark, 8. Richard Foster, 9. Darren Mackie, 10. Derek Adams, 11. Scott Muirhead
Subs: 12. Greg Kelly, 14. Richard Buckley, 15. Andrew Bagshaw, 16. Andrew Considine