Aberdeen 1 Queen’s Park 0

The first Spiders line-up to take the field at the north-east ground in 52 years included Nikola Ujdur and Jack Thomson who returned after injury, with Zach Mauchin dropping out due to a knock and Roddy MacGregor moving to the bench.

The hosts kicked off and Jack Turner was pulled up for a foul on Nicky Devlin on the left touchline before 30 seconds had been played.

Some cool defending from the blue and white shirted players kept Aberdeen at bay in the early stages as Callum Davidson’s side looked to play themselves into the game.

Calum Ferrie was called into action on four minutes as Nicky Devlin broke clear on the right with the shot-stopper using his legs to block at the expense of a corner that was cleared.

Cammy Kerr was well positioned four minutes later to block a Jack MacKenzie after the left sided player had cut in and let fly with his right foot.

The Spiders supporters could be heard across Pittodrie with their singing only interrupted by successful shouts for a foul after Thomson had been tripped in midfield by Sivert Heltne Nilsen.

Pape Habib Gueye was shown a yellow card just before the quarter of an hour mark for a barge on Ferrie as the goalkeeper looked to clutch a high ball following a free-kick.

On 17 minutes The Spiders should have taken the lead when Dom Thomas pounced on a slack back pass from Jack Milne and bore down on the home goal. The skipper looked up and slid a pass sideways to Zak Rudden who drove the ball past Dimitar Mitov only for Milne to atone for his error by popping up to clear.

A firm Kerr sliding tackle ended an Aberdeen breakaway midway through the half with the defender heading past for a corner shortly afterwards as Ester Sokler waited to pounce.

The dead ball from the right was met by MacKenzie at the back post with Ferrie dealing comfortably with Gavin Molloy’s header after the ball was knocked back across goal.

Queen’s had another good opportunity on 28 minutes when Louis Longridge and Thomas combined to set up Turner who turned and fired for goal with Mitov having to make a smart stop.

Josh Scott was cautioned ten minutes from the break for one foul too many after a trip on Morris with Graeme Shinnie’s whipped in delivery punched clear by Ferrie.

On 37 minutes Ferrie produced a top drawer save as he stretched high to his right to claw away a header from Gueye that was destined for the top corner.

Ferrie denied MacKenzie when he pushed out an angled drive five minutes later with the visiting defenders ushering the loose ball to safety.

Turner went down injured just before the break with the midfielder able to carry on after treatment with the half-time whistle sounding shortly afterwards.

Half time – Aberdeen 0 Queen’s Park 0

Queen’s restarted the game however it was Aberdeen that threatened first with a chipped Jamie McGrath effort that dropped wide of the far post.

Rudden responded with a low drive on 47 minutes that Mitov had to move sharply to save with an offside flag denying the hosts a goal 30 seconds later after Sokler slotted home.

MacKenzie and Devlin fired wide of Ferrie’s goal as Aberdeen looked for a breakthrough with Sokler nodding the next chance over however the game remained goalless with ten minutes of the second half gone.

Queen’s forced a corner just before the hour mark however no danger threatened from Turner’s cross with the hosts mounting a breakaway that fizzled out after the ball was cleared.

Dane Murray stood tall to clear as the ball bounced about the Queen’s box on 62 minutes with the visitors making a triple substitution a minute later with Henry Fielding making his debut.

Aberdeen sub Vincente Besuijen was next in the book for an off the ball trip on Turner 17 minutes from time with Rudden forcing Mitov into another stop when play resumed.

Queen’s Park gave another reminder of their attacking hopes with a break on 77 minutes when Roddy MacGregor released Josh Hinds with the ball played to Sean Welsh who sent in a low 20 yarder that Mitov leapt to save.

MacGregor picked up a late yellow card with the visiting defence once again standing firm to clear with the hosts James McGarry booked in the aftermath.

Ferrie clutched a cross from Topi Keskinen as the game entered six minutes of injury time.

Ninety seconds into added on time the deadlock was finally broken as Keskinen was picked out at the edge of the box and he turned before planting a shot high into the net.

Queen’s Park – Calum Ferrie, Nikola Ujdur (Henry Fieldson 63), Dane Murray, Cammy Kerr, Louis Longridge (Josh Hinds 63), Jack Thomson (Roddy MacGregor 63), Sean Welsh, Jack Turner (Liam McLeish 90+3), Josh Scott (Magnus Mackenzie 74), Dom Thomas, Zak Rudden.
Unused substitutes – Jack Wills (G/k), Lennon Connolly, Tyrece McDonnell, Aiden McGinlay.

Aberdeen – Dimitar Mitov, Nicky Devlin, Jack MacKenzie (James McGarry 78), Graeme Shinnie, Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Jamie McGrath, Pape Habib Gueye (Vicente Besuijen 46), Ester Sokler (Peter Ambrose 78), Shayden Morris (Topi Keskinen 57), Gavin Molloy, Jack Milne.
Unused substitutes – Ross Doohan (G/k), Richard Jensen, Ante Palaversa, Angus MacDonald, Alfie Bavidge.

Referee – Colin Steven.