After a minute's applause to the memory of Jimmy Johnstone, Livingston got this match under way. Smith almost set up Crawford in the second minute with a defence splitting pass that was just too heavy for the forward. Two minutes later Aberdeen won the first corner after Lovell had been released on the left. Diamond's header was deflected for a second corner before Anderson steered the ball wide. Livi ventured forward in the 8th minute but Aberdeen scrambled the ball clear. Then two minutes later a free kick on the left caused the Dons all sorts of problems and ended with Strong hooking the ball wide.

At the other end the Livi defence was at sixes sevens but recovered as Lovell looked to shoot from twelve yards. Aberdeen won their third corner of the match and it produced the opening goal when Snoyl played it short to Smith. He in turn whipped in a great cross and Russell Anderson headed unchallenged past McKenzie. Anderson was then called into action at the other end with a couple of well-timed challenges to ensure that there was no quick response from Livi. The visitor's then had the ball in the net after 25 minutes but Brittain was clearly offside.

Smith's next effort forced a save from McKenzie in the 38th minute with a low drive before Livingston went close two minutes later. Langfield should have won a free kick swung in from the right but the keeper missed it and Dorado headed wide. With two minutes of the half remaining Aberdeen won a free kick wide left but Smith delivered the ball straight into the arms of Roddie McKenzie. Smith had another opportunity a minute but didn't connect properly. Then in the final minute Livi went close when MacKay lobbed the ball over Langfield and crashed the ball off the bar.

It was Livi who had the better start to the second half and they should have levelled in the 50th minute when Walker was inches from connecting with a cross six yards out. Noel Whelan then made an appearance in the 53rd minute as the visitor's looked to fight back. It was Aberdeen who looked more likely however as a couple of corners put Livi under pressure. Dorado then collected the first yellow card in the 57th minute for a cynical challenge on Lovell. The same player was lucky not to see red two minutes later when he clearly pulled Crawford back as he went in on goal. Unbelievably the referee allowed play to continue and his assistant who was only yards away didn't want to know.

Snoyl rolled it to Dempsey but his shot was blocked on the edge of the box and two minutes later McNaughton had another fierce shot blocked as they looked to kill off Livi. A Snoyl free kick produced the Dons 11th corner of the afternoon then seconds later McKenzie had to make a great save to prevent an own goal and concede the 12th corner. From the set play the keeper produced another great stop from Severin before Snoyl collected the ball and fired it into the net for his first goal for the club.

		Dons	Livi
Goal Attempts		8	5
On Target		5	0
Corners		11	1
Possession		53%	47%