Aberdeen 3 - 0 Livingston

Aberdeen moved back into the top six this afternoon, as they proved too strong for struggling Livi. Anderson opened the scoring in the 17th minute as he headed a Jamie Smith cross past McKenzie. Livi were not going to lie down however and they hit the woodwork before the break and threatened after the interval. A goal from Lovell after 63 minutes settled the nerves and when Snoyl grabbed his first goal for the club nine minutes from time there was no way back for the visitor's.

After a minute's applause to the memory of Jimmy Johnstone, Livingston got this match under way. Smith almost set up Crawford in the second minute with a defence splitting pass that was just too heavy for the forward. Two minutes later Aberdeen won the first corner after Lovell had been released on the left. Diamond's header was deflected for a second corner before Anderson steered the ball wide. Livi ventured forward in the 8th minute but Aberdeen scrambled the ball clear. Then two minutes later a free kick on the left caused the Dons all sorts of problems and ended with Strong hooking the ball wide.

At the other end the Livi defence was at sixes sevens but recovered as Lovell looked to shoot from twelve yards. Aberdeen won their third corner of the match and it produced the opening goal when Snoyl played it short to Smith. He in turn whipped in a great cross and Russell Anderson headed unchallenged past McKenzie. Anderson was then called into action at the other end with a couple of well-timed challenges to ensure that there was no quick response from Livi. The visitor's then had the ball in the net after 25 minutes but Brittain was clearly offside.

A minute later great play by Snoyl released Chris Clark and McKenzie made a fine block from the midfielder's strike. Another effort from Anderson was then blocked before a Snoyl strike was deflected wide of the target. Hoolahan got in behind the Dons defence on the half hour mark but fortunately he couldn't find a colleague in the centre. A minute later Lovell had a fierce shot blocked in what was proving to be an entertaining match. Smith then tried from 30 yards out but the effort went high and wide.

Smith's next effort forced a save from McKenzie in the 38th minute with a low drive before Livingston went close two minutes later. Langfield should have won a free kick swung in from the right but the keeper missed it and Dorado headed wide. With two minutes of the half remaining Aberdeen won a free kick wide left but Smith delivered the ball straight into the arms of Roddie McKenzie. Smith had another opportunity a minute but didn't connect properly. Then in the final minute Livi went close when MacKay lobbed the ball over Langfield and crashed the ball off the bar.

It was Livi who had the better start to the second half and they should have levelled in the 50th minute when Walker was inches from connecting with a cross six yards out. Noel Whelan then made an appearance in the 53rd minute as the visitor's looked to fight back. It was Aberdeen who looked more likely however as a couple of corners put Livi under pressure. Dorado then collected the first yellow card in the 57th minute for a cynical challenge on Lovell. The same player was lucky not to see red two minutes later when he clearly pulled Crawford back as he went in on goal. Unbelievably the referee allowed play to continue and his assistant who was only yards away didn't want to know.

An error by Smith on the hour mark almost let Morrow in but fortunately he curled the ball wide. Then in the 63rd minute Aberdeen won two corners in quick succession and extended their lead from the second set play as Lovell headed past McKenzie from close range. Snoyl was then subject to a late challenge, which went unpunished before Dempsey collected a yellow for a challenge on Brittain in the 67th minute. Two minutes later Smith had a chance to seal the points but hit the side netting from a tight angle. Aberdeen had a good chance in the 72nd minute when they won a free kick on the edge of the box.

Snoyl rolled it to Dempsey but his shot was blocked on the edge of the box and two minutes later McNaughton had another fierce shot blocked as they looked to kill off Livi. A Snoyl free kick produced the Dons 11th corner of the afternoon then seconds later McKenzie had to make a great save to prevent an own goal and concede the 12th corner. From the set play the keeper produced another great stop from Severin before Snoyl collected the ball and fired it into the net for his first goal for the club.

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Match Stats:

		Dons	Livi
Goal Attempts		8	5
On Target		5	0
Corners		11	1
Possession		53%	47%

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