Scottish Premier League - Saturday, 8th May 2010
St Mirren Park, Paisley
Aberdeen brought the curtain down on their 2009/10 campaign in style in Paisley this afternoon. An all too rare fine performance earned the Dons the three points, in front of a surprisingly healthy travelling support. An own goal in the 27th minute from ex-Aberdeen player Lee Mair proved to be enough. St Mirren had their chances but a combination of solid defending and some decent goalkeeping got Aberdeen their 12th clean sheet of the season.
On a perfect afternoon for football, it was St Mirren who created the first half chance in the second minute. O’Donnell attempting a half volley on the turn, the midfielder could not make proper contact and his shot trickled wide. Gibson had Aberdeen’s first chance in the fifth minute. The youngster, getting his head onto Mulgrew’s corner, was unable to beat Howard in goals. In the seventh minute, some miscommunication at the back resulted in Mulgrew almost turning the ball into his own net, Langfield had to run back and just managed to slide in and spare his defender’s blushes.
Carey flashed a ball across the Dons’ penalty area in the 11th minute, but fortunately nobody could get a touch. Gibson showed his ambition five minutes later, trying his luck from 30 yards out, his shot was straight at Howard though. Robb managed to chip another ball across goal in the 20th minute, but again, nobody was there to take advantage for the Saints. Three minutes later, Mulgrew forced Howard into a smart save low to his left with a free kick from 25 yards.
Aberdeen made the breakthrough in the 27th minute. Robertson swung a great ball in from the left which found Mackie on the edge of the box. The striker’s volley looked to be heading just wide until it took a hefty deflection off Mair, which left Howard stranded as the ball flew into other corner of the net. The home side nearly replied just two minutes later; Mehmet hitting the post with a powerful header from the penalty spot, which had Langfield beaten. Mehmet went close again in the 40th minute; the big striker found himself in a bit of space in the box and fired in a shot to the bottom right-hand corner. Langfield could only parry the effort but Foster was there to tidy up. Thomson went for goal from about 30 yards, as St Mirren searched for a first half equaliser, but his shot flew high and wide and the referee brought the half to a close.
St Mirren started the second half strongly, Mehmet playing in Dorman in the 46th minute. Ifil was quick to put him under pressure though, and blocked the eventual shot. Kerr tried to repeat his superb strike against Killie two minutes later, but this time his effort lacked power and was easily saved by Howard. Mehmet was looking dangerous for the Paisley club and had another chance in the 54th minute, just failing to make get his head onto Dorman’s cross. In the 58th minute, McGhee put on Paton and Fyvie in place off Gibson and Robertson. And Paton was involved in the 61st minute, after taking on two defenders in the box, when he possibly could have had a shot, he teed up Kerr who dragged his shot wide from the edge of the D.
A minute later, Langfield was forced to come rushing off his line to close down substitute Loy who had broken through the Dons defence. In the 64th minute, some fantastic passing build up play from Aberdeen culminated in Fyvie pulling his effort from the edge of the area wide. The 70th minute saw Mehmet drive a low hard ball across the Aberdeen goal, but once again Langfield foiled the striker, reacting quickly to cut out the cross. Langfield was tested again in the 74th minute, this time by a Higdon header, as the Saints looked to pile on the pressure in search of an equaliser. Howard then pulled off a good save moments later, to tip a Mulgrew free kick over the bar.
Aberdeen were caught sleeping in the 77th minute. St Mirren took a quick, short corner and while Aberdeen were still getting organised, Carey ran, unchallenged, into the box and blasted a shot just over the bar. After that, it seemed as though the Dons had weathered the storm. In the 86th minute, Aberdeen played some great possession football in the St Mirren half, but nobody wanted to shoot and the ball was eventually lost. The home side had one last chance in the 91st minute, but Dargo blazed his half volley from the edge of the box high over the bar, and with it went their chances of getting anything out of the match.
So Aberdeen’s worst season in six years has finally ended. A ninth place finish is far from ideal for McGhee’s first season in charge, but the manager is expected to ring the changes over the summer as he endeavours to take bring respectability back to the club. It may well be the last time we see many of these players in an Aberdeen shirt, and there should be plenty of new faces at Pittodrie come August. An exciting summer lies ahead as it’s onwards and hopefully upwards for the Dons. Roll on next season!
Ronaldanho
Danny McKay won RedTV's Junior Reporter competition: click here
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