Aberdeen created the first opening in the 3rd minute when a passage of good passing play found Winters wide left. Dadi met his cross, but his effort went harmlessly over the top. Tiernan was harshly dealt with in the 5th minute when he was unbelievably yellow carded for his first offence. Winters then created another opening in the 9th minute when his angled ball just eluded Dadi then slipped inches wide of Marshall's far post.

Winters finally had the ball in the net in the 36th minute after a tremendous run by McNaughton. As the youngster was brought down on the edge of the box he delivered a pass to Winters and as the striker calmly slotted the ball beyond Marshall, the Main Stand linesman flagged for a tight offside decision, but chose to ignore the initial offence. The visitors almost stole the lead in the final minute when Boyd hit the post from close range. Seconds later Derek Young had a powerful header saved by Marshall.

Kilmarnock were sensationally awarded a penalty in the 50th minute courtesy of the Main Stand linesman who was doing little to endear himself to the home crowd. Dargo fell too easily as Kjaer went down to challenge. The referee then appeared to award a corner kick before consulting with his linesman, and then changing his decision. Johnson made no mistake with the kick and drilled the ball beyond Kjaer.

The visitors went close two minutes later when Dargo cashed in on a defensive mix up. Fortunately for the Dons his shot went wide of the target. Tempers were getting frayed and referee Toner finally produced a series of yellow cards. Tommy Johnson was lucky to stay on the park in the 72nd minute when 30 seconds after receiving a yellow card, he took a kick at McNaughton that was missed by Toner, and more surprisingly, the previously eagle-eyed assistant on the Main Stand side. Neither side had the guile to find that elusive winner and both had to settle for a share of the points.