Bohemian Dublin 0 - 0 Aberdeen

Aberdeen 0

Bohemian and Aberdeen produced an uninspiring first half of football in Dublin tonight but the game burst into life after the interval due to some ugly challenges rather than creative play. Chances were scare but the home side did have two efforts chalked off but the numerous substitutions failed to help the rhythm of the game. The exercise will have benefited both teams as the home side prepares for their new season and the Dons look to finish their own campaign on a high.

Glen Crowe was the home side's only survivor from the 2000 UEFA Cup-tie. The Irish outfit have recently sold Dalymount Park to property developers and with the help of a tidy profit from the sale, manager Sean Conner had eleven new signings in his squad as they lined up for their first home game of the season.

It was the Irish side who were first to threaten when the lively John Paul Kelly found space on the right to deliver a cross deep into the Aberdeen area. Crowe met the ball and his powerful header from six yards out was well blocked by Soutar. The rebound fell for Fenn, but Hart and Severin combined to block the striker's effort. After a nervous start Aberdeen settled and in the 10th minute Murphy made a comfortable save from a Lee Miller drive.

Five minutes later a lapse of concentration from Soutar almost gifted the home side the lead. The keeper let a pass back roll under his feet before he recovered and booted the ball to safety under pressure from Kelly. After the early excitement the game started to live up to it's friendly billing, but ten minutes before the break Aberdeen created a couple of scoring chances. A Lee Miller shot was deflected for the Dons first corner and from the subsequent set play Steve Lovell blocked Severin's net bound effort. A minute later Nicholson had another shot blocked but neither side had carved out a real goal scoring opportunity.

The second half sparked into life with a series of ugly challenges producing a flurry of yellow cards. Miller and Lovell were victims of some heavy tackles and Mackie eventually replaced Miller in the 53rd minute after the striker had been booked. Prior to that a Dempsey free kick went inches over before a short free kick produced a magnificent save from Murphy from a 30-yard rocket that from Scott Severin fired toward the top corner. Nicholson then went close with another free kick before the home side had two goals chalked off in a five-minute spell.

The first came in the 66th minute when Byrne scored direct from a corner. However the goal was rightly chalked off for an infringement on Soutar. Five minutes later Fenn headed home but once again it was disallowed when he was adjudged to be offside in what was a tight call. Daal replaced Lovell for the last 20 minutes and his first involvement was to receive treatment following a dangerous challenge from Byrne. The Irishman was booked and was lucky to stay on the park. His manager concurred and immediately replaced him. Daal had a low shot saved late in the game, but despite a competitive second 45 minutes neither team could break the deadlock.