Aberdeen 0 - 1 Dundee

After Thursday's emphatic Youth Cup semi-final win against Kilmarnock, the Young Dons returned to Development League action at Forfar when they took on Dundee in arguably their most important game of the campaign to date.
The Dens Park side have won their last eight games in a row and currently lie second in the table, four points ahead of Aberdeen but having played a game more. Leaders Hibernian, who we play next week, are a point clear of the Dark Blues, again having played one game more than us. Victory today was a must if the title is to come back to Pittodrie.
A reflection of the importance of the game was highlighted by the fact both teams named strong looking line-ups with a number of first team players in both starting XIs.

Aberdeen created the first opening on five minutes when Seb Ross sent Bruce Anderson scampering down the right and the Dundee defence had to be on its toes to clear the ball away from the inrushing Cosgrove at the expense of a corner. A lovely ball from Virtanen saw Wright race in on goal but he could not get a proper contact on his attempted lob goalward and the ball was cleared. Dundee's first effort on goal came in the tenth minute but Etxabeguren's header from a Wolters corner was high and wide.
The game was being played at a very fast tempo and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, Wighton playing a nice through ball for Scott to slip the ball past Archie Mair. Aberdeen went straight on to the offensive and a Seb Ross shot was deflected wide following a corner. From the second flag kick Cosgrove headed wide. Dundee were looking dangerous when they moved forward, and it needed a timely interception from MacPherson to prevent Scott getting his second of the game. Seconds later a fine, fingertip save from Mair denied the Dees striker. Wolters made a dangerous break down the left but fortunately for the Dons there were no takers for his inviting cross. Curran was next to threaten, shooting into the side-netting after a great cross-field ball from the impressive Wighton.
A free kick from Wright was flicked on by first Cosgrove, then Harvie, before falling to Maynard who fired over from eight yards, but the flag was up for offside. Aberdeen had started the game well but after the goal Dundee took control. Just after the half hour a fine move involving Scott and Curran freed Wighton who lobbed narrowly over. Cosgrove then forced a fine save from Ferrie as the action raged from end to end. Dominic Ball was booked on 33 minutes for a foul on Wolters.
Aberdeen passed up a good chance to equalise on 36 minutes when Wright found some space down the right but he fired an angled shot just wide. Three minutes from the break the visitors came within a whisker of doubling their lead when Scott narrowly failed to connect with a fine cross from Lambert.
A thoroughly entertaining first half with some impressive football from the visitors but Aberdeen were still in the game.

Half time: Aberdeen 0 Dundee 1

Neither coach made any change at the interval and the Dark Blues were first to threaten but Joe MacPherson cleared well after a lightning break from the fleet-footed Curran. Just before the hour mark the Dons had a very loud shout for a penalty when keeper Ferrie clashed with Cosgrove as they both challenged for a Scott Wright cross, but referee Fordyce awarded a corner instead. The referee then went and spoke to the near side linesman about the incident, but he was not for changing his mind. The keeper clearly made contact with big Sam and not the ball therefore the home side had a strong case. A sense for injustice spurred the Dons on in the final half hour and they started to come more into the game again.
The pace was unrelenting and as the game became stretched the experienced men in both defences had to be on their toes as gaps appeared. On 65 minutes a snapshot from Wighton forced a fine save from Mair before Bruce Anderson saw a twenty-yard effort deflected wide. A bad-tempered outburst from Wolters on 71 minutes saw the Dutchman earn a needless yellow card. A minute later Rice came on to take Wolters' place. The game then become scrappy as both sides battled for supremacy with chances few and far between. A long throw caused some consternation in the Dundee six-yard box but when the ball broke to Wright he couldn't get any power on his shot. Dundee raced up to the other end and Mair saved brilliantly to foil Wighton and keep Aberdeen in the game.
The Dons keeper saved well again from Moore as the visitors tried to get a killer second goal. Maynard came off to be replaced by McLennan for the final seven minutes of the game. Aberdeen were pressing hard for an equaliser but the Dundee defence, well marshalled by the experienced Kerr and Etxabeguren, was standing firm. Danny Harvie became the game's third booking om 89 minutes for a tug on the shirt of Wighton. Those two had a great battle all afternoon and Danny more than held his own. Goal scorer Scott was replaced by Anderson as the game went into stoppage time. Sam Cosgrove saw yellow for a push on Piggott just before the final whistle blew to end a disappointing game for the Dons.
Over the 90 minutes you have to say Dundee were the side who deserved it more and the league now looks like a battle between the Dens Park side and Hibs.