Aberdeen 1 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic

Aberdeen played their final Reserve League fixture of 2018 looking to end a run of four successive defeats when they welcomed Dunfermline Athletic's second string to Balmoral Stadium.

The Dons lined up with Archie Mair in goal behind a back four of Miko Virtanen, Jordan McGregor, Lloyd Robertson and Jack Mackenzie. Greg Tansey and Dean Campbell anchored the midfield with Sean Linden and Ethan Ross in the wide areas supporting David Dangana and Bruce Anderson.

After a cagey start from both sides, Dean Campbell had the first serious shot on goal in 6 minutes, but Burt parried the skipper's fierce left-footed effort to safety.
The Pars won a free-kick twenty yards out on 11 minutes but Mair produced a fine save to deny Allan. There were loud shouts from the visitors for a penalty moments later, but referee Soutar ruled McGregor's challenge on Smith to be legal.

The Dons took the lead on the quarter hour mark when the Dunfermline defence failed to clear their lines after a corner and Bruce Anderson pounced on the loose ball to shoot low into the net from fifteen yards.

The Dons won a penalty on 20 minutes when Mackenzie's marauding run into the box was halted by Jordan, but Burt dived to his left to keep Anderson's spot-kick out. Brown replaced the injured Sawers for the Pars between the penalty being awarded and the kick being taken.

The midfield duo of Campbell and Tansey were starting to pull the strings as the Dons dominated, but the Pars defence was proving to be a tough nut to crack.

Linden won the home side a free-kick just outside the box on 37 minutes, but Tansey's twenty-yard effort flew high over.

Anderson showed tenacity as he robbed Morrison to race in on goal. Bruce appeared to be fouled in the act of shooting, but shouts for a penalty fell on deaf ears.

The visitors had a chance to draw level just before the interval when a cross from Robertson found Luke, a last-ditch block from Virtanen preventing the winger's strike from troubling Mair. Sean

Linden pulled up while in full flight seconds from the break a hamstring problem clearly having occurred.

Half time - Aberdeen Reserves 1 Dunfermline Athletic Reserves 0

Unsurprisingly, Linden did not appear for the second half as Lewis Duncan replaced the winger. With the first team game against Dundee clearly in mind, Bruce Anderson stayed in the dressing room, Kieran Shanks taking his place.

Sub Brown of Dunfermline was pole-axed on 50 minutes after a full-blooded clearance from McGregor hit him in the face, but he was able to resume. Three minutes later McGregor limped off after taking a knock, Conor Power coming on to slot into central defence.

Greg Tansey picked up the game's first booking on 55 minutes for dissent. The game was becoming a bit scrappy with neither side being able to hold on to possession for any sustained periods.

Aberdeen made their final switch just after the hour mark as Morgan Brown replaced Campbell, Mackenzie taking the captain's armband.

Todd fired wide as the Pars pushed for an equaliser before a last gasp challenge denied Dangana after he had linked well with Shanks.

Chances were few and far between as the teams battled to get the upper hand as the game went into its final quarter of an hour.

Out of the blue, Dunfermline drew level when Paul Allan curled a delightful free-kick past Mair. In their next attack, Mair saved well from Crosbie who will feel he really should have scored with a free header.

Power had a shot blocked after a Tansey corner caused confusion in the Pars box then Dangana's strong run almost created a chance for Shanks. Both teams were showing plenty of grit and determination as they chased a winner, but neither could find the magic touch in front of goal.

Virtanen was booked for a high challenge in the dying seconds of the game just before Mair produced a smart save to prevent Todd from grabbing a winner.

A share of the spoils was just about the right result after a hard-fought encounter, neither side doing enough to grab all three points.