…as Dons end with a win.

Aberdeen ended the campaign with a 1-0 win in Paisley as Clark Robertson and Nico Gibson were handed their first starts for the club. The winning goal came in the 26th minute when Clark Robertson picked out Mackie and his deflected shot sent the keeper the wrong way. The goal was credited to ex-Don Lee Mair, but the Dons striker certainly deserved the credit. A long summer now awaits everyone as Mark McGhee starts his rebuilding exercise safe in the knowledge that he has a good young nucleus to call on.

St. Mirren kicked off in a subdued atmosphere and the home side threatened in the opening minute after Ifil slipped up. Fortunately the final effort went wide and a minute later Robertson was involved as he swung over a decent cross that was dealt with by the Saints defence. A good move in the 5th minute produced the opening corner for the Dons. Gibson rose to meet Mulgrew’s corner, but Howard saved in the St. Mirren goal. A minute later Langfield was put under pressure with a poor pass back from Mulgrew, but he recovered quickly to clear.

Gibson forced a second corner in the 8th minute following a good pass from Kerr, but the corner went out of play before reaching the danger area. After a lull in play Gibson had a crack from distance in the 15th minute, but Howard made a comfortable stop. Saints threatened in the 19th minute, but McDonald did well defensively as the home side enjoyed a spell of pressure. Three minute later Kerr was fouled about 20 yards out allowing Mulgrew a pot at goal. It was a good effort that had Howard at full stretch to turn the ball round the post.

A Kerr shot was charged down in the 24th minute before Aberdeen went ahead two minutes later. Clark Robertson picked out Mackie and his deflected shot sent the keeper the wrong way for the opening goal of the game. St. Mirren went close to equalising in the 28th minute when Mehmet headed a Dorman shot wide of the target. Aberdeen had taken confidence from the goal and were playing some neat passing football under the sun. St. Mirren won their first corner of the match in the 36th minute, but Langfield punched clear.

Three minutes later a slip from Ifil allowed Robb a glimpse at goal for St. Mirren, but Langfield saved from Mehmet and Richard Foster on hand to clear. The powers that be have decided to award the unfortunate Lee Mair with the goal, which is a bit harsh on both him and Mackie. In the final minute of the half a poor effort from Thomson went well wide of Langfield’s goal ending an enjoyable opening 45 minutes for the small crowd.

Saints threatened in the opening minute of the restart when a long ball beat Ifil forcing Langfield into a save from Dorman. Two minutes later Kerr played a neat one-two with Duff and forced Howard into a save. A Mulgrew free kick then gave Gibson a half chance before Saints won a corner in the 50th minute. Langfield claimed the ball and three minutes later Mackie was tracking back to deny Dorman. The same player then set up Mehmet, but the striker failed to connect as the home side made the better start to the second half.

A Carey shot was saved by Langfield before the two Dons youngsters were replaced by Paton and Fyvie in the 58th minute and both could be pleased with their contribution. On the hour mark Aberdeen broke quickly through Paton before Kerr finished with a shot that went wide. The home side then made a triple substitution in the 62nd minute and almost immediately Langfield made a great save from one of the replacements, Loy, to keep the score level. A minute later the keeper made another save from Loy before MacLean played a neat back heel into the path of Fyvie as the youngster fired inches wide.

In the 71st minute Davide Grassi replaced Mackie and it was good to hear the striker getting a resounding reception. Langfield had another save from Carey in the 74th minute and a minute later Fyvie was taken down presenting Mulgrew with another chance from the dead ball. Howard did well to tip the ball over the bar, but after a great free kick the ex-Celt made a bit of a mess of the corner. At the other end a quick corner almost caught the Dons out before Carey fired over. Ifil brought Loy down on the edge of the box in the 79th minute.

From the resultant free kick Carey fired straight into the Aberdeen wall allowing the Dons to clear. With five minutes remaining Mehmet beat Foster and Grassi before setting up Dorman, but Mulgrew did well to block the effort. At the other end Fyvie was dictating play as he looked to carve out an opening for the Dons. In the 88th minute Aberdeen won a corner, but the final delivery was too long and the chance was gone. Grassi cleared a Loy cross in the final minute before Dargo fired over and Aberdeen comfortably held on for a rare three points.