The young Dons had to endure the usual nightmare Friday afternoon bus journey. Their late arrival led to a shortened warm up and not surprisingly the home side started the stronger, in fact they very nearly scored in the first minute, but Mair and Turner just did enough to block an effort at the near post from striker Michael Ruth.
After surviving a corner the young Dons came more into it. Shanks forced the keeper into a smart stop with his feet before a Dons corner led to a chance for Conor Power. After 10 minutes Tyler Alexander was tripped about 25 yards out, in a very central area. The free kick from central midfielder Alexander hit the wall but with the keeper wrong footed, the ball defected into the corner of the net. After a slow start Aberdeen were ahead.
A lightening break on 15 minutes saw Lewis Duncan play the ball into space for left back Mark McLauchlan. He picked out Alexander and his shot from the edge of the area was well saved by Kieran McDougall in the Queen's goal. Mair then saved well with his feet to block a Josh Black shot after the winger had made a good run.
It had been a very open first 20 minutes. After that the game became a bit more structured with less chances. Just before the hour mark Michael Ruth appealed for a penalty when he clashed with Mair inside the area but nothing was given. Alexander had another chance from a free kick, this time slightly further out, and this time the keeper made a comfortable save.
On the 40 minute mark though, another set piece opportunity. From deep a free kick was played into the area. Irish centre halves, Conor Power and Luke Turner, challenged well in the air and striker Kieran Shanks was well positioned to sweep the ball home.
A slightly fortunate scoreline at half time.
Aberdeen were in control for much of the second half and dominated possession although the dangerous Josh Black had the ball in the net but was flagged offside. On the hour mark Lloyd Robertson hit a great shot which the keeper did very well to push onto the bar.
Aberdeen then forced a number of corners at this stage. From which Sean Linden clipped a shot just wide and then Linden set up Turner but his first time effort was went over. The visitors appeared to be in control but on 65 minutes Michael Ruth produced a strong run, he then cut inside before placing a low angled shot past Mair into the corner of the net. A really good finish. Out of nothing the home side were back in the game.
Five minutes later he scored an even better goal. The striker held off substitute defender Kyle Dalling and fellow centre half Power, then on the turn he hammered a shot high into the corner. A quite superb finish.
To their credit, the young Dons came back strongly. Skipper Connor Barron and Linden both went close. Then from a corner Aberdeen won two headers, the second of which saw Power bravely go in and his effort was somehow cleared off the line. The central defender took a sore one and was on the ground getting treatment for a while. Thankfully he was able to walk off and was replaced by Michael Dangana.
Then with five minutes to go Lewis Duncan produced a piece of real quality to get the winner. He picked the ball up midway inside the Queen's half, then ran into the box before unleashing a shot which gave the keeper no chance. A really good goal which deserves to be in the "Atlas Moment of the Month" for November.
After that Aberdeen worked hard to see out the ten minutes or so of added time. They could have made the game safe when a quick and accurate Mair kick-out found Linden who got to the ball ahead of the keeper but he was forced wide and was unable to get a shot away.
I am sure the bus journey home will be more enjoyable than the one down.
Queen's Park Teamsheet
McDougall, Whitmore, Smith, McQuade, McDonald, Paton, Bradley, Main, Ruth, Thomson, Black.
Subs: Fernie (GK), Biggar, Ross, Ebbs
Aberdeen Teamsheet Mair,
Strachan,
McLauchlan,
Ramsay,
Power (
Dalling 66),
Turner (
Dangana 75),
Linden (
Aikamenze),
Barron,
Shanks,
Mykyta,
Duncan.
Unused Subs: Leiper.
Venue: Lesser Hampden, Glasgow