Chris Maguire was on target to fire Aberdeen into the third-round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup at the expense of a spirited Ayr United side.
Maguire gave the Dons the lead after 40 minutes at Somerset Park.
Defender Charlie Mulgrew sent in a superb pass to Maguire, and with the Ayr defence appealing in vain for offside, he slid the ball into the net.
The hosts pressed unsuccessfully for an equaliser after the break as Aberdeen held on for victory.
Aberdeen striker Tommy Wright collected a through ball from Mulgrew in the final minute, but he failed to double the Dons' advantage.
Ayr United manager Brian Reid:
"Aberdeen are a quality side and we knew we had to match them for effort and work-rate and I thought we did that.
"It was a good test for the players and I told them to go out and enjoy it. There was a good atmosphere and a good crowd and our fans got behind us.
"I think we stopped them playing a lot of their stuff. If we had stood off and watched them, they would have punished us.
"I was pleased with the performance, but unfortunately we are out."
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood:
"We've got virtually a new team and they want to do so well they are playing 100 miles per hour.
"They've got to settle down and play the ball about and they did that towards the end. It was a bit hectic, but we created a few chances, especially in the second half.
"We've not really got a settled side at the moment, but we are battling away and we are getting better all the time.
"We can play better than that. It's about digging results out at the moment and we are certainly doing that after the disappointment on the first day."
Ayr: Grindlay, Dempsie, Easton, Walker, Campbell, Stevenson, Borris, Aitken, Prunty, Williams (Gormley 76), Keenan. Subs Not Used: Stewart, Agnew, McGowan, McLeod.
Booked: Dempsie.
Aberdeen: Bossu, Foster, Mulgrew, Considine, Mair, Jamie Smith, Kerr, McDonald, Young, Maguire (Wright 77), Mackie (De Visscher 81). Subs Not Used: Langfield, Duff, Paton.
Goals: Maguire 40.
Att: 2,979
Ref: B Winter
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