Lee Double sinks Bairns

Two first half goals from Lee Miller sealed the win for Aberdeen at a rain swept Pittodrie this afternoon. A neat one-two between Miller and McDonald ended with the midfielder being tripped inside the box in the 15th minute. Lee Miller sent the keeper the wrong way to open the scoring and the ex-Bairn added a second two minutes from the interval when he did well to steer a Maguire cross past Olejnik in the Falkirk goal. An 89th minute strike from ex-Don Steve Lovell caused a few flutters but the Dons held on for a deserved win.

Falkirk kicked off in the driving rain, but little was created in the opening minutes as both sides struggled to cope with conditions. Aberdeen carved out the first chance in the 5th minute when a Lee Mair cross from the right got caught in the wind forcing Olejnik to parry the ball wide for the opening corner of the match. The set play was easily defended, but four minutes later Miller won a free kick wide right and when the ball was delivered McDonald was unlucky to see his shot deflected over the bar.

Diamond should have done better from the corner but looped a header over the bar from only six yards. Aberdeen were given a warning in the 12th minute when Burton O’Brien hit a sweet shot from 20 yards that Langfield did well to tip over the bar. A snap shot from Mackie at the other end failed to test Olejnik as Aberdeen continued to dominate. McDonald, who had been causing the visiting defence problems all afternoon, played a one-two with Miller as he broke into the penalty area in the 15th minute. As he looked to strike he had the legs taken from him and went tumbling.

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Lee Miller sent Olejnik the wrong way to put the Dons in the driving seat. A good passing move in the 23rd minute ended when Miller appeared to be pushed on the edge of the box, but play continued and Falkirk were able to clear. Three minutes earlier McBride had been cautioned for a wild challenge and McDonald joined him in the book in the 26th minute following a deliberate trip. Good play between Miller and McDonald created a good chance on the half hour mark, but the final ball wasn’t accurate enough and the visitor’s cleared. Mackie worked himself into a good position six minutes later, but with little support he did well to win a free kick. Mulgrew swung the ball in low and it was scrambled clear for a corner that was well dealt with by Olejnik.

At the other end Barrett went down as he tried to round Langfield but the keeper appeared to get a hand on the ball. Seconds later a drilled cross was inches from Lovell as he came in at the back post. Aberdeen extended their lead in the 43rd minute when Maguire worked his way down the left and delivered a cross that Miller did well to steer the ball past the keeper to claim his second of the day. Miller almost made it a hat trick seconds later when a drilled 18-yard drive was tipped over the bar by Olejnik.

In the opening minute of the second half Maguire just failed to control the ball as he was released into the Falkirk box. Falkirk were keen to get a foot hold back in to the match and made a positive start although a long range effort was all Langfield had to deal with in the opening ten minutes. Arfield also had a good chance but fired well over from the edge of the box. McDonald created a fine chance in the 56th minute as he delivered a dangerous cross but Miller was eased off the ball as he looked set to pounce. The incessant rain contributed to an error by Langfield on the hour mark.

As the keeper tried to gather he slipped allowing the ball to roll out for a corner. Fortunately the set play came to nothing as the ball was headed high into the Merkland stand. Calderwood made a double substitution in the 65th minute as Young and Foster replaced Maguire and de Visscher. Neat interplay three minutes later should have produced a third, but the final ball just failed to find the strikers and the chance was gone. A similar chance at the other end was squandered when Lovell’s cross was missed by everyone.

McDonald had a sniff at goal in the 72nd minute but fired over from the edge of the box. Four minutes later Mackie had a chance but dragged his low shot wide of the target, before Kerr went close. Foster tried to do too much on his own in the 80th minute before being crowded out as the decisive third goal eluded the Dons. A late flurry from the visitors was resolutely defended until Steve Lovell drilled a 12 yard shot past Langfield in the 89th minute. A nervous three minutes ensued but Aberdeen deservedly held out for the win.