Dundee United 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Five minutes later Aberdeen were again under pressure after Clark dwelled on the ball at the edge of his own box before the defence cleared. Then a minute later McNaughton hit a wild effort over the bar from distance. In the 33rd minute Diamond went in for a challenge with Stillie as a Severin free kick was delivered. The keeper scrambled the ball clear then required some lengthy treatment after landing awkwardly. Four minutes later Brebner conceded yet another free kick and Stewart was denied the equaliser as Richie blocked his effort as he latched on to the free kick. The Dons continued to press before the home side scrambled the ball clear.

Aberdeen looked for the equaliser in the closing minutes of the first half but the home defence stood firm. Diamond continued to make surges forward as the visitors continued their shoot on sight policy. Ritchie rescued United again in the 44th minute when he blocked a net bound shot from Scott Severin. A minute later a Jamie Smith cross was fired in too close to Stillie with several Dons players lurking in the centre then Stillie denied Nicholson and Ritchie denied Diamond as the dons looked to draw level.

Dempsey went close in the 55th minute only to see his shot cleared for a corner as the play raged from end to end. Two minutes later a United corner was headed over by Archibald. Dempsey had a crack at goal in the 62nd minute but the ball squirmed inches wide of the target. Four minutes later Aberdeen had a penalty claim denied when there looked like a handball following a corner then seconds later Diamond fired a dangerous ball across goal that was missed by Stillie before being cleared by substitute Kenneth.

A late challenge on Russell Anderson in the 68th minute went unpunished much to the disgust of the red army. Fortunately the skipper recovered and was able to continue. Three minutes later a snap effort from Scott Severin forced Stillie into a fine save with Nicholson unable to collect the loose ball. Steven Craig replaced John Stewart in the 73rd minute as Aberdeen looked to convert their pressure into a winner but a series of bizarre decisions from referee McDonald did little to aid the Aberdeen cause.

Esson was then forced to make a stop from McIntyre in the 79th minute before Smith went on a fine run and forced a save from Stillie a minute later. Then in the 81st minute Craig headed a Diamond cross wide of the target before Winter replaced the injured McNaughton in the 85th minute. A minute later Clark hit a poor effort well over as United replaced Lee Miller with Colin Samuel. Aberdeen almost grabbed a late winner in the 88th minute when Smith latched on to a long throw from Esson but Winter was unable to convert the ball at the end of the move. Another chance went a begging in injury time before Craig fired a low shot at Stillie and Nicholson fired over in the dying seconds.

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