By Jim Davie

FOR MOST of the game it was difficult to believe that almost the entire length of the SPL separated the teams.

Dunfermline and Aberdeen looked pretty evenly matched, but three costly errors by the home side showed why they are the ones fighting for SPL survival, whilst the Dons are vying for a Champions League spot.

The visitors were solid throughout with Russell Anderson and his fellow defenders allowing very little to get past them.

And the men up front clinically punished the Pars for their mistakes.

For the home side the pace of Freddy Daquin, paired up front with Stevie Crawford, looked as if it might unsettle Anderson and Co early on.

With three ex-Pars and four ex-Dons in the respective starting line-ups to add spice to proceedings, it was disappointing that goalscoring chances were so few and far between in the first half.

The only heart-stopping moment of note was when Pars keeper Dorus De Vries brilliantly palmed away a netbound Chris Clark header.

That is if you do not count the cheeky 55-yarder from Scott Severin who tried to catch De Vries unawares straight from the kick-off.

After an even first 45 an uncharacteristic slip by Dunfermline skipper Greg Shields left Pittodrie striker Lee Miller through on goal and he gave the Dutch keeper no chance from 12 yards out.

New East End Park boss Stephen Kenny had worked his magic last week with his half-time team talk and second-half substitutions, but there was to be no repeat on Saturday.

Though he brought on another ex-Don, Jim Hamilton, for Scott Muirhead and Stephen Simmons for Aaron Labonte, the visitors wrapped up an impressive performance by scoring twice in two minutes late in the game.

The scorer was Darren Mackie, firstly taking advantage of a Scott Wilson mistake to again give De Vries no chance, then picking up a misplaced Pars free-kick and running the length of the park to slot home the third.

The Dutch keeper would have expected better protection from his defensive colleagues for all three counters but he refused to lay the blame on them for a defeat he felt was a little bit harsh.

“At half-time we still thought we could beat them and then the unexpected happened,” he said.

“It was an unfortunate mistake from Greg, the second one was a mistake as well and the third tells the whole story.

“He (Shields) is a player who I can honestly say I never see making mistakes, even in training.

“We tried to come back after the first goal but after the second it was almost impossible.”

At least someone with Pars connections enjoyed the game.

Gary Dempsey, a fans’ favourite in his time at Dunfermline, was an influential player in the visitors’ midfield.

He said, “It was a very pleasing win. We were a bit wary coming down, what with the new manager coming in.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game but I thought we did a very professional job, although it was a couple of mistakes that led to two—well, probably all three—of our goals actually.

“I thought we were pretty comfortable in the game and if anybody was going to win it would be us.”

The ex-Par did have some sympathy for his former mates, however.

“I’m still in contact with a lot of the Dunfermline lads,” he said.

“I spoke to them during the week and they were saying how impressed they’ve been with the new manager, so I think it’s only a matter of time before things improve.

“There are too many good professionals at the club for it not to go right.”

Aberdeen chief Jimmy Calderwood said, “There wasn’t a lot in it in the first half, but we got the break when Greg made that mistake—it’s not like him—and the confidence began to drain away from Dunfermline.”

The Dons were second in the league until Rangers overtook them on goal difference yesterday, and the Dons boss added, “If we rest on our laurels we’ll get a kick up the backside.”

Asked if he thought Aberdeen could go on to claim a Champions League spot, Calderwood wisely played that kind of talk down.

“No, I’m not that daft,” he laughed. “The supporters probably will be and they’ll be expecting us to win it as well.”

Dunfermline boss Kenny, of his first full game in charge, said, “I actually thought we did all right in the first half. It was a pretty even game.

“We were doing OK in the second half too but then we made a mistake and got punished, then got punished again for the second mistake.

“We did all right territorially but we didn’t create enough clear-cut chances.”

Despite still being rooted to the foot of the table the Irishman preferred to look at the bigger picture, concluding, “We’re only two points behind. There’s still plenty of time.

“We’re looking for stability and the preservation of our Premierleague status—but I have ambitions far beyond that for this club.”