Aberdeen progressed to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a convincing victory over Forfar Athletic.

The Scottish Premier League side moved into the lead when Scott Vernon volleyed into the net on 31 minutes.

Mohamed Chalali doubled the Dons' advantage before the break and Rory Fallon headed the visitors' third in the 71st minute.

Mitch Megginson rounded Forfar goalkeeper Greg Paterson to complete the scoring late on.

Having been knocked out of the Scottish League Cup by East Fife earlier this season, Aberdeen were eager to avoid another defeat at the hands of Second Division opposition.

Paterson blocked a low Ryan Jack drive in the opening minutes before the Dons suffered an injury blow, Peter Pawlett limping off to be replaced by Chris Clark.

A Rory McArdle header beat Paterson and squirmed over the line but the offside flag ensured the score remained goalless.

And Aberdeen were forced into a second substitution when Isaac Osbourne hobbled off and had his place taken by Fallon.

Forfar threatened when Greg Ross fired just wide at the near post.

But Craig Brown's side soon moved into the lead when Kari Arnason, captaining the side following Richard Foster's departure, launched a long throw-in into the danger area and Vernon connected well to score.

And, 10 minutes later, Chalali seized upon an error by Forfar skipper Marc McCulloch and finished well past Paterson.

Fallon headed off target from a Fraser Fyvie corner minutes into the second half and the New Zealander then set up Chalali for a shot that was well saved by Paterson.

Dons keeper Jason Brown had to be alert to stop Chris Templeman's volley as the hosts tried to claw their way back into the tie.

But their chances were all but extinguished when Vernon's cross was flicked on by Chalali and Fallon's diving header beat Paterson.

Megginson came on for Chalali and latched on to a Jack header before evading Paterson and claiming the fourth and final goal six minutes from the end.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Forfar

  • 01 Paterson
  • 02 Ross (Byers - 79' )
  • 03 Campbell Booked
  • 04 McCulloch
  • 05 Tulloch
  • 06 Mowat (Motion - 79' )
  • 08 Wilson
  • 07 Fotheringham Booked
  • 09 Templeman (Gibson - 79' )
  • 10 Campbell
  • 11 Hilson

Substitutes

  • 21 Mordente
  • 12 Byers
  • 14 Motion
  • 16 Ried
  • 15 Gibson

Aberdeen

  • 32 Brown
  • 02 McArdle
  • 03 Reynolds
  • 13 Robertson
  • 11 Arnason
  • 15 Pawlett (Clark - 14' )
  • 16 Osbourne (Fallon - 19' )
  • 17 Fyvie
  • 22 Jack
  • 09 Vernon
  • 18 Chalali (Megginson - 77' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Langfield
  • 07 Clark
  • 14 Fallon
  • 21 Magennis
  • 23 Megginson
Ref: Colvin
Att: 3,747

Match Stats

Shots

8 12

On target

2 8

Corners

1 4

Fouls

5 7

Live Text Commentary

92:00 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +0:34

Effort from long range by Craig Wilson goes wide of the left-hand upright.

87:44

Rory Fallon concedes a free kick for a foul on Iain Campbell. Iain Campbell restarts play with the free kick.

86:51

Fraser Fyvie is caught offside. Greg Paterson takes the free kick.

85:49

Shot by Kevin Byers from 20 yards. Save by Jason Brown.

83:54

Assist by Ryan Jack.

83:54 Goal scored

Goal - Mitchel Megginson - Forfar 0 - 4 Aberdeen Mitchel Megginson grabs a goal from the edge of the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Forfar 0-4 Aberdeen.

81:42

Unfair challenge on Stephen Tulloch by Rory Fallon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Iain Campbell.

78:29 Substitution

Substitution Graham Gibson replaces Christopher Templeman.

78:29 Substitution

Substitution David Mowat leaves the field to be replaced by Kevin Motion.

78:29 Substitution

Substitution Greg Ross goes off and Kevin Byers comes on.

77:21

Mitchel Megginson produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

76:07 Substitution

Substitution Mitchel Megginson replaces Mohamed Chalali.

74:20

Ryan Jack produces a cross.

73:50

The ball is crossed by Ryan Jack, clearance by Mark McCulloch.

72:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Jack on Iain Campbell. Free kick taken by Greg Paterson.

72:11 Booking

Booking Martyn Fotheringham goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

70:38

Assist on the goal came from Scott Vernon.

