Aberdeen 0 - 1 Heart of Midlothian

The match kicked off in atrocious conditions as both sets of players struggled to cope with the high winds and heavy rain. The Dons set Moilanen a couple of tests in the opening minutes, but the Fin coped well. Hearts carved out the first real opening in the 5th minute when Maybury whipped in a low cross from the right and Preece did well to smother the ball at the feet of Graeme Weir. A minute later a well-worked free kick saw Valois shoot inches over the bar from 20 yards out.

Hearts were adapting to the conditions better as the Dons struggled to create any openings. In the 14th minute the quick thinking Tosh set Clark clear on the left but the youngster failed to deliver the cross early and by the time he had a second bite of the cherry, the Hearts defence were back in numbers. The home side were being frustrated by the visitors' offside game, but persistent play by Mike in the 19th minute almost produced an opener. He dispossessed Mahe at the bye line and cut the ball back for Sheerin whose shot was deflected wide for a corner.

As the weather deteriorated many of the players were struggling to keep on their feet and it was Hearts who carved out the next chance. Preece raced from his goalmouth to deny Weir on the edge of his box and the loose ball was chipped back towards the empty goal and cleared by Anderson for a corner. Two minutes later Severin should have done better when he headed over from six yards.

Stephane Mahe was forced to leave the field on a stretcher in the 43rd minute after picking up a knock in a challenge with Payne. Austin McCann replaced him. Hearts went close in the final minute of the half when McAllister almost turned the ball into his own net, but fortunately Preece made the save. Another chance went a-begging for the Dons seconds later as a cross fell behind the strikers.

With surface water now covering several parts of the pitch, the chance of an early night looked a real possibility. Aberdeen almost made a dream start to the second half when Mike turned and hit a low drive towards the bottom corner of the net. Moilanen made a fine save, but referee Dallas had already blown for an earlier infringement. Hearts then started to gain the upper hand putting the Dons defence under a bit of pressure. Severin should have done better in the 53rd minute when he hammered the ball into the RDS from a Valois corner.

The conditions almost contributed to a Hearts opener in the 68th minute when a McAllister pass back was caught in a puddle. McKenna pounced but Preece saved his shot. Another mistake by Anderson ten minutes later gave McKenna another chance, but this time he blasted the ball over the goal. Hearts were in control of the match by this stage and following a corner, Severin had a fierce shot blocked when it looked netbound.

Michie and Derek Young replaced Mike and Mackie up front, but Hearts continued to carve out all the chances as Aberdeen were forced to soak up the pressure. The Dons almost stole it in the 86th minute in a rare break when a Tosh drive was blocked with a goal looking likely. The home side went even closer in the 89th minute when Moilanen tipped a Derek Young shot round the post.

Disaster then struck the Dons in the final minute when Gary Wales splashed beyond the Dons defence and fired past Preece. The goal was probably deserved on pressure, but nevertheless a sickening blow so late in the match. The Dons had a final chance to salvage a point in injury time when Michie was through on the keeper but had his effort blocked.