Aberdeen 2 - 2 Hamilton Academical

Successive away wins at Motherwell and Hibernian have moved Aberdeen into fifth place in the League table while our visitors have slipped to eighth place with only Celtic beneath them. Despite losing 5-0 to the Dons early in the season, two of Accies' eight wins have come at Aberdeen's expense so it promised to be another big test for Barry Robson's young guns.

With Finlay Murray ruled out with a knock, Kai Watson moved into central defence while skipper Dylan Lobban, selected today along with Liam Harvey for Scotland's Under 17 squad to play in the European Championship finals in Israel next month, was back in midfield.

Aberdeen almost scored within the opening seconds, Harvey's ball to Emslie cut out by the quick thinking Reece Martin in the Accies goal who was to have a superb game.

The keeper produced a great double save to deny Harvey and Emslie then the Dons had what looked like a good shout for a penalty, but the ref decided Cammy Wilson had dived and yellow carded the youngster.

A fine ball from Wilson to Harvey drew yet another excellent stop from Martin to deny the striker before a great block from Kai Watson prevented Accies centre back Dom Morgan from getting a shot on target.

With five minutes of the half left, more heroics from Martin denied Emslie after Harvey had pounced on a misplaced pass. Incredibly the scoreline was blank at the interval and that was down to the fine goalkeeping of Martin.

Half time - Aberdeen 0 Hamilton Academical 0

Blair McKenzie was unable to resume for the second half, Milosz Ochmanski taking his place in the Dons rearguard.

Harvey shot over when well placed then Accies saw efforts from Meechan and Liam Morgan thwarted. Despite the lack of goals, it was an entertaining, open game with both sides attacking at every opportunity.

After Harvey saw another fine effort saved by Martin, Aberdeen finally broke the deadlock on 67 minutes. Lobban's left wing corner was met at the far post by Watson and his header across goal was turned in by Adam Emslie.

Two minutes later it was 2-0 to the Dons, Emslie again the scorer after being found by a superb defence-splitting pass from Lobban.

With 14 minutes left, Accies full back Sam Spence was ordered off following a second yellow and the Dons looked to have the game under total control.

After yet another close thing for Harvey, a controversial penalty was awarded to the visitors after Forsyth tumbled in the area. The Accies man dusted himself down to net from the spot to throw his side a lifeline.

Incredibly a minute later it was all square, a corner from the left ricocheted into the net at the back post, the final touch being credited to Dom Morgan.

Forsyth saw a shot clip the top of the bar and Cammy Wilson shot just too close to the keeper as both sides chased a winner.
Then with seconds remaining skipper Lobban saw a straight red after a comment to the referee to complete what had been a topsy-turvy evening for both teams.

Aberdeen's next assignment is a Cormack Park meeting with Hibernian on Tuesday, kick off at 6pm.