Aberdeen6–0Dumbarton

Six second-half goals saw Dumbarton’s League Cup campaign end with a whimper.

After an even first-half, Jack MacKenzie’s opener seconds in the second period opened the floodgates for the rampant Dons.

And manager Stevie Farrell admitted the early goal was a turning point.

He said: “It was a game of two halves for us and Aberdeen.

“I was delighted with us at half-time, and with a wee bit more composure we could’ve nicked a goal at the other end.

“We spoke about the first 10 minutes of the second-half being crucial. And we didn’t deal with that spell, that’s the biggest disappointment for me.

“When you play against the better teams you have to be mentally tough to see out periods of the game, and we should’ve seen that out better.”

Boss Farrell continued to rotate his squad during the League Cup as Kalvin Orsi, Jinky Hilton and Craig McGuffie were rested - with a knock ruling out David Wilson.

Aron Lynas, Ryan Blair, Michael Ruth and the free-from-suspension Tony Wallace came into the side.

In glorious sunshine the first-half was a slow-burner, with few opportunities at either end.

Typically industrious play from Michael Ruth won Sons an early corner, but Ryan Blair’s driven delivery was flicked off Matty Shiels’ head.

Ester Sokler then almost caught out Sons’ offside trap, but the ball skipped off the surface and into the arms of Brett Long.

As the half moved into the final minutes, and with both keeper’s spectators, it burst into life.

First a brilliant Long save denied Sokler after he had burst on goal, with Jamie McGrath’s rebound hooked off the line.

Sons hit back, Carlo Pignatiello sent Finlay Gray free down the right; his cross was overhit but retrieved by Michael Ruth who found Matty Shiels in space in the area. The left-back slipped Pignatiello in on goal and he calmly rolled beyond Dons keeper Dimitar Mitov - only for the assistant’s flag to cut short any celebrations.

That looked to spark the hosts into life, as they pushed hard for an opener.

Jack MacKenzie got free of a challenge and raced in one-on-one with Long, but the Northern Irishman stood tall to block the defender’s effort - before touching Jamie McGrath’s rebound wide.

Shayden Morris was next to threaten as he robbed Tony Wallace of possession in the box and drilled beyond Long, but Aron Lynas appeared from nowhere to hook the ball off the line.

With rain now lashing down, and words from new boss Jimmy Thelin ringing in their ears, Aberdeen wasted no time finding a breakthrough in the second-half.

Gavin Molloy’s long ball sent Jack MacKenzie in behind Aron Lynas, and he drilled low beyond Long and into the bottom corner.

Less than 120 seconds after the interval the hosts added a quickfire second.

Sons failed to fully clear a cross with red shirts swarming the ball and Ester Sokler arrowing across Long from a tight angle.

It was 3-0 on the hour mark.

Substitute Kalvin Orsi was caught in possession on the edge of his own box by Jack MacKenzie, who rolled across goal for Sokler to tap in from six yards.

Following a raft of changes for both sides it should’ve been 4-0 as Peter Ambrose was sent in on goal, but he didn’t ever look comfortable and scuffed wide.

Long then reacted well to deny Ryan Duncan from close range before Pape Habib Gaye stung the Sons keeper’s palms from the edge of the box, whilst he stayed tall to deny Graeme Shinnie.

However their resolve was eventually broken again six minutes from the end as Ambrose outmuscled Cammy Clark and stroked into the net.

Just as with their first goal, the Dons then netted again with 60 seconds as James McGarry cut beyond Lynas and smashed home.

And a sixth arrived with the final kick - or head - of the ball as Slobodan Rubezic nodded in Shinnie’s corner.