Aberdeen 0 - 3 Hibernian

The visit of Hibernian presented the young Dons with arguably their biggest challenge of the season, Gareth Evans' side currently sitting third in the table but only five points off the top with a massive seven games in hand of leaders Rangers. Taking a positive viewpoint, successive victories over Hearts and Kilmarnock saw Aberdeen in good fettle ahead of the game which promised to be a real showcase of some of Scotland's finest talents at this level.

Hibees striker Young showed he was going to be a threat as early as the second minute when he flashed a left footed angled drive just wide of the post as the older and more experienced Edinburgh side dominated the early stages.

And they would have taken the lead on 13 minutes through Zaid had it not been for a fine piece of defending from Taylor Mason. The Hibs midfielder looked certain to knock the ball in from eight yards before Mason appeared as if from nowhere to clear the ball.

Aberdeen were struggling to get any change out of the powerful Hibs centre back pairing of Blaney and Weir but Findlay Marshall did get a shot at goal although it presented no threat to Johnson.

The deadlock was broken on 34 minutes when good interplay between Zaid and Young saw the striker accept a pass to drive the ball past Blessing Oluyemi. In fairness to Hibs, the goal was well deserved as they were controlling the game.

Dylan Lobban played a nice ball into space for Mason, but Taylor was unable to replicate his goal from our last game and lifted his shot over the top.

Just before the break Young again had a chance at goal but he was denied by Oluyemi at the second attempt. A strong showing from Hibs but with the lead only a single goal Aberdeen were very much in the game heading for the second half.

Half time - Aberdeen 0 Hibernian 1

A rather scrappy opening to the second half saw neither side able to create much in their opponents' final third but only the cross bar denied Aiken when he fired in a twenty five yard effort on 57 minutes.

Two minutes later Hibs doubled their advantage, Zaid ghosting in behind the Dons rearguard to head Weir's accurate ball past Oluyemi.

The visitors pushed hard to increase their goal tally but a fine block from Finlay Murray denied Aiken then Weir headed over. Adam Emslie tested Johnson with a powerful shot, the Hibs keeper's positioning perfect as he made the save look routine.

With four minutes left, Young got a second for himself and a third for his team when he thundered the ball past Oluyemi after a neat lay off from Aiken.

Another learning experience for the Aberdeen kids who were on average two years younger than their opponents who now look red hot certainties to run away with the League title.

Full time - Aberdeen 0 Hibernian 3

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Scott Anderson: "It was difficult.

"It was definitely a difficult 90 minutes, we knew it was going to be. Hibs are a strong side this season, they have some good players in there. But it is the physicality they have in their group compared with where we are at at the moment in terms of our development (that was the biggest difference).

"It was always going to be tough, but I thought we battled. I thought we kept going and we stayed in the game to a point. And if we had a little more belief in terms of our possession, we might have put them under a bit more pressure.

"It was a real learning curve and we have to play Hibs twice more this season so we need to learn from this game and hopefully take what we have learned into the next performance.

"Some of our play was decent but it always broke down because we could not get away from players or we were not strong enough to hold the ball up. But that will come. We keep telling the players that. Once we are able to deal with the physical side then the technical ability these players have will be there for all to see.

"Our 2004s are out playing in League One. We feel that is the best way for us to develop players. We take the hit a little bit by going really young but the development they are getting at the moment is massive.

"Victor Enem is a 2007 so for him to put in the performance he did, I was really really pleased with him. I thought he had a great game."