Three and easy for Dons

Youth was handed the chance in Hamilton this afternoon with the debuts of Fraser Fyvie and Jonathon Crawford and both grabbed the chance with both hands. Mulgrew opened the scoring with one of his trade mark free kicks before he turned provider six minutes later as Andrew Considine volleyed in the second for a 2-0 lead at the interval. Plenty of chances were created throughout while at the other end the Dons looked comfortable. Maguire scored the goal of the game in the 63rd minute with a superb volley as the Dons completed a comfortable afternoon. McGhee looks like he may have found a couple of new players from within his own squad as Fyvie and Crawford looked comfortable in the SPL environment.

Aberdeen kicked off and carved out the first chance in the 2nd minute with Lee Miller testing Cerny with an early strike. A minute later Mackie and Miller combined well as the Dons looked to have made the better start. The home side won a free kick in the 7th minute, but Ifil cleared easily and Fyvie looked to break quickly before being unceremoniously dumped on the ground. The two youngsters combined well a minute later forcing Cerny into action again as he saved from Mulgrew. Seconds later the keeper had to tip over the bar forcing the first corner.

Mulgrew almost pounced on the Fyvie corner and succeeded in winning a second set play The Dons were dominating as they played in their new third kit for the first time and all that was missing at this stage was an opening goal. Hamilton started to settle, but they were handed the first yellow card of the game in the 15th minute when Foster was taken late by Canning. Miller took the free kick 20 yards out, but the wall did well and seconds later the Dons looked to have a strong penalty claim for hand ball. Unfortunately the referee was unsighted and his assistant made no decision.

Cerny was forced into another save from Miller after Fyvie set the striker up again. An unfortunate hand ball by Aluko ended another Dons attack in the 19th minute then Mackie was controversially booked for deliberate hand ball when the striker could have done very little to prevent the incident. Canning conceded another fee kick in the 23rd minute and this time it was in Mulgrew country and he didn’t disappoint as he curled the ball round the wall and left Cerny helpless with another blistering strike.

The Dons were in total control despite some erratic decisions as two clear hand balls from Accies were missed. This was particularly frustrating for the red army following the Mackie decision. Aluko was getting little protection, but Wilkie was eventually booked for a challenge on Considine in the 28th minute and the Dons defender had the last laugh as he doubled the score from the resultant free kick. Mulgrew made the delivery and Considine reacted quickest as he hooked the ball past Cerny for the perfect start.

Ifil was then yellow carded in the 32nd minute for a challenge that didn’t even look illegal. Langfield commanded his area well from the free kick as he gathered comfortably. Andrew Considine followed into the book two minutes later and with five yellow cards waved in the first half hour the prospects of twenty two being on the park at the end of the game were becoming remote. This was particularly worrying with both Dons central defenders booked and the Hamilton attackers looking to have problems with their balance.

Mackie went close to claiming the third in the 37th minute as he almost converted another great cross from Mulgrew. Mackie had picked up an injury and McGhee took no chances as he replaced him with Maguire in the 42nd minute. Aberdeen almost undid the good work in the 43rd minute when Accies hit the post and then had the ball cleared off the line by Considine. In injury time Miller was brought down as he broke into the box, but he was not awarded a spot kick and nor was he booked for diving.

Hamilton made two changes at the interval and the Dons were under pressure in the opening minute after Crawford slipped. Fortunately Langfield made one good save and the Dons eventually managed to clear the danger. Canning committed his umpteenth foul in the 47th minute before Aluko went close to adding to the Dons tally. Hamilton won their first corner two minutes later, but Langfield gathered easily and started up a quick counter attack. The dons failed to convert this good chance after Maguire overcooked the final pass. Fyvie almost topped his impressive debut with a goal in the 51st minute, but the ball went inches wide.

Two minutes later a snapshot from Maguire was well held by Cerny and Foster fired wide in the 56th minute. Maguire forced another save from Cerny and at the other end Mensing should have pulled one back as he was handed a free header but screwed his effort wide. A good run from Aluko in the 63rd minute set up goal number three. Aluko fed the ball to Kerr then Fyvie found Mulgrew and from his cross Maguire hit a really sweet volley that gave Cerny no chance whatsoever and instantly became a contender for goal of the season.

An Accies corner was wasted in the 67th minute and a minute later Duff replaced Crawford who had to be happy with his debut. An Aluko strike five minutes later went inches wide quickly followed by a rare right footed strike from Mulgrew that went equally close. Hamilton won a free kick in the 78th minute and Langfield turned the ball away for a corner that was tamely wasted. Aluko set up Fyvie in the 81st minute, but his finish didn’t quite match his debut play. The Dons remained in control and ran out comfortable winners.