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Aberdeen were therefore able to field a very strong line-up, with every player having tasted first-team action already this season. The exception was Michael Hart who was able to complete his first game of the season, which will have delighted the Dons management team. Jimmy Calderwood has been unable to pick his first-choice back line all season, in some cases having to radically switch formation to accomodate the only fit Dons defenders, and it may well be that he has a full squad to choose from for the first time on Saturday.
New signing Stevie Crawford also had his first run-out in a Dons shirt, and was heavily involved in the game. He had a hand in the first three Dons goals, and was generally accepted to have had a good game, offering something new to the Dons frontline.
The following match report comes courtesy of Huntly fan a_h, also seen on www.highlandleague.net
A crowd of Aberdonians and Keith fans turned out to honour Keith's greatest ever striker Derek Nicol in his Testimonial match against Aberdeen this afternoon and they were treated to an entertaining match on a fine afternoon.
The S.P.L visitors fielded what was close to a full strength eleven, but Keith can take great credit from a first half in which either side could have ended in front - and to the delight of most it ended up being Keith!
The first really good chance of the match came in the 25th minute when a teasing ball from Gary Dempsey found debutant Steven Crawford who turned Kris Niddrie before forcing Andy Shearer into a great save.
But this was far from a one-sided game, and Keith took the lead on the half-hour when referee Cammy McKay awarded a penalty when Scott Muirhead clearly pulled back Dean Donaldson.
No prizes for guessing who was first to the ball to take the spot kick, which was fired strongly past Jamie Langfield by Testimonial Man Derek Nicol.
Half Time - Keith 1 Aberdeen 0
In the opening attack of the second half, Aberdeen equalised. Stevie Crawford curled a free kick into the box and picked out Steven Lovell who had broken away from Niddrie and bulleted a header low past Shearer.
If you'd come in at half time you'd be thinking this was the Crawford show as on the hour mark he broke clear of the midfield only to be brought down right on the edge of the box. Assistant referee Derek Gray waved for the foul, and a free kick was awarded which Barry Nicholson drove through the wall and into the net past the unsighted Shearer.
Calderwood will look at this one as the one where his subs won the game. John 'Budgie' Stewart, introduced mid way through the second half, got Aberdeen's third when Crawford's across-goal cross was not cleared and turned in with a tap-in at the back post in the 66th minute.
Four minutes later there was an almost carbon copy goal when Crawford crossed to the penalty spot where Stewart raised unmarked to head home his second.
The other substitute, Jamie Smith, who had replaced Michael Hart at half-time, scored what turned out to be the winner in the 73rd minute. Starting just inside the Keith half he got past Darren Still before, with a hint of luck, past the defence before firing well past Shearer with a strike that was well worth the entry fee on it's own.
Martin Allan introduced several subs in the second half including the likes of Dod Simmers, Ally Reid and Kenny MacKenzie making it a memorable occasion for the Keith support.
It didn't stop Aberdeen trying to rack up a few more goals though, but the only real effort of note late in the game was a great free header from a corner from Scott Severin which smacked off Shearer's right hand post.
Final Score - Keith 1 Aberdeen 5
Aberdeen: Langfield, McNaughton, Muirhead, Hart, Byrne, Severin, Nicholson, Winter, Lovell, Crawford, Dempsey