70:38 Goal scored

Goal - Rory Fallon - Forfar 0 - 3 Aberdeen Rory Fallon finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the box. Forfar 0-3 Aberdeen.

70:09

Clark Robertson delivers the ball, clearance made by Stephen Tulloch.

68:30

Rory Fallon delivers the ball, clearance made by Iain Campbell.

63:55 Booking

Booking Iain Campbell receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

63:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Iain Campbell on Rory Fallon. Free kick taken by Chris Clark.

62:36

A cross is delivered by Greg Ross.

61:43

Volleyed left-footed shot by Christopher Templeman. Save by Jason Brown.

58:12

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Iain Campbell, Ryan Jack manages to make a clearance.

56:26

The ball is sent over by Craig Wilson, clearance by Kari Arnason.

55:38

Shot by Kari Arnason. Greg Paterson makes a comfortable save.

55:05

Corner from the right by-line taken by Fraser Fyvie, Christopher Templeman makes a clearance.

54:27

The referee blows for offside. Rory McArdle takes the direct free kick.

53:37

Martyn Fotheringham produces a cross, Ross Campbell produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

52:05

A cross is delivered by Clark Robertson, Iain Campbell makes a clearance.

47:51

Rory Fallon has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Inswinging corner taken by Fraser Fyvie from the left by-line, save by Greg Paterson. Greg Paterson makes a save.

45:43

Rory Fallon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Christopher Templeman. Strike on goal comes in from Martyn Fotheringham from the free kick.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:25 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

44:42

Ryan Jack produces a drilled right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

44:23

Chris Clark sends in a cross, Mark McCulloch manages to make a clearance.

42:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Iain Campbell on Chris Clark. Rory McArdle takes the direct free kick.

40:28

Assist by Jason Brown.

40:28 Goal scored

Goal - Mohamed Chalali - Forfar 0 - 2 Aberdeen Mohamed Chalali finds the back of the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Forfar 0-2 Aberdeen.

39:44

Foul by Fraser Fyvie on Christopher Templeman, free kick awarded. Mark McCulloch takes the free kick.

36:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Christopher Templeman by Mark Reynolds. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Mark McCulloch, clearance made by Rory Fallon.

34:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Greg Ross on Mohamed Chalali. Fraser Fyvie takes the direct free kick.

32:55

A cross is delivered by Ryan Jack, clearance made by Mark McCulloch.

30:29

Clark Robertson provided the assist for the goal.

30:29 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Vernon - Forfar 0 - 1 Aberdeen Scott Vernon grabs a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Forfar 0-1 Aberdeen.

28:41

Effort on goal by Christopher Templeman from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

28:14

Dale Hilson produces a cross, Shot from close range by Greg Ross misses to the left of the target.

27:22

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Clark from the right by-line, clearance made by Iain Campbell.

26:30

Greg Ross gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fraser Fyvie. Mark Reynolds restarts play with the free kick.

23:04

Mohamed Chalali sends in a cross.

21:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark McCulloch by Clark Robertson. Mark McCulloch restarts play with the free kick.

20:37

Kari Arnason produces a cross, Mark McCulloch manages to make a clearance.

17:42 Substitution

Substitution (Aberdeen) makes a substitution, with Rory Fallon coming on for Isaac Osbourne.

17:42

Fraser Fyvie takes a shot from a long way out clearing the bar.

17:24

The official flags Rory McArdle offside. Free kick taken by Greg Paterson.

16:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Fraser Fyvie by Martyn Fotheringham. Fraser Fyvie delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing.

15:21

Drilled right-footed shot by Ryan Jack. Blocked by Iain Campbell.

13:22 Substitution

Substitution Chris Clark joins the action as a substitute, replacing Peter Pawlett.

10:53

Mohamed Chalali crosses the ball.

7:34

The offside flag is raised against Fraser Fyvie. Greg Paterson takes the free kick.

5:31

The referee blows for offside against Mohamed Chalali. Direct free kick taken by Iain Campbell.

4:51

The offside flag is raised against Peter Pawlett. Mark McCulloch takes the direct free kick.

3:24

Scott Vernon has an effort at goal. Save by Greg Paterson.

2:14

Shot by Ryan Jack. Fraser Fyvie takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Stephen Tulloch. Greg Paterson makes a save.

2:00

The ball is delivered by Clark Robertson, blocked by Greg Ross.

0:45

Shot from outside the box by Martyn Fotheringham misses to the left of the goal.

0:00

The match begins.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association