Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 2 Aberdeen

Aberdeen built up a two-goal advantage at the interval then spent the second half defending in depth as they allowed the home side back into the match. Steve Crawford grabbed his first goal for the club in the 35th minute and Scott Severin headed a second on the stroke of half time to set the Dons up for the win. Dunfermline came out with purpose after the break but failed to convert a soft penalty in the 55th minute and never carved out a better chance after that.

Aberdeen started well and managed the first shot on target in the 2nd minute. Barry Nicholson setting up Chris Clark who hit his shot straight at keeper, McGregor. The Dons then won the first corner of the match in the 5th minute, but McGregor easily dealt with Muirhead's delivery. A second corner followed six minutes later and this time McGregor flapped the ball clear in the swirling wind before his defence completed the clearance. Dunfermline then threatened for the first time in the 13th minute when Burchill failed to make decent contact with a cross and headed wide of the target. Incredibly he was awarded a corner, which came to nothing as Esson was fouled.

Makel was starting to dominate in the middle of the park now as the home side started to come into the game. Smith went close in the 22nd minute as he beat Darren Young and hit a decent effort just inches over the bar. Smith was at the heart of the action again a minute later when good build up play saw the midfielder fire the ball across the face of the goal but was well defended by the home side. In the 25th minute Derek Young took a kick at Chris Clark and earned himself a free kick as Aberdeen looked to threaten again. Muirhead delivered a good cross two minutes later but Nicholson's effort was deflected away before Smith went close with a drive that drifted wide.

Aberdeen almost added a second in the 37th minute when a reckless pass back by Wilson was almost pounced on by Steve Lovell. Aberdeen were now in command as the home side were forced to soak up immense pressure. McGregor was then forced into a great save from McNaughton when the midfielder hit a 25-yard rasping shot that the keeper tipped round the post. Aberdeen doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time when Lovell won a free kick 10 yards outside the home penalty area. Jamie Smith delivered the ball and Scott Severin rose to head past McGregor.

Dunfermline went route one in the opening minute of the second half before Darren Young screwed his shot wide. A minute later Esson came rushing from his goal and made a poor punch that fortunately fell to one of his defenders as Aberdeen failed to settle back into the domination they enjoyed before the break. Tarachulski, who had replaced Burchill at the interval, was causing problems for the Dons and he forced a save from Esson in the 50th minute. Aberdeen were on the back foot now and were having to defend in depth as the home side looked to pull a goal back.

The Dons appeared unable to make an impact in the middle of the park as the second half was played almost exclusively in the Aberdeen half. Then in the 67th minute Muirhead collected the ball for the first time and went on a powerful run that had Scott Wilson scrambling the ball clear from the danger area. A clash of heads between Lovell and Tarachulski brought the game to a halt in the 70th minute but fortunately both players recovered. There were appeals for a second penalty in the 73rd penalty as Tarachulski fired a powerful shot straight at Severin. Common sense prevailed this time and the appeal was waved away.

A Dunfermline corner two minutes later was headed wide by Thomson as Aberdeen continued to be forced back. Aberdeen finally broke in the 76th minute and Smith released Lovell, but he slipped as he ran in on goal with only the keeper to beat. Foster then replaced Lovell a minute later and seconds later Crawford beat several defenders then set up Smith who pulled his effort inches wide. Crawford had a chance of a second in the 82nd minute when Smith set him up but he scooped the ball high. Two minutes later Esson turned a decent Zambernardi shot round the post.

Clark broke in the 88th minute but delivered his cross behind the Dons forwards. The Dons kept up the pressure until Smith was penalised for allowing his shirt to be pulled. Dempsey then replaced Muirhead in the 89th minute, as the Dons were quite happy to protect their two-goal lead. Despite three minutes of injury time the home side were unable to make any impact on the game.