Aberdeen thrashed NSi Runavik 6-0 to book their place in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
A Ryan Hedges hat-trick and goals from Jonny Hayes, Curtis Main and Lewis Ferguson gave the Dons a comfortable win against the Faroese outfit at Pittodrie with the scoreline securing the biggest European win for Derek McInnes of his Dons tenure.
Marley Watkins made his European debut alongside Curtis Main, who was making his first start of the season, while Dylan McGeouch also came into the starting 11 for the first time in the new campaign, replacing the suspended Funso Ojo in midfield.
Ash Taylor and Shay Logan both missed out, however, and McInnes switched to a 3-5-2 formation with Andy Considine returning from suspension to join Ross McCrorie and Scott McKenna in the three-man defence.
Aberdeen were strong favourites when the draw was made and the Dons showed why as they eased into a 2-0 lead by the break.
It took until the 36th minute for the home side to break the deadlock, but it was Lewis Ferguson who got the all-important goal as he rose to head Considine’s cross past Tordue Thomsen in the Runavik goal.
Aberdeen had all but put the tie beyond the visitors before the interval when Main netted from close range after Scott Wright’s low cross found him unmarked at the back post.
Ryan Hedges replaced Main for the second half and he made it 3-0 in the 50th minute when he converted a Jonny Hayes cross.
Hedges made it 4-0 on the hour mark with a low drive, but it was Hayes who scored the best when he beat Thomsen with a terrific 22-yard shot which flew past the hapless Faroese goalkeeper to make it five.
But the Dons still had time for one more and it was Hedges who got it, the Wales international netting his hat-trick from the spot after Ferguson had been fouled.
