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Tommy Leaves It Late

03 March 2009

Snow easy for Dons

Aberdeen secured a point with the last touch of the ball in Paisley tonight, but their prospects of a European spot via the league took a severe knock. Aberdeen had created plenty of chances throughout the game as Miller hit the post and Mackie turned an easy chance over the bar. Lee Miller was replaced late in the first half by Tommy Wright when he failed to recover from an earlier injury. Wright eventually popped up to level in the 93rd minute after Saints had taken advantage of some woeful defending by the Dons in the 78th minute. The point was deserved, but it may be too little too late as Aberdeen reflect on only four points from their last six games.

St. Mirren kicked off hoping to maintain their undefeated record at the new stadium. Jimmy had shuffled the pack slightly as Maguire moved back into midfield with Mackie playing up front with Miller. The home side had the first glimpse of goal in the 4th minute when Mehmet was denied by Mulgrew. Aberdeen hit back a minute later when Maguire did well on the right and his cross was flicked on by Miller, but the Saints defence managed to clear their lines. Miller had an ambitious attempt from distance in the 6th minute, but it failed to trouble the home keeper.

At the other end Saints won the first corner of the match and Severin was forced to tidy up after Langfield failed to gather. Seconds later Maguire was impeded, but the free kick was given to the home side. Aberdeen won a free kick in the 8th minute and they were unlucky not to take the lead as Lee Miller steered a Mulgrew cross on to the woodwork. Saints threatened a minute later when a Barron cross was missed by everyone before Dorman failed to make a decent connection at the back post. Aluko showed a great piece of skill to beat two players in the 13th minute, but his cross went straight into the arms of Smith. Langfield made a great stop at the other end as he spread himself to thwart Dorman.

Maguire won a free kick on the right in the 21st minute, but Mulgrew failed to find a red shirt and the ball was cleared. A minute later Smith had to race off his line to deny Mackie as the rain continued to lash down. Mehmet headed a Dorman cross wide in the 29th minute and a minute later the Dons won their first corner of the game as Lee Miller received treatment on the side lines. The corner came to nothing and the Dons striker was able to return to play.

A half volley from Mair was gathered by Smith at the second attempt in the 32nd minute and a minute later Saints had to make a desperate clearance off the line. At the other end the home side went close as play raged from end to end. Severin carelessly lost possesion in the 39th minute and the Dons defence had to scramble the ball clear as Saints threatened. A minute later Lee Miller was replaced by Wright as the striker failed to recover from his earlier injury. Mair had to look smart to deny Saints in the 44th minute before Aberdeen threatened at the death when good build up play was spoiled by a poor delivery from Mulgrew.

Aberdeen went close to taking the lead in the first minute of the second half as Maguire delivered a great cross that Wright just failed to convert. Three minutes later Langfield had a comfortable save from a Dargo snap shot. At the other end Aberdeen failed to capitalise from a corner then in the 53rd minute Darren Mackie should have opened the scoring as he turned a Maguire cross over the bar from 8 yards out. Two minutes later Maguire fired wide as the Dons posed all the questions at this stage. Aluko produced a great turn in the 58th minute, but failed to find Wright in the middle and seconds later Duff replaced Vidal.

Mackie had another chance a minute later but Smith threw himself at the feet of the striker and picked up a heavy knock in the challenge. St. Mirren won a corner on the hour mark, but Langfield punched clear and in the 63rd minute Brady sent an effort inches wide of the target. The play was raging from end to end at this stage as both sides looked for the elusive opener. A Maguire corner failed to threaten in the 69th minute while Saints threatened with a couple of breaks when the Dons attacks broke down. Maguire tested Smith in the 72nd minute and seconds later Aluko skipped into the box, but screwed his effort inches wide.

Jamie Smith replaced Darren Mackie as the rain turned to snow at Saint Mirren Park. As Aberdeen threw caution to the wind they were hit by a sucker punch when Mehmet delivered a ball that Diamond failed to deal with allowing Dargo to net. Aberdeen tried to hit back and Aluko won a corner kick in the 81st minute, but the keeper punched the ball clear. A minute later Smith tried to score from a very tight angle, but with his namesake out of his goal the ball hit the side netting. A corner followed seconds later but Maguire fired well over as Saints struggled to clear.

Scott Severin collected the first caution of the game in the 87th minute as he pulled Dorman back. Langfield was forced into a fine save from Barron a minute later conceding a late corner in the process. The danger was cleared, but the Dons were running out of time as they tried to take something from a miserable evening. Duff won the Dons a corner in injury time but Mair sent a free header over the bar as the snow got heavier. Just when it looked like all was lost, Tommy Wright popped up with the last touch of the game to earn a point for the Dons. He was in good position to send a bullet header into the top corner as he latched on to a teasing cross from Sone Aluko.

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