Dons down Spiders to advance into semi-final

Aberdeen ran out a convincing 4-1 victory over Queens Park on Saturday as they became the second side to advance into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. Graeme Shinnie celebrated his 600th Dons appearance with a goal whilst Kevin Nisbet and Oday Dabbagh’s double completed the scoring before Zach Rudden added a consolation goal for the Spiders. It was a frantic few minutes to kick us off at Pittodrie. Aberdeen had a lovely ball floated into the Queens Park box that just evaded birthday boy Kevin Nisbet and then Alex Jensen misread a clearance that allowed Drozd with a clear path to goal but the winger hesitated and allowed Aberdeen to deal with it defensively. Aberdeen swiftly settled into their usual routine and slowly started to dominate proceedings. The premiership side was beginning to knock on the door of their lower league opponents and Leighton Clarkson was next to test the hero of the last round, Callum Ferrie. He picked the ball up on the edge of the area and with no one closing him down, the midfielder whipped an effort goal-bound but it whizzed over the bar to the relief of Queens Park. Nisbet wasn’t to be denied a second time however, breaking the deadlock just shy of the half hour mark. Palaversa swung in the free kick, low towards the near post and Nisbet produced a stunning flick with his back to goal that went high into the Queens Park net. A beautiful goal with Nistbet finally getting some confidence in an Aberdeen shirt and surely Steve Clarke will be watching on. A quickfire double then had Aberdeen two to the good. Shayden Morris in the wide area then swept the ball low across the Queens Park area and Dabbagh was on hand to double the Dons lead just seconds after the first. Queens Park had looked a threat in the game but the second Dons goal represented a long way back for the Spiders with 30 minutes gone. Aberdeen added a third on the stroke of half-time with makeshift left back Graeme Shinnie getting in on the action. The corner came out to Shinnie on the edge of the area and his left footed volley somehow squeezed its way into the bottom corner. The Aberdeen captain was making his 600th appearence for the Dons, with no better way to celebrate it with a goal. HALF-TIME: Aberdeen 3 – 0 Queens Park Aberdeen were in no mood to take it lightly on their lower league opponents. The Dons started the second half just as they finished the first with influential midfielder Donte Palaversa starting to dictate the game. Another ball past the Queens Park backline had Nisbet chasing through on goal but Ferrie was quick out to snuff out a second goal for the Scotland international. Seconds later however, it was to be a fourth for Aberdeen, seven minutes into the half. Shayden Morris again, utilising his pace when 1v1 with Zach Mauchin drove inside and fired it across goal. It was past the outstretched Ferrie and Dabbagh was there to bundle it into the back of the net. Just after the hour, Queens Park gave their fans something to cheer about when Zach Rudden fired home from close range. A brilliant cross into the Aberdeen box from Jadan Raymond was poorly dealt with from Aberdeen and as the ball trundled along the box, Rudden was there to give the team from Glasgow something to celebrate. Callum Ferrie was starting to replicate the form from his game at Ibrox. Neat footwork from Polvara in the box had the Queens Park keeper make a smart save with his feet and then seconds after the ball into the area, Peter Ambrose’s header had him at full stretch to make a brilliant one handed save to keep the score at 4-1. As the clock wound down, Aberdeen kept trying to add to their advantage but Queens Park defended well and kept going to give their fans something to be proud of. FULL-TIME Aberdeen 4 – 1 Queens Park Teams: Aberdeen: Mitov (GK); Shinnie, Jensen, Dorrington (Milne 72′), Knoester, Clarkson (Gueye 57′), Palaversa, Morris (Polvara 78′), Keskinen, Nisbet (Fletcher-Boyd 57′), Dabbagh (Ambrose 57′) Queens Park: Ferrie (GK); Devine (Raymond 46′), Ujdur (Hinds 57′), Tizzard, Mauchin, Drozd (Rocco 74′), Welsh, Longridge, Turner, Hurst (MacGregor 74′), Rudden