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matches

Aberdeen 2 - 3 Livingston

HT Score: Aberdeen 1 - 3 Livingston

SPL Under 21
Aberdeen scorers: Belabed 32, Michie 77.
Livingston scorers: Lowndes 13, Fernandez 29, Rollo 45

22/10/2001 | KO: 19:00

Young Dons fail to claw back lions

The young Dons couldn't emulate their senior counterparts by pulling back a two goal deficit against Livingston. Trailing 3-1 at half time, a Michie goal in the second half was not enough to get a share of the points against a hard working Livingston side. Russell Anderson got another 90 minutes under his belt and Derek Young did likewise as he also comes back from injury.

Livingston created the first chance of the game when McGuire broke on the right and delivered a cross that crashed off the junction of post and crossbar. Aberdeen then began to stamp their authority on the match and won a series of corners in the opening ten minutes. Chris Clark was causing the visitors problems on the left and he tested McEwan in the 5th minute with a low drive. However, it was Livingston that took the lead in the 13th minute when the Dons back line failed to deal with a lofted ball played into the area. Lowndes controlled the ball and drove it into the net off the near post.

Bett should have equalised in the 18th minute when he had an open goal in front of him. Somehow McEwan managed to recover and block. A minute later Clark drove wide from 18 yards. Livingston increased the pressure and added a second in the 28th minute through Fernandez. The striker headed a corner from the left on to the bar and he was quickest to react to the rebound tapping in from close range. The Dons pulled one back in the 32nd minute when Rachid Belabed netted from 12 yards after a fine run and cut back from Chris Clark.

Clark was causing more problems in the 36th minute when O'Donoghue released him again. This time the Livingston defence managed to clear and a minute later Anderson had to look lively as Fernandez threatened again. Belabed should have equalised in the 41st minute but was denied when McEwan produced a stunning save. On the stroke of half time Livingston added a third. The Dons failed to clear a free kick and McGuire swung the ball back into the danger area and Rollo rose unchallenged to head home.

Livingston made the stronger start in the second period and McGuire's trickery was causing the Dons problems on the right. The visitors should have added a fourth in the 51st minute when their counter attack left Lilley facing two attackers. The centre back read the situation well and dispossessed Lowndes with a perfectly timed tackle. A great move involving Clark, Tiernan and O'Donoghue should have paid dividends a minute later, but O'Donoghue's strike went inches wide of the target.

At this stage Aberdeen had the bulk of the possession, but little was happening in the way of clear-cut chances, as time and again the final ball wasn't good enough. The Dons threw themselves a lifeline in the 75th minute when Tiernan set up Michie to fire home from eight yards. McCulloch went close to increasing the lead in the 86th minute when he drilled the ball wide from 15 yards. The final chance of the match fell to Chris Clark, but the keeper comfortably held his shot.

Aberdeen Teamsheet
Peat, Rutkiewicz, Hedderman, Anderson, Lilley (Payne 76), Belabed (Michie 64), Tiernan, Thór Bett (McKenzie 64), O'Donoghue, Clark, Young.

Unused Subs: Kidd, Hutton.

Bookings:  Lilley (28),  Tiernan (84),  Rutkiewicz (40).
Livingston Teamsheet
McEwan, Rollo, Bollan, McCulloch, Fisher, Brady, McGuire, Moffat, Lowndes (Whalen 71), Fernandez, Aurellio (Love 46)
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Referee: K. Carter