ABERDEEN 2 QUEEN’S PARK 1 Premier Sports Cup Group A Saturday July 18 2026 Pittodrie Ref: Dan MacFarlane Attendance: 7,350 Aberdeen got themselves into pole position in their Premier Sports Cup group with a 2-1 win over Queen’s Park that was built on a dominant first half display, before the visitors made life a lot tougher for the Dons after the break. The hosts made two changes to the side that won at Brora Rangers, Jack Milne returning and Marius Muller making his Dons debut. Dimitar Mitov and Dylan Lobban started on the bench, as did Alexander Briedl, Kjartan Kjartansson and Kenan Bilalovic. Brad Lyons skippered the team. Attacking the Red Shed, the Dons kept good possession from the first whistle, winning a second minute corner. A fine delivery to the back post from Connor Ronan found Dan Happe, making a good run to power in a header from six yards out – the perfect start for Aberdeen, while the Spiders had barely touched the ball before Wills was picking it out of the net. A great ball in from Ronan. It was 2-0 in the 11th minute, a lovely team goal completed with a crisp finish from Lewis Smith. Happe’s interception in the Queen’s Park half allowed him to feed Tony Yonge. A ball inside was played into the path of Kevin Nisbet by a clever backheel from Ronan, then Nisbet’s precise pass gave Smith the angle he needed to power a shot across Wills and into the far corner. Nisbet nearly scored a cracker of his own on 20 minutes, playing a clever lob over the head of Murray on the edge of the box before putting his volley just over the bar. Aberdeen were producing some beautifully constructed football and on the half hour, a move that went from back to front ended with Nesta Guinness-Walker having an effort headed off the line. Another opportunity for Nisbet arrived in the 36th minute, courtesy of Yogane’s early cross. It was at an awkward height for the striker and he could only deflect it goalwards with his chest from close range, Wills making the save. The half ended as it began, with Aberdeen winning a left wing corner. This one didn’t yield a goal but as the sides trooped off, it was to reflect on 45 minutes of utter Dons dominance. HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 2 QUEEN’S PARK 0 There was a better start from the Spiders after the break, a long free-kick into the Aberdeen box causing some confusion in the opening minute until Milne and Lewis Mayo combined to clear things up. A teasing cross from Smith had Wills backpedalling, the Dons winning a 49th minute corner from it, but there was too much on Ronan’s ball in to cause any issues. Happe had to be sharp to block a shot from Ruth in the 57th minute as the game became much more even in the second half. The visitors won their first corner a couple of minutes later, followed by another as Hamilton’s header was deflected wide by Mayo. That was decisive, the ball speared into the near post by Longridge and Hamilton got on the end of it to place his header beyond Muller who had no chance. Stephen Robinson responded to that with a triple change, Smith, Aremu and Guinness-Walker replaced by debutant Briedl, Toyosi Olusanya and Gavin Molloy in the 63rdminute. The Spiders should have been on terms in the 66th minute, Muller making a crucial treble save. The first was straight forward from Martin, the second was excellent as Longridge’s effort from the rebound took a thick defection and the third was a fine reflex stop from Ruth. Nisbet had a golden chance two minutes later, good play from Ronan creating an opportunity to cross, Nisbet stretching beyond the back post and putting his shot into the RDS. The visitors made a quadruple change on 73, Ruth, Martin, Smith and Lamie making way for Stewart, MacKenzie, McDonell and McLean. Connolly saw the first yellow card of the Pittodrie season, hoiking down Molloy as he advanced over halfway in the 76thminute. Briedl followed him in a couple of minutes later, presumably for dissent. Hamilton was replaced by Todorov in the visitors’ final change on 80, with Aberdeen doing likewise in introducing Bilalovic and Ayoub Mauloua for Ronan and Yogane. Pignatiello was immediately booked for hauling back Mouloua. Somehow the Dons missed out on doubling the lead from a corner, the ball deflecting off a defender. Connolly tried to clear it off the line but could only smash it against the bar and in the stramash that followed the rebound, the referee blew for a foul on the goalkeeper. Mouloua wasn’t far away on 85, cutting inside after receiving a pass from Nisbet, but Wills did well to push his shot behind. Aberdeen had regained control by now, playing the game in the Spiders’ half. Aberdeen were inches away in the 90th minute, Briedl’s corner met at the back post by Mouloua, but his header hit the inside of the post but stayed out. There was time for Queen’s Park to break, McDonnell crossing from the left for Stewart to head what looked for all the world like an equaliser only for Muller to produce a super save away to his left to claw the ball away - Muller time in added time. It was a save that sealed the win.

FULL-TIME: ABERDEEN 2 QUEEN’S PARK 1 ABERDEEN: Muller, Mayo, Milne, Happe, Guinness-Walker (Molloy 63), Lyons, Aremu (Briedl 63), Yogane (Bilalovic 81), Ronan (Mouloua 81), Smith (Olusanya 63), Nisbet. Subs not used: Mitov, Lobban, Kjartansson, Marshall. Goals: Happe (3), Smith (11) Booked: Briedl QUEEN’S PARK: Wills, Pignatiello, Murray, Lamie (MacKenzie 73), Shiels, Connolly, Longridge, Martin (McLean 73), Smith (McDonnell 73), Ruth (Stewart 73), Hamilton (Todorov 80). Subs not used: Sliwinski, Fisher, McCallion, Brannan. Goal: Hamilton (61) Booked: Connolly, Pignatiello