Aberdeen saw off Dunfermline Athletic 2-0 at Pittodrie thanks to a goal in either half.
The first real chance came on 11 minutes when Dunfermline won an indirect free kick inside the area, when Alex Diamond was adjudged to have impeded Scott Wilson.
Barry Nicholson rolled the ball to Scott Thomson and his fierce drive was beaten away by David Preece.
Seconds later a short backpass by Diamond left Preece in no-mans land but the young centre-half's blushes were saved when Steve Crawford's toepoked effort saw the ball go just wide of the upright.
Aberdeen's first effort on goal also came from a free-kick on 18 minutes, when Chris Clark touched the ball to David Zdrilic 25 yards from goal. His shot looked net bound after taking a deflection on the way through, but Derek Stillie produced a wonder stop to deny the big Aussie.
On 28 minutes Crawford had a chance to put the visitors in front when he got onto the end of a Billy Mehmet knockdown, but he could only clip the ball over the bar under pressure from Phil McGuire.
On 36 minutes the home side took the lead when Paul Sheerin's cross was partially cleared by Wilson, the ball fell to McGuire who hooked the ball on the turn and into the corner of the net.
Aberdeen doubled their lead on 52 minutes when Clark's corner was headed goalward by Diamond and it was Scott Booth who reacted first to slide the ball home for his 10th goal of the season.
Seconds later the Dons almost made it three when Scott Morrison picked up a loose ball in midfield before shooting from 25 yards with the ball going narrowly wide of the target.
Dunfermline went close when David Grondin made ground down the left, his low cross was touched on at the near post by Crawford, but Preece got down well to save.
On 74 minutes the visitors went close again when Andrius Skerla headed a David Grondin cross from eight yards over the bar.
On 81 minutes Clark played a neat one-two with Leigh Hinds at the edge of the area, before driving into the box, he was clipped but chose to stay on his feet allowing Stillie to block as he was about to shoot.