George downs Dons

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Apr 5, 1998 | by ABERDEEN 0 St JOHNSTONE 1 ARTHUR GILL

GEORGE O'BOYLE'S 15th strike of the season kept Saints' Euro dream alive.

The shaven-haired striker's precious goal lifted the Perth side above Kilmarnock in the quest for a crack at the continent next term.

It was sweet revenge for Paul Sturrock's men - they outplayed the Dons on the last meeting of the pair in February, but lost by the same margin.

This time the Irishman's strike dumped the dismal Dons further into relegation trouble, they've picked up just three points from the last 18.

Yet despite those shocking statistics, Alex Miller's men hadn't lost a goal in open play in over nine hours at Pittodrie before yesterday.

But a woeful display, which had the home fans voting with their feet with over 20 minutes to go, left the Pittodrie side hovering just above the Premier's bottom dogs.

The Dons now have just five games left to salvage their season, but have left the door open for those below them to close the gap.

It was almost ironic on a day when Aberdeen had nothing in midfield that it was a former Pittodrie player who carved out the only goal.

Paul Kane, the first Scottish player to move under the Bosman ruling after a bitter bust-up with then gaffer Roy Aitken, controlled the game for the visitors.

The goal came from the best move of the match. Kane sent a ball to the back post, new boy Gerry McMahon turned it back and O'Boyle supplied the vital finishing touch.

Saints could have won by a greater margin, but seemed content to grind out their eighth 1-0 success of the current campaign.

Aberdeen restricted themselves to just one effort of any note in as poor an opening 45 minutes as they've put in all season.

Dean Windass, restored at the expense of Billy Dodds, twisted and turned on the edge of the area but his stunning 20-yard drive was met with a save of equal quality by Scotland hopeful Alan Main.