Pole Dancer Does Trick

Last updated : 15 July 2005 By Stand Free Ed

When I was a lad in Boys League football, it was deemed sporting to call a halt to a game when the score reached 9-0. Tonight, Michael Stephen must have been praying for that early bath in his testimonial game after the Dons romped to a similar scoreline after 63 minutes of a blistering encounter at Bellslea.

Lining up in what seemed a basic 4-4-2, with Barry Nicholson in a more reserved right-back role, it quickly became apparent that Jimmy Calderwood's team were in no mood to accommodate Fraserburgh's idea of a pre-season glamour game, with the Dons adapting to 2-4-4 at every given opportunity. With Hart and Anderson back marshalling the defence and young midfielder Kyle Macauley given a starting opportunity in front of them, Aberdeen quickly moved through the gears up front with immediate effect. The pace of both Mackie and Wlodarczyk in attack caused problems for the Broch rearguard from the start, ably supported by fine wing play from Jamie Smith on the right and Scott Muirhead on the left.

It came as no surprise that Mackie (2) and Wlodarczyk had the dons 3-0 up by the half hour, showing good interplay and finishing ability, before Muirhead and Jamie Winter popped up to take the tally to five before half time. Winter in particular showed great vision and power to take the keeper by surprise at his near post with a swerving drive from 20 yards.

With no changes at half time the Dons continued their form of the first half with both Mackie and Wlodarczyk completing their hat-tricks by the 63rd minute. The management then decided to implement a number of changes, with the popular Pole being replaced by Derek Adams to a rapturous round of applause. The autograph hunters at pitchside certainly made their appreciation of his efforts over the past two games well known and it would be a travesty if he was not signed up to an increasingly exciting Dons line-up. His replacement, however soon made his presence felt, with a finely taken header from 10 yards out after more encouraging wing play from Muirhead, to wrap up the scoring at an impressive nine.

Increasing changes by the two Jimmys saw play become fragmented, although glimpses of Barry Nicholson in a new central midfield role showed exactly why the Dons board splashed out on £250,000 to land the Scotland international, as he surprisingly displayed supreme confidence, passing ability and touch not expected this early in the season, and after serious injury. Encouraging performances from Jamie Smith on the right wing and Kyle Macauley capped the evening perfectly, highlighting the developing progression into the next stage of Jimmy Calderwood's Dons revolution.

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