Heart of Midlothian 1 - 0 Aberdeen

After having so much of the play the Dons found themselves a goal down in the 20th minutes. A Fulton free kick was swung into the box and the knock down was met by Colin Cameron. The striker made no mistake in dispatching the ball into the back of the net. The Dons looked to level in the 26th minute when Guntveit once more set Thornley clear on the left. This time Webster cleared his cross. McAllister picked up the loose ball and hit a long pass to Guntviet. The Norwegian?s effort was easily held by Niemi.

Hearts almost doubled their lead a minute later when Fulton swung in a dangerous cross. Fortunately for the Dons Tomaschek's effort was hit high and wide. Derek Young was almost gifted the equaliser in the 29th minute when Severin slipped up. Instead of cutting the ball back to Mackie, the striker tried a shot from a tight angle and Niemi blocked. Gary McSweegan replaced Adam in the 35th minute. Three minutes later, Fulton was once more causing the Dons defence problems. The stocky midfielder worked his way into the penalty area, but hit the side netting with his shot.

Aberdeen created the first clear-cut chance of the second half when Bisconti strolled through the centre and set up Derek Young. The striker turned his defender, but Niemi easily held his shot. The Dons had another chance in the 57th minute when Guntveit and Derek Young created space on the left. Young hit in a low cross, but the in coming Bisconti failed to connect. There was a nasty clash of heads a minute later between Bisconti and McKenna, with the Hearts player having to be stretchered off and replaced by Simmons.

Fergus Tiernan replaced Mackie on the hour mark. Preece made a real blunder in the 68th minute when he fumbled an easy cross and let it slip through his hands for a corner. A minute later Bett replaced Guntveit as the Dons tried to freshen things up. Persistence by Tiernan saw the youngster win a corner in the 70th minute. From the kick, McAllister tried a speculative shot at goal but sent the shot high. Derek Young was sent clear in the 74th minute, but his cut back was missed by the Dons forwards.

Aberdeen was dominating play at this stage as they won corner after corner. Lack of height up front was a real problem and in the 79th minute Skovdhal replaced Derek Young with Rutkiewicz. Cameron had a spectular overhead kick in the 39th minute that went wide of the target. This had been one of Hearts few chances in a second half dominated by Aberdeen. He followed this up a minute later with a good run into the box, but his shot was screwed wide of the target.