In-form Aberdeen kept up their scorching start to the season as they put one foot in the last 16.
The sun was belting down but it was goals raining down on Stirling in a first-half salvo with Vicente Besuijen helping himself to a double. Jim Goodwin ’s latest recruit Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes was thrown on at half time but despite his best efforts the new signing couldn’t grab a debut goal. But Binos were already out for a Duk as the Dons threatened to run up a cricket score with Christian Ramirez, Matty Kennedy and Ross McCrorie adding to Besuijen’s brace. Goodwin said: “The opening 45 minutes was brilliant. It was a professional approach with a good urgency and tempo in the build-up play in the top end of the pitch. And yes some really good goals within that.
“I’m a little disappointed in the second 45 minutes we didn’t manage to score another two or three goals, although we hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions. Lopes showed a little bit of everything. I can’t be too critical of him. He’s a mile off it fitness wise but we knew that when we brought him in.”
The Dons stormed ahead after 11 minutes through Besuijen. McCrorie was fouled as he strode forward but the ball broke to the Dutchman who cut inside and drilled a low shot beyond Blair Currie. In their only blip, the Dons almost gifted Stirling an equaliser when Kelle Ross flapped at a corner and Dale Carrick’s hooked effort was bundled off the line by Hayes.
Liam Scales split the Binos’ defence with an inch-perfect pass into Jonny Hayes whose first-time cross fell perfectly for Ramirez to hammer home.
Kennedy put the Dons on easy street in the 31st minute when he swept home a free-kick from 23 yards after he’d been fouled by Cameron Clark.
McCrorie added No.5, netting a Hayes cutback before Besuijen made it 5-0 on half-time, curling home from 16 yards from another Hayes cutback.
Lopes was introduced but it was Besuijen who almost grabbed his hat-trick when he smacked the inside of the post.
Lopes thought his big moment had arrived in 67 when he swivelled six yards out but his shot deflected onto the bar and he was then denied by Currie when he raced through one-on-one.
Stirling boss Darren Young said: “We knew it was going to be hard. We tried to get a clean sheet in the second half and managed that. But it was a big step up in class.”
The Dons just need a draw from Sunday’s clash with Raith at Pittodrie to qualify.
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