EBBE Skovdahl got his managerial reign off to a positive start as Aberdeen recorded a comprehensive victory over Montrose in last night's friendly at Links Park.

The Dane had genuine cause for optimism after watching

his side cruise into a four-goal lead after only 25 minutes despite the absence of first-team regulars Eoin Jess, Robbie

Winters, and Andreas Mayer through injury. Skovdahl said: ''I was very pleased with the first-half performance. Our passing and movement were very good and our finishing was excellent.''

Skovdahl took the opportunity to run the rule over fringe players like Derek Young, Mike Hart, and Jamie McAllister and the coach said: ''Jamie McAllister was particularly good in the first half, before he suffered a dead leg.''

Defender McAllister, signed from Queen of the South by former manager Paul Hegarty for #100,000, was impressive. Meanwhile, the home side's cause, was not helped by an injury to trialist Gary McGlynn with only four minutes played, the former Dundee goalkeeper being stretchered off after falling awkwardly and being replaced by substitute Fraser Fitzpatrick.

Eight minutes later, Derek Young drove the ball home from an acute angle, then McAllister set up striker Jim Hamilton for the second after17 minutes. Hamilton notched his second midway through the half before Dennis Wyness added the fourth.

Montrose - Trialist, McWilliam, Meldrum, Farnan, Paterson, Niddrie, Shand, Duffy, Taylor, O'Driscoll, Stevenson. Substitutes - Craib, Trialist, Trialist, Collie, Fitzpatrick.

Aberdeen - Esson, Hart, Anderson, Whyte, Dow, Wyness, Bernard, Kiriakov, McAllister, Young, Hamilton. Substitutes - Smith, Perry, Rutkiewicz, Pepper, Duncan, Hackie, Peat (goalkeeper).

Referee - A Thurston

qOwen Coyle snatched a winner two minutes from time for Dunfermline Athletic last nightas second division new boys Ross County made it tough going at Victoria Park for the side demoted from the Premier League.