…as Hampden date booked

Aberdeen are through to their second semi-final meeting against Celtic after beating St. Mirren at Pittodrie. It was a comfortable win, but they were left hanging on at the end. They made a terrific start when they went ahead in the fourth minute seconds after Aluko had hit the bar. Hartley swung in a corner and it looked as if Diamond flicked the ball on and Maguire turned it into the net although the debate rages as to who made the last touch. The red army cared little as they celebrated. Aberdeen went on to dominate the half as Saints were limited to long range efforts. The Dons play was rewarded with a second goal in the 45th minute as Smith and Aluko played a neat one-two on the left and the Nigerian fired the ball across goal for Vernon to tap in. The Dons had a decent looking third goal disallowed and Aluko in particular was on fire as they appeared to be coasting to the win. Vujadinovic then replaced Aluko with five minutes remaining and with his first touch he headed past Langfield to set up a nervous finish. The Dons held out and Vernon should have finished it in injury time when he rounded the keeper and looked set to score before Gallacher managed to get a hand on the ball.

Aberdeen kicked off towards the RDS but it was Saints who had the first shot on target in the opening minute, but Langfield had a comfortable catch. Aberdeen should have gone ahead in the fourth minute when Maguire worked his way down the right, fired the ball across the face of the goal and Aluko, with the goal gaping, managed to hit the bar before the ball was scrambled clear for the first corner. When Hartley swung the ball across it was flicked on by Diamond and Maguire stabbed home from six yards to give the Dons the perfect start.

Aberdeen swarmed forward again in the 10th minute when Jack and Maguire combined well. The ball was half cleared and McArdle played it back into the danger area and Vernon appeared to be pulled back as he went for the ball. He stayed on his feet and didn’t get the decision. Two minutes later Saints went close when Considine only half cleared and Thomson fizzed an effort inches wide of the target. In the 14th minute Milsom played a lovely ball to Aluko on the left, but Mair was on hand to clear the cross.

Saints were then awarded a very soft free kick 20 yards out as Milsom made a fair challenge. The effort was deflected off the wall and went inches wide for Saints first corner, which came to nothing. A minute later the visitor’s went close again when a long range shot from McGregor fizzed wide of Langfield’s goal. The Dons were failing to close down and in the 21st minute another shot was fired from distance. This time it was Higdon and although it missed the target again they were getting closer.

A poor challenge on Hartley produced a free kick and the skipper required treatment. The free kick was cleared and Hartley was struggling to shake off the knock. Saints were biting into the challenges and conceding a few free kicks in the middle of the park. Hartley was eventually replaced by Young in the 27th minute. Two minutes later a cross from Smith took an awkward deflection and Gallacher was forced to concede a corner. This one was defended better by the Saints and the ball was cleared.

In the 32nd minute Gallacher was again left stretching when an Aluko cross was sliced by Potter to put his keeper in trouble. A minute later Maguire cut inside and forced a fine save from the keeper who palmed it behind his goal. The corner was too close to the keeper, but seconds later Aluko made a great run on the left and Gallacher did well to reach the ball ahead of Maguire. It was all Aberdeen at this stage and Travner picked up the first caution as Jack left him for dead. The free kick was headed wide by Considine.

There were some nasty challenges going in at this stage, but the Aberdeen players were getting little protection. Milsom was clattered at the dugout, but play was waved on. After all the domination the Aberdeen defence had to look lively in the 41st minute as they closed down quickly and blocked two efforts in their own box. A neat one-two between Smith and Aluko ripped open the Saints defence on the left and the young Nigerian cut inside and fired the ball across goal for Vernon to tap in for a deserved second.

Saints made a strong start to the second half and won a corner in the opening minute. Aberdeen tidied up well before the game was delayed for a short spell as Saints’ Thomson received treatment. He was eventually replaced by Goodwin. In the 51st minute Aluko lit up the match again with some football magic that saw him beat three players before firing a low shot inches wide. It would have been goal of the competition. It should have been 3-0 in the 54th minute as Vernon headed the ball beyond Gallacher. Vernon had a defender all over him like a rash, but he escaped the attention and out jumped Gallacher to head home. Unfortunately the referee saw it differently. A great break from Young in the 59th minute should have produced a chance, but he delayed with Aluko in acres of space on the left. Two minutes later Vernon broke and couldn’t get any power behind his shot, but Gallacher could only parry and lucky for him there were no Aberdeen players following up.

A decent free kick was scrambled away by the Saints defence and seconds later Vernon couldn’t get the ball under control with his back to goal. Saints then threatened in the 70th minute before Aberdeen eventually scrambled the ball clear. In the 78th minute Maguire was kicked from pillar to post, but no action was taken. A minute later Magennis replaced Jack. Aberdeen were still playing some good football, but were not showing the urgency of the first half. Aberdeen then survived a goalmouth scramble in the 84th minute as they looked to see the game out.

After all the fouls that were inflicted on Aluko, Maguire and Milsom that went unpunished, Smith was booked in the 85th minute for a tug of a shirt. Vujadinovic replaced Aluko a minute later, but within ten seconds he had headed the ball past Langfield when there appeared to be little danger. With a minute remaining Vernon went one-on-one with Gallacher, but the keeper blocked the effort. There were four minutes of injury time displayed by the fourth official as the Dons started to get a bit twitchy.

An Aberdeen free kick was played straight to a St. Mirren player and seconds later a long ball was played over McArdle and the ball was fired into the side netting. At the other end Vernon rounded the keeper and looked as if he would finish it when Gallacher shot a hand out to clear. Potter then collected a late caution for clattering Maguire and Aberdeen held on. It was a comfortable win, but Aberdeen were left hanging on after the own goal gave Saints a lifeline.