Aberdeen took a vital three points which could to prove extremely beneficial come the end of the season. Inverness came into the match on an unbeaten streak of six games and had only dropped points at Celtic park. They left Pittodrie with no points and the one goal that separated the sides was worthy of any victory for the Dons.
Aberdeen started the first half well as they usually tend to do and were piling pressure onto the Caley defence. Calvin Zola up top was causing problems for Inverness and denied Aberdeen's first goal, yes Calvin Zola denied Aberdeen's first goal. Johnny Hayes whipped in the outswinging corner and the ball met the rising head of Shaughnessy. The ball was heading into the net but Zola couldn't get his body out of the way in time and the ball struck him in the left thigh allowing the Inverness defence to clear. He couldn't have don anything about it. Aberdeen continued to attack the opposition goal and in the tenth minute Pawlett picked up the ball in midfield, he chested the ball past Draper and drove a low shot in on goal. He was unlucky to drag the shot slightly wide. Pawlett wa then involved in the next attacking move ten minutes later. Pawlett picked out Zola up front who controlled superbly and layed the ball off to Cammy Smith who had a shot at goal. A great save from the Inverness keeper, managed to keep the shot out but could only concede a corner. Almost a carbon copy from the first attacking move, Hayes put an outswinging corner into the box and up jumped Hector who thundered the ball in at goal. Everyone in Pittodrie thought the next sight they saw would be the Caley net bulging but instead, Brill shoved a hand in the air and punched the ball up over the bar. Another terrific save from the Inverness keeper who's currently on loan from Luton Town. Aberdeen could not convert their dominance into goals and went in at half time somehow till level with the highlanders.
Terry Butcher had obviously got right amongst his players during the half time team talk as Inverness looked a different side. Aberdeen now had a game on their hands. Inverness' first real chance came just after the break. Shinne put the corner into the back post and found Warren who headed the ball to Langfield's near post. Th ball looked certain to go in. but there was Smith to hook the ball clear off the line. The play was becoming scrappy and as Inverness searched for the opening goal the Dons defence was shaking. However they stood Strong and forced a long ranged shot from Dorran. The ball found it's way to Billy McKay who tried an overhead kick that went sailing miles over the bar. The match was becoming rather feisty after a few rough tackles and that manor continued when Raven totally took Hayes' legs away from him after a nice bit of football from the Dons. Hayes whipped in the cross from the resulting free kick and was easily cleared but only as far as Low. Low immediately put the ball back into the box and and Vernon found himself with the ball and his back to goal after Pawlett had flicked the cross on. Vernon without thinking shimmied, swivelled and shot and the ball was finely put away into the bottom right of the Inverness goal. The 11,000 plus fans inside Pittodrie erupted into ecstasy and so did Vernon who snatched his first goal of the campaign. You could tell how much the goal meant to the striker from his enthusiastic celebration. Aberdeen had their goal nine minutes from time, but the job wasn't done yet. After another period of short Thistle pressure Aberdeen broke away and Hayes almost doubled the Dons' lead after his outside of the foot effort went inches wide. Aberdeen held on after one last Inverness corner to take the victory and inflict Inverness' first defeat of the season upon them.
FT: Aberdeen 1-0 Inverness CT
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