St.Mirren v Aberdeen (SPL)

Andy Considine was the hero at Love Street this afternoon when he scored his first senior goals for the club. Both goals were good finishes and came in a first half that was dominated by the Dons. Considine was then harshly penalised by Kenny Clark in the 81st minute when he was adjudged to have tripped Broadfoot. Justice was done when Jamie Langfield made a terrific save from Brittain. The home side had the better of the second half but the Dons were happy to see out the game and take the three points back up the road.

St. Mirren kicked off and carved out the first chance in the 3rd minute when Corcoran delivered a deep cross that just evaded Brady at the back post. Two minutes later Aberdeen won the first corner of the match and a short pass was fired over by Clark and Smith gathered the header from Anderson despite pressure from Mackie. Aberdeen then took the lead in the 8th minute as Andy Considine scored his first goal for the club. A long throw from Severin found it’s way to Mackie and he crossed the ball back into the middle where Lovell flicked it into the path of Considine and the young defender fired past Smith from 10 yards. The Dons continued to press and a second corner was won in the 12th minute but Sutton cleared Nicholson’s delivery. Aberdeen looked in control at this stage, passing well and looking to add to the opening strike, but the home side were holding firm. St. Mirren were still a threat and they went close in the 20th minute as they put pressure on the Dons defence. Severin then went close in the 25th minute when a 25-yard drive went inches wide of the post. Mackie did well three minutes later as his pace took him past Broadfoot, but unfortunately he over ran the ball as he looked to deliver a cross.

The Dons were on the back foot again on the half-hour mark but good defensive work from Considine cleared the danger. At the other end Lovell had a pop at goal from 35 yards but the effort went wide. Saints then won their first corner in the 32nd minute but McGowne headed well wide. Lovell was then released by Severin two minutes later and Smith did well to race of his line and block the effort. The subsequent corner was delayed as the referee had a word with Broadfoot and Mackie who had squared up to each other. Mackie went close again a minute later when his shot went wide, but perhaps a pass to Lovell might have been the better option.

Aberdeen’s pressure paid off in the 37th minute when Considine scored a second goal. A Nicholson corner was swung over and as Anderson pulled defenders away Considine produced a great right foot volley at the back post to make it 2-0. Mackie almost added a third a minute later when he latched on to a flick from Lovell and went one-on-one with Smith. The keeper did well to block his effort and concede another corner. Aberdeen ended the half on top and the band of Dons supporters in the 4,926 crowd will be looking for more of the same after the break. St. Mirren made two changes at the interval and created their first chances of the game in the opening minutes. A free kick in the 48th minute came off the Dons wall and McGowne’s effort shot up in to the air and out for a corner. Langfield then fumbled the corner and Potter fired wide to save the keeper’s blushes. The home side had changed their shape and stepped up the pace in an effort to get back into the match and Langfield was forced into a save from Corcoran in the 55th minute. Foster then collected the first yellow card of the game in the 58th minute for stupidly kicking the ball away.

Four minutes later Foster conceded a stupid free kick with van Zanten going nowhere. This allowed the home side to deliver the ball into the danger area and Langfield was happy to see Broadfoot fire over from six yards. The Dons were being pegged back at this stage and were finding it difficult to get forward. Mackie set up Foster in the 67th minute but his effort was blocked then everyone missed a Hart cross minutes later. Lovell should have sewn it up three minutes later when a Mackie cross was nodded down by Severin and the Englishman fired over from 6 yards out. At the other end McGinn hit a shot well over from the edge of the box.

Lee Miller replaced Lovell in the 73rd minute and six minutes later Foster was well off target with Nicholson screaming for a pass after a lung-bursting run. The Dons then defended a free kick well in the 80th minute before goal hero Considine was adjudged to have tripped Broadfoot to hand the home side a soft penalty. Brittain stepped up to take the spot kick but Langfield made a terrific save to maintain the Dons two-goal advantage. In the 89th minute Lee Miller almost took advantage of an error by Smith but the keeper was lucky to escape losing a third goal.

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