First Team
PRE-SEASON | Aberdeen 1-2 Saints
21st July 2020
Scott Tanser scored twice in the space of five minutes at Pittodrie this afternoon helping Saints to a 2-1 victory over Aberdeen.
All goals came in the second half in a keenly contested pre-season friendly between the two Scottish Premiership clubs, with Bruce Anderson netting for the home side in what proved to be just a consolation for The Dons.
Callum Davidson's Saints started brightly and summer recruit Shaun Rooney almost got himself off the mark for the Club just four minutes in, however he couldn't quite get his effort on target from Liam Craig's corner.
It was the home side who came closest to opening the scoring though, when Lewis Ferguson's effort from the edge of the area whizzed just over Elliott Parish's crossbar.
It was an even first 45 minutes without too many clear cut chances as neither goalkeeper was forced into making any significant stops.
Saints made a couple of changes at the break, introducing Ali McCann and Tanto Olaofe in place of Stevie May and a Trialist.
And the changes looked to be working as Saints ramped up the pressure around about the hour mark.
First Callum Hendry came close before moments later, a blocked Ali McCann shot fell to on-loan Millwall full-back Danny McNamara who saw his fantastic strike deflected over for a corner kick.
From the resulting set piece, the ball fell to David Wotherspoon who was denied by a last ditch block as Callum Davidson's men pushed for an opener.
Skipper Jason Kerr entered the action in place of Wotherspoon shortly after before a straight swap up front with John Robertson replacing Callum Hendry.
And the young striker played a big part in the lead up to the game's opening goal.
Robertson threaded a lovely ball through to fellow substitute Olaofe and, as Tanto broke through on goal, he was brought down in the Aberdeen penalty area with the ref pointing to the spot without hesitation.
Scott Tanser was tasked with dispatching the spot-kick and he did so emphatically, firing past Joe Lewis to give Saints the lead.
Lewis Ferguson came close to equalising minutes later after he fired just over from a free-kick at the edge of the area just before Saints doubled their advantage.
The lively Olaofe - who caused The Dons defence problems from the moment he came on - was once again fouled this time just at the egde of the 18-yard-box.
Scott Tanser stepped up to take the free-kick and added his second of the match firing low into the far left corner of the net.
The home side did hit back with a reply almost instantly to give themselves hope, with Bruce Anderson scoring a spectacular volley from a Hernandez cross but it wasn't enough as Callum Davidson picked up his first victory as Manager at Pittodrie.
TEAM: Parish, Rooney, Gordon (Duffy 82), McCart, McNamara (Ballantyne 82), Tanser, Craig, Wotherspoon (Kerr 62), Trialist (McCann 45), May (Olaofe 45), Hendry (Robertson 70)
SCORERS: Tanser x2 (75 & 80)