St. Mirren 1 - 1 Aberdeen

The home side went close again in the 25th minute when Broadfoot headed a McGowan free kick towards goal, but Langfield saved well. The Dons were being penalised for every challenge at this stage with Mackie conceding a particularly strange free kick for allowing a St. Mirren defender to try and pull the shirt of his back. Aberdeen?s lack of ability to win anything in the air was beginning to be a worry as Lapin beat Clark to the ball and headed off target in the 29th minute. Then on the half hour mark Nicholson was given a glimpse of goal eight yards out but attempted a lob when a driven shot may have been more profitable.

Aberdeen then accepted a gift when Broadfoot made a howler as he attempted a pass back under pressure from Mackie allowing Crawford to nip in, clip the ball over the keeper and volley it into the net. A minute later Jamie Smith went on a run and his deflected effort landed on the roof of the net. Another fine piece of play in the 38th minute saw a St. Mirren defender slide in on Clark to concede a corner only for the officials to award a goal kick.

The same official denied the Dons again in the 40th minute when Mackie looked to have timed his run perfectly as he collected a Crawford pass and finished well only to have the goal chalked off for offside. This decision was to ultimately prove costly. Crawford then set up Dempsey two minutes later after a clever dummy from Jamie Smith. Unfortunately the midfielder fired wide of the target. Aberdeen were looking more positive now and Nicholson had a shot blocked before Dempsey was crowded out.

Aberdeen started strongly after the break and there were muted appeals for a spot kick in the 48th minute when Clark went down in the box. Zander Diamond was the first player booked for a challenge in the 53rd minute that produced a rather theatrical dive. The subsequent free kick almost produced an equaliser when a Potter header was blocked deep in the Dons defence. The home side took confidence from this chance and continued to trouble the visitor?s with van Zanten sending over a tempting cross in the 57th minute that evaded everyone.

Aberdeen threatened again on the hour mark when goalkeeper Smith denied Mackie from a set play before St. Mirren raced forward to threaten at the other end. Foster then replaced Crawford in the 61st minute as the home side started to gain the upper hand. There were spot kick appeals from the home side two minutes later but Russell Anderson could have done little to prevent the ball hitting his arm. Aberdeen were soaking up immense pressure now and were limited to the occasional break as they desperately hung on to their lead.

Mehmet and van Zanten then carved out a chance for Keane in the 73rd minute but the striker headed wide of the target. Stewart then replaced Dan Smith in the 75th minute causing another reshuffle in the ranks. With ten minutes remaining the home side were awarded a soft free kick with Mackie off the park receiving treatment, but fortunately the Dons stood firm. Foster should have added a second in the 82nd minute when he went through in on goal but could only side foot the ball wide. McGowan collected a yellow card for a professional foul earlier in the move.

With only three minutes remaining Mehmet had a great chance to level but headed over the bar. Then seconds later Broadfoot made up for his earlier mistake when he drilled the ball past Langfield. The Dons tried to salvage the game but Considine could only head a Foster cross tamely into the keeper?s arms. Then in injury time Sutton fired high over the bar when a cross, drilled across the goal, looked the better option. With seconds remaining St. Mirren almost claimed all three points when Mehmet drilled the ball over the bar with Langfield looking beaten.

---

Match Stats:

		Saints	Dons
Goal Attempts		13	6
On Target		3	3
Corners		6	3
Possession		54%	46%

---