Dons Weekend News Update

Last updated : 25 July 2005 By Stand Free Ed

Aberdeen played their final two pre-season games last weekend, and their next fixture will be the SPL season opener against Dundee Utd next Saturday. They faced Den Ham on Saturday followed by a trip to Hoorn on Sunday to face FC Volendam. The Dons won both games, the former 5-0 and the latter 2-1, despite lacking several first-teamers to aches and strains. However, it is believed that only Darren Mackie is unlikely to be fit in time to take on the Arabs at Tannadice next week.

Jimmy confirmed that he is not taking his interest in trialists Noel Mendy and Rob Haveman any further but both players stayed on over the weekend to keep up their match fitness and help bolster the Dons depeleted squad.

Aberdeen had a convincing victory over Third Division amateur side Den Ham on Saturday. John 'Budgie' Stewart and Andrew Considine got two goals each and Ricky Foster got the other.

The Dons squad was down to the bare bones, so much so that Jimmy Calderwood had to call up his son, Scott, who was given permission by his club to help out his old man.

Jimmy Calderwood seemed to be trying out defensive midfield options, which is an area that will cause concern to Dons fans, particularly if Scott Severin continues to have niggling injuries that keep him out of the first-team for long spells. Jimmy tried out Andrew Considine and Richie Byrne there in this game, and also has young Andrew Macaulay that will eventually be able to play in that position.

Both first half goals, from Stewart and Considine, were headers, and the second half saw Budgie make it three with a cool finish, Foster score a great solo effort and Andrew Considine wrap up the scoring with another header.

Aberdeen: Preece, Foster, Muirhead, Calderwood (Diamond), Considine, Winter, Macaulay, Dempsey, Stewart, Adams (Mendy), Clark (Byrne)

In the harder of the two games, the Dons showed some of the character and spirit alluded to last season as they came from a goal down to beat FC Volendam. Chris Clark equalised for the Dons and Barry Nicholson hit a great winner. This is a good sign, as the Dons will be looking for more goals to come from the midfield in the coming season.

Jimmy Calderwood was delighted with the win, coming as it did against a good Dutch side, plus the fact he was able to field a far stronger side that may well give clues to the starting line-up for the crunch SPL opener.

Midfield lynchpin and Stand Free Player of the Year Scott Severin played his first 90 minutes of the pre-season in this game, and this could be the most vital part of the whole tour.

Stand Free Young Player of the Year Zander Diamond also played a full 90 after coming on as a sub in the previous game. There was no sign of Russell Anderson and Michael Hart however, and the two ultra-consistent defenders will face a race against time in order to be fit for the United game.

Aberdeen: Esson (Langfield), Foster, Byrne, Severin, Diamond, Clark (Considine), Nicholson, Winter (Calderwood), Stewart (Dempsey), Smith, Muirhead