Aberdeen started positively with both Prunty and Foster having early half chances as the Dons took the game to the home side. This was followed by a wild effort from Sheerin in the 4th minute, which failed to test the keeper. Two minutes later an excellent pass from Sheerin released Muirhead and he did well to beat Rubio, but there was no support in the middle as he delivered the cross. Livingston then carved out their first chance seconds later when Lilley headed over when he really should have found the target.

In the 11th minute Andrews conceded a free kick and Sheerin quickly tapped the ball to David Zdrilic. The Aussie hit it firmly enough, but the effort was always rising and sailed over the bar. Two minutes later Preece prevented the Dons from going behind when good passing play set O'Brien up one-on-one with Preece. The Dons keeper was out quickly and blocked the effort to deny the home side. Livingston were having a good spell and Preece was in action again in the 14th minute saving from an Andrew's header.

Aberdeen tried to get back on terms with Sheerin hitting wide in the 28th minute and a minute later Zdrilic forced a save out of McKenzie. The Dons almost equalised in the 35th minute when Muirhead beat Rubio and delivered a cross that was met by Prunty. The striker hit a firm shot, which was turned round the post by McKenzie for the first corner of the match. A minute later Morrison tried a dig from distance but he failed to find the target. Livi were also looking to kill the game and a Lovell effort went wide in the 38th minute. Neither side looked like adding to the scoring in the closing stages of the first half.

The home side made a positive start to the second half as they went looking for a second killer goal. They won their first corner kick of the match in the 48th minute, which produced an effort from ex Don Jamie McAllister that went well wide. Then two minutes later Morrison released Zdrilic with a long pass. Unfortunately the Aussie was closed down and hit his shot wide of the goal. Then in the 52nd minute Preece was again the saviour as he saved from McMenamin and Andrews in the space of a minute. The game was now moving from end to end as a Sheerin cross was scrambled clear by Dorado with Foster threatening.

Makel hit a decent strike in the 71st minute that scraped past the Dons post as the home side took total control of the game. With little options on the bench Paterson was forced to stick with the starting eleven. In the 76th minute a loose pass from Heikkinen was pounced on by Lilley and forced Preece into another fine save. Seconds later Prunty was released and his cross was almost turned into the net by Marvin Andrews.

In the 84th minute the Dons produced a good move allowing Sheerin a shot on goal, which McKenzie managed to smother. With five minutes remaining John Stewart replaced Prunty as time ran out for the Dons. In the final minute the Dons match was summed up when a Zdrilic shot crashed off the bar to deny Aberdeen a consolation.