Livingston created the first chance of the game when McGuire broke on the right and delivered a cross that crashed off the junction of post and crossbar. Aberdeen then began to stamp their authority on the match and won a series of corners in the opening ten minutes. Chris Clark was causing the visitors problems on the left and he tested McEwan in the 5th minute with a low drive. However, it was Livingston that took the lead in the 13th minute when the Dons back line failed to deal with a lofted ball played into the area. Lowndes controlled the ball and drove it into the net off the near post.
Clark was causing more problems in the 36th minute when O'Donoghue released him again. This time the Livingston defence managed to clear and a minute later Anderson had to look lively as Fernandez threatened again. Belabed should have equalised in the 41st minute but was denied when McEwan produced a stunning save. On the stroke of half time Livingston added a third. The Dons failed to clear a free kick and McGuire swung the ball back into the danger area and Rollo rose unchallenged to head home.
At this stage Aberdeen had the bulk of the possession, but little was happening in the way of clear-cut chances, as time and again the final ball wasn't good enough. The Dons threw themselves a lifeline in the 75th minute when Tiernan set up Michie to fire home from eight yards. McCulloch went close to increasing the lead in the 86th minute when he drilled the ball wide from 15 yards. The final chance of the match fell to Chris Clark, but the keeper comfortably held his shot.