Aberdeen opened the scoring in two minutes. Winters forced a corner on the left and after a goalmouth scramble the ball fell to Dadi 12 yards out and he rifled in his first goal for the club. Queens recovered from the early set back and Feroz beat White on the right before crossing to Weatherson. The striker was closed down quickly and Esson collected easily. Queens had a loud claim for a penalty two minutes later when McGuire looked to push Feroz, but the referee waved away the claims. In the 9th minute Zerouali and Darren Young combined before Young blasted over from 18 yards.
In the 13th minute Dadi won a free kick 25 yards out and Winters effort was deflected for a corner. Whyte headed the subsequent corner across the face of the goal. Two minutes later O'Neil went close when he flighted the ball over Esson's bar from 20 yards. Feroz was causing Aberdeen problems on the right and in the 19th minute he forced his way into the Aberdeen penalty area before delivering the ball to O'Neil. He drove his effort wide. It was Aberdeen who doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute with a good break from the back. Tiernan broke from defence and passed to Zerouali. One touch from the Moroccan set Ben Thornley away. He ran thirty yards before composing himself and sending the ball wide of Scott.
Queens should have pulled one back in the 37th minute when Connelly crossed from the right. Solberg slipped as the ball came over and Esson did well to block McAlpine's fierce drive. Aberdeen finished the half in the ascendancy and Winters, McGuire and Thornley all went close to adding a third. Queen of the South almost pulled one back in the stroke of half time when Forez went on a solo run and Esson pulled off a magnificent save.
Derek Young replaced Thornley in the 62nd minute, but it was Queen of the South that pulled a goal back a minute later when Feroz drilled the ball past Esson from 12 yards. Darren Young went close in the 67th minute when Dadi and Zerouali set him up. His strike went inches wide of Scott's left hand post. A minute later, Zerouali went close with an overhead kick, but he was adjudged offside. Dadi should have scored in the 71st minute when he went one on one with the keeper. However Scott gathered the ball from the striker's feet. Mackie replaced Dadi a minute later.
The 74th minute saw Esson rescue the Dons once more. A free kick 20 yards out was rolled to Weatherson and he drove a low shot in on goal, which Esson saved well. Zerouali went close in the 81st minute, but his shot went wide as the Dons desperately tried to kill off the game. He went close again three minutes later after a neat one two with Darren Young. The last ten minutes saw Aberdeen regain control of the match without further incident.