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Dons Close The Gap

14 March 2009

Maguire seals win

Chris Maguire was the hero today as he capped a fine performance with a fantastic strike that proved to be the winner against Hamilton. It was a poor quality game, but the red army went home happy that all three points were in the bag as both Hearts and Dundee United lost. The only goal came in the 28th minute when Maguire collected a Jamie Smith flick and bulleted a shot low pass Cerny from 23 yards. With one Euro front dealt with this afternoon another front faces Aberdeen on Wednesday night as they entertain Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup quarter final replay.

Aberdeen kicked off on a blustery day at Pittodrie and Hamilton goalkeeper had to race 15 yards out of his area in the opening minute to make an early clearance. Hamilton showed early promise and they won the first corner of the match in the 5th minute. Aberdeen were forced to scramble the ball away as they struggled to clear their lines. A minute later Thomas was spoken to after a late challenge on Scott Severin. Tommy Wright was then booked in the 10th minute for his first tackle of the match for a challenge that was no worse than Lyle’s lunge at Severin.

Wright didn’t let this affect him and a minute later he won the Dons first corner of the match. Mulgrew almost scored direct from the set play as Cerny went down late to palm the ball from the line. Aluko won a second corner in the 17th minute but Diamond failed to connect with the delivery as the swirling wind was causing both sides considerable difficulty. A Hamilton corner was successfully defended in the 21st minute and two minutes later Aluko won the Dons their own corner but Mulgrew’s delivery was disappointing. Mair delivered a great defence splitting pass in the 25th minute, but Wright was unable to latch on as McLaughlin shielded the ball out of play.

Aberdeen went ahead in the 28th minute with a wonderful strike from Chris Maguire. The youngster was lurking 20 yards out when the ball broke to him as Smith headed it into his path. Maguire hit a fierce low drive into the net giving Cerny no chance. Aluko almost made it two in the 32nd minute when he collected a pass from Severin and waltzed into the box. His first shot was blocked by a defender and his second shot was gathered by Cerny at the second attempt with Wright screaming for the pass.

A Hamilton corner in the 37th minute was clawed clear by Langfield and seconds later Vidal slipped allowing McGowan to fire wide. Five minutes from the break Hamilton won a free kick 30 yards out that resulted in them winning a corner and although they had the ball in the net, the whistle had already gone. There was another bit of magic from Aluko just before the break as he threatened down the right, but the Hamilton defence held firm to keep the score at 1-0.

Foster replaced Vidal at the interval and Langfield had to look lively in the 47th minute as he raced from his box to clear a long ball over the top. A Mulgrew free kick in the 54th minute was headed wide by Maguire and a minute later Diamond was outraged after being the victim of a high challenge from McCarthy that went unpunished. In the 58th minute McLaughlin took Tommy Wright out of the game inside the penalty area, but referee Norris ignored the strong appeals. Wright had another glimpse of goal in the 62nd minute when Aluko flicked on a Severin cross and the striker controlled it with one touch, but fired over from 16 yards.

A minute later Maguire had a snapshot that was blocked then in the 68th minute Mackie replaced Wright. Within seconds Cerny was forced into a fine save as Maguire looped a Jamie Smith cross towards goal. Tenacious play from Maguire produced a free kick at the bye line as Aberdeen increased the pressure on the Hamilton back line. The youngster then almost took advantage of a mix up between Deuchar and Cerny in the 76th minute, but he could only steer the ball into the side netting. Maguire was having one of his best games and in the 83rd minute he swung in decent early cost that Canning did well to clear. Two minutes later he tested Cerny once again with a left foot drive.

There was a nervous moment for Aberdeen in the 88th minute when the ball bounced off Foster and into the hands of a grateful Jamie Langfield. Considine replaced Maguire in the final minute as the fourth official indicated three minutes of injury time. Sone Aluko was unceremoniously scythed down deep in injury time and once again the challenge went unpunished. With both Hearts and Dundee United dropping points it had proved a profitable day for the Dons and Maguire was worthy of his winner after a great overall performance.

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