Aberdeen 2 - 0 Kilmarnock

The Young Dons returned to Glebe Park for the first time in five weeks as they entertained a Kilmarnock second string currently lying bottom of the table but fresh off a thumping 6-3 win over St Johnstone. Paul Sheerin?s team are in the midst of a fine free scoring run of form and sit just one point off top spot. Three successive league wins and a Youth Cup success have seen the Dons score sixteen goals in their last four outings. First team men Mark Reynolds, Dominic Ball and Nicky Maynard all played in a strong home team while the experienced Cammy Bell and Gary Dicker featured for Kilmarnock.

Aberdeen were first to threaten in five minutes when they won a free kick twenty five yards out but Frank Ross was just off target with a fine effort. Nicky Maynard did well to win the ball in midfield before playing Seb Ross in and the youngster?s angled drive brought an excellent save from Cammy Bell. Killie were not showing much as an attacking force, offside flags against Eamonn Brophy thwarting a number of forays into Aberdeen territory.
A deep Frank Ross corner picked out Dominic Ball at the far post in 20 minutes but his header was deflected wide for another corner. On 25 minutes a superb ball from Mark Reynolds freed Danny Harvie but the full back?s shot lacked the pace to beat Bell. Aberdeen were creating the better openings but Killie?s stuffy defence was keeping them at bay. A Brophy header saw Craddock make a flying save but once again the offside flag was up. Killie coach Andy Millen was spoken to by the referee after querying the decision.
A fine Frank Ross cross caused panic in the visitors? ranks but McClevy headed clear for a fruitless corner. The deadlock was broken in the 41st minute when Frank Ross delivered a superb cross right on to the head of Connor McLennan who made no mistake from six yards. A ball of real quality from Frank which achieved the desired result.
The visitors were forced to make a change on 43 minutes Jefferies replacing Graham who had sustained a face knock. A rare Kilmarnock attack saw Samizadeh shoot wide from twenty yards just before the half time whistle blew. A solid opening forty five minutes from the Dons who deserved to be ahead, the visitors having shown very little in the way of attacking threat.

Half time Aberdeen 1 Kilmarnock 0

Aberdeen brought Toby Wells on after the interval, Danny Harvie remaining in the dressing room. Four minutes after the break it was 2-0 as Nicky Maynard rifled a shot into the net via the underside of the crossbar after Mark Reynolds had turned a Frank Ross free kick into his path. Two minutes later Cammy Bell produced a superb save to deny Seb Ross whose header from a fine Ryan Harrington cross seemed destined for the back of the net. Paul Sheerin made a second change on 55 minutes, Chris Antoniazzi replacing Miko Virtanen. Kilmarnock broke forward and Brophy fired a dangerous cross into the box but David Craddock was coolness personified as he grabbed the ball ahead of the inrushing Samizadeh. Brophy broke clear on the hour mark but Craddock stood strong to keep him out. Dean Campbell was booked for a challenge on Mouanda but most onlookers felt it was a 50/50 challenge with both players determined to win the ball. Samizadeh quickly followed Dean into the book for simulation.
A dreadful passback by Brophy almost played Maynard in for a second goal but he was blocked out before he could get a shot away. Dicker was replaced by Scally on 67 minutes as the visitors tried to shuffle the pack in a bid to get into the game. Brophy tried his luck from distance but his shot flew narrowly wide as the game went into its final twenty minutes.
Andy Millen threw on Cameron for Samizadeh with 14 minutes left but it was Aberdeen still very much in the ascendancy as a dazzling run by Seb Ross almost created a third goal for the home side, Bell doing well to turn the midfielder?s shot wide of the target. The final change from the Dons saw Bruce Anderson take over from Connor McLennan with five minutes of the ninety left and the sub was quickly into the action playing Maynard in but the striker dragged his shot wide of the right hand post. Bruce himself had the next shot on goal firing wide after good work from Seb Ross as the Dons looked for a third. That third goal didn?t come but it was another sound, workmanlike victory for Aberdeen who are building some real momentum.