On this Day, 15th May 2004, Andrew Considine made the first of his 518 appearances for the Dons.

Looking back at game number one for Andrew, it took place on the final day on the 2003-04 season. It would prove to be manager Steve Paterson’s final game in charge of the club after a very challenging season, but one of his final acts was to hand a young centre half his debut.

 

“I can always remember my debut against Dundee out here under Steve Paterson” say Andy.

That was definitely one of the most nerve wrecking experiences of my life and the game was a complete blur if I am being honest.

“I do remember that I was playing alongside Markus Heikkinen that day and we were up against Steve Lovell and Nacho Novo so it was a serious test of my pace!

“Steve Lovell was such a good player and when he came to Aberdeen he scored some important goals. I thought he had the ability to kick on and go to a higher level. A lot of the fans will remember the goals he scored against Rangers. A really nice guy as well, I did not sit too far away from him in the changing room. A very good lad.

“I remember it was a bit of a mixed up team with a lot of young boys who I played with in the reserves.

“It was good for me playing with these guys in a sense because I knew them. I was very quiet at the time and these guys helped me come out of my shell because they were so loud and in your face type of characters.

“There were some good players in amongst that group. For such a big guy, Stephen Tarditi, he was very good with the ball at his feet. He scored a tremendous amount of goals in the youth teams and the reserves. Him and John Stewart had a lot of ability and I always thought they would go on and play football at the highest level.

“Ryan O’Leary did not play in that game but he was there at that time. As well as Craig Higgins and Grant Fraser.

“Good memories.

“There was some experience in the side that day. A lot of boys ask me about Paul Sheerin and I tell them that he was a very good technical player back in the day. Maybe did not move much but was a very good player!

“The games have all gone so quickly.

“This is my 17th season at Aberdeen now but I can still remember the early days and remember when I was signed up at 11 years of age.

“I have been here a long time but as I say I feel like it has come around quite quickly.”

 

2003-04
SPL
15/05/2004
Aberdeen 1 – 2 Dundee
Kick Off: 3:00 PM
Attendance: 7,878 (Visitors: 920)
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen

Match Report

(via http://www.afcheritage.org/main.cfm)

Late strike sinks Dons

In a game of two halves Aberdeen lost out to an injury time goal for the second week running at Pittodrie.

The Dons looked impressive in the first half and grabbed a deserved lead in the 6th minute when Foster scored his first goal for the club. The second half saw Dundee dominate and they equalised through Milne. Sheerin hit the bar with five minutes to go before Lovell hit an injury time winner.

The game had a lively start with both sets of players showing a lot of enthusiasm before the game burst into life in the 5th minute. A mistake from Considine was pounced on by the Dundee attack and when Lovell was released he attempted to lob Esson and landed the ball on the top of the net. A minute later Milne made a mistake at the other end allowing Stewart to pounce and go one-on-one with the keeper.

Soutar made a good save, but was unable to do anything as Foster followed up and fired the Dons ahead.
Dundee almost hit back in the 8th minute when Hegarty found space in the Aberdeen area and snatched his effort wide of the target. Three minutes later Sheerin cut in from the left and hit his shot wide of the goal.

Both sides looked uncertain at the back and a gambling man would have put decent money on more goals following. Hinds sent in a dangerous cross in the 16th minute but there was no one there to finish the move off. Stewart almost grabbed a second in the 20th minute when he headed a Sheerin cross inches wide.

Dundee almost levelled in the 26th minute when a ball over the top beat the Aberdeen defence and released Lovell. Fortunately for the Dons the Dundee player used his arm to control the ball and play was halted. Three minutes later Stewart had a good run at the Dundee back line, but was unable to provide the finish. Sheerin then tested Soutar on the half hour mark, but the keeper was able to claw the ball clear. Stewart collected the loose ball and tried to set up Sheerin again, but this time he sliced the ball well wide.

By this stage Aberdeen were in control with the young players giving a good account of themselves. In the 33rd minute Souter tested his namesake in the Dundee goal with a fierce strike that the keeper held at the second attempt. Five minutes later Clark almost beat the keeper with what would have been a fortunate strike. With five minutes remaining Stewart did well to beat the offside trap and it required Soutar to come well off his line to clear the danger.

Dundee threatened first after the break when Milne rounded Esson before McCulloch blocked his low shot for a corner. Two minutes later Esson easily gathered a weak Hegarty header. Dundee were showing more appetite for the game now and Lovell should have put them ahead in the 58th minute when he delayed before being crowded out. The same player went close again in the 31st minute after collecting a Smith pass and beating several players. Fortunately he pulled his shot wide of the target with Esson beaten. Seconds later Stewart had a good effort from the edge of the box that sailed wide of the goal.

In the 66th minute substitute Kneissl hit a low shot that beat Esson and was cleared off the line. The same player had a really bad miss four minutes later when he ballooned a cut back over the bar from six yards. In between the chances Aberdeen introduced David Donald in place of Heikkinen. This appearance made him the youngest player to play for the senior team in their history. Considine went close in the 72nd minute when he steered a Morrison corner wide. This miss was to prove costly as Dundee’s pressure paid off in the 74th minute when Milne turned the ball into the net following a Brady corner.

Tarditi and Prunty were then introduced in place of Clark and Hinds as Aberdeen tried to turn the match back in their favour. Esson then pulled off a terrific save from a Kneissl shot to keep the match level. Aberdeen almost grabbed a sensational winner in the 85th minute when Sheerin crashed a Stewart cross off the bar and Prunty turned the loose ball on to the bar. The miss was punished in injury time when Lovell fired in the winner to complete the Dons season of misery.

Stats

Aberdeen Teamsheet: Esson, Morrison, McCulloch, Souter, Considine, Heikkinen (Donald), Foster, Sheerin, Hinds (Prunty), Stewart, Clark (Tarditi)

Unused Subs:

Bookings:

Dundee Teamsheet: Soutar, Mackay, Mair, Hernandez, Smith, Hegarty, Brady, Sancho, Robb, Lovell, Milne. Subs: /Kneissl for Robb (46), Cameron for Hegarty (60), Jablonski for Brady (86)

Bookings: [Caution] Hegarty (57)

Referee: Hugh Dallas, Motherwell

Also in the News in May 2004

14 May – Piers Morgan is dismissed as editor of the Daily Mirror after the newspaper published fake pictures of Iraqi prisoner abuse.

15 May – Arsenal FC are the first team in history to win the English Premier League season unbeaten. They are also the first team to win a top flight title unbeaten since Preston North End in 1889.