Aberdeen 2 - 4 Hamilton

The young Dons got off to a dreadful start.

After seven minutes a low cross from right back Ciaran McAndrew was not cut and Marley Redfern coming in at the back post had the easiest of tasks to stroke the ball over the line.  

Then on 10 minutes cross from the left was again not intercepted and Charlie Reilly in the six yard box was able to hit the ball high into the roof of net. It could have been even worse. From a corner the ball fell to Redfern who rushed a shot and put it over the bar.  

Aberdeen then had a good spell as they tried to find a way back into the game. They won a number of free kicks around the box, two which led to half chances for Turner at the back post area.

On 25 minutes the visitors forced a couple of corners. Their height and physical advantage was causing real problems from set pieces and Aberdeen struggled to clear their lines on numerous occasions.  

On 33 minutes a cross from the left fell to Reilly and his low shot was very well saved by Mair and then Turner reacted well to clear.

Aberdeen were enjoying plenty of possession and there was some nice passing but no end product. Hamilton looked far more threatening in the final third. Just before the break the Dons survived some more corners, only just. Mair was forced into smart stop from Redfern. The same player a minute later should have made it three after a well worked break but again Mair was equal to it

On the stroke of half time Duncan bravely charged down a thunderous shot from Kyle Munro.

Half Time: Aberdeen 0 Hamilton Accies 2

At the start of the second half Hamilton worked the ball across to Niyah Joseph and his shot produced an excellent save from Mair who tipped the ball over the bar. Hamilton then had some more chances, Reilly crossed for tall centre forward Sean Slaven who headed wide and then Redfern had another opportunity but again Mair was well positioned to make the block the shot from the midfielder.  

On 55 minutes Michael Dangana was almost through but the keeper Ross Connelly got off his line quickly. Then Lewis Duncan set up Kevin Hanratty who had two chances but was unable to get a shot past the last defender.

It was a good spell from Aberdeen who were competing well an starting to show some belief.

On the hour mark Hanratty outpaced the last defender and latched onto a long ball, but from a slight angle his shot was saved by Connelly.

A few minutes later a really well worked move allowed Mykyta a chance is almost the same area but again the keeper made a solid block. From the resulting corner Luke Turner got a header on target but it was straight into Connelly's arms. The Dons were now causing some real problems and Lewis Duncan was unlucky with a cut back which hit the side netting.

With twenty minutes Aberdeen deservedly got themselves back into the game with a really well worked corner. They had tried one earlier that almost came off, Tyler Mykyta got the shot away but the keeper saved. on this occasion Connor Barron chipped it over the defender who was guarding against a short corner and this time Tyler buried a well drilled shot into the net. As well a worked set piece as you will see all season.

On 78 minutes Mair made another very good save from substitute Liam Scullion but seconds later the referee awarded Hamilton a penalty after he adjudged Turner to have fouled Sean Slaven. The striker certainly made the most of the physical tussle. Charlie Reilly slotted the ball home, putting Mair the wrong way.

With ten minutes to go it looked like being a disappointing ending after a really strong second half showing.

But Aberdeen then got stroke of luck on 83 minutes. Lewis Duncan ran down the right and his cross landed up looping over the keeper into the net. The wind seemed to catch the ball which completed wrong footed Connelly.

The Dons pushed hard for an equaliser but as they did they left gaps at the back and when Hamilton had a two on two, Scullion found Slaven and his shot squeezed up Mair. Slaven then had another very good chance a minute later but Mair made another really fine save.

In the end a deserved victory for Hamilton but the score line was not a true reflection of the entertaining 90 minutes.

Full Time: Aberdeen 2 Hamilton Accies 4