Falkirk 0 - 2 Aberdeen

Falkirk carved out the first chance in the opening minute when Stokes was on target from the edge of the box and forced Langfield into a save as he turned the ball round the post. The subsequent corner was easily cleared before the home side won a free kick that was blocked by the defensive wall in the third minute. Aberdeen won their first corner in the 6th minute when Miller headed on a free kick and the ball was scrambled clear. The corner was well defended, but the Dons looked to have settled after a strong start by the home side. Mackie was next to threaten a minute later when he was released by Clark but flagged by the assistant in what looked like a tight decision.

Mackie was again involved in the 9th minute when he looked to be held back but the referee failed to award the free kick. Falkirk took advantage of this let off and almost grabbed the lead a minute later when Barr headed a corner off the Dons woodwork with Langfield beaten. A Miller header in the 15th minute failed to trouble Higgins before the ex United man just failed to latch on to a Dempsey pass seconds later. Ross collected the first caution of the game in the 19th minute with a rash challenge on Foster and Aberdeen almost opened the scoring from the free kick. Severin played the ball in and Anderson forced a fine save from Higgins before Mackie turned the ball over the bar.

Higgins made another save in the 43rd minute from a Dempsey free kick after a ragged spell, which saw both sides giving away cheap possession. On the stroke of half time Foster broke and delivered a cross that was looped over the bar by Lee Miller. Seconds later the halftime whistle blew with neither side being able to make the breakthrough.

Anderson was in action early in the second half when he cut out a pass to John Stewart, which he then fed back to Jamie Langfield. Dodd then gave away a cheap corner in the 51st minute after being closed down by Mackie and this led to the opening goal. The corner was only half cleared and Dempsey drilled the ball low into the net. Dempsey almost added a second three minutes later when he attempted an audacious lob over the keeper, but the ball cleared the bar as well as the keeper. A Nicholson free kick in the 58th minute was headed over the top by Anderson as the Dons looked to add a second.

Falkirk almost levelled in the 75th minute when substitute Gow combined with Stokes and the youngster crashed the ball off the bar as the home side started to gain the upper hand. At the other end Foster set up Nicholson but a last gasp challenge denied the midfielder. Daal then replaced the tiring Lee Miller in the 78th minute but it was Falkirk who were now pressing. Gow was causing all sorts of problems and Clark had to concede a corner in the 80th minute as the substitute tormented Hart. The subsequent corner saw Twaddle scoop the ball over the top.

Just as the home side looked to be getting back into the match the Dons broke and added a second goal. Mackie and Daal combined and as two defenders collide Daal broke, stepped forward and drilled the ball past Higgins for his first senior goal for the club. A mistake from Nicholson five minutes from time almost produced a goal for the Bairns, but O'Donnell elected to shoot rather than release Stokes who was in splendid isolation. O'Donnell was then booked with four minutes remaining following his second crude challenge of the match. Mackie should have added the icing to the cake in the 88th minute after combining with Daal, but he fired over.