A remarkable first-half goal by midfielder Paul Sheerin gave Aberdeen a narrow win over Livingston in an enthralling tussle at Almondvale.

On the half hour mark, Sheerin picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and with no danger looming, his speculative shot sailed over helpless Livingston goalkeeper Alan Main and into the net.

The home side had got off to a flier when captain Stuart Lovell headed them into a first-minute lead from a Juanjo Camacho corner but that set-back only served to rile the visitors into a tremendous response.

Aberdeen took control of the game and after some concerted pressure they deservedly drew level through a Derek Young header from a Chris Clark corner after 27 minutes before Sheerin's winner.

Livingston recovered to put up a late fight but spurned several chances and now find themselves below Aberdeen, in ninth place in the Scottish Premier League.

The hosts got off to the perfect start in the first minute after Aberdeen defender Eric Deloumeaux had conceded a corner to thwart striker Colin McMenamin.

Camacho swung in a cross Lovell rose unchallenged to send a powerful header in from close range, giving goalkeeper Peter Kjaer no chance.

Aberdeen could have equalised in the seventh minute when Sheerin found Steve Tosh free inside the box but Main was quick off his line to smother the ball.

Almost immediately at the other end, Colin McMenamin's lob from 25 yards went just over the bar.

But as the first half wore on, Aberdeen took a grip of the game and eventually got their just reward in the 27th minute when a Clark corner from the left was headed by Derek Young into the far corner of the net before Sheerin hit what turned out to be the winner.

The goal woke Livingston out of their slumber but Aberdeen were in no mood to surrender their hard-fought lead.

Four minutes into the second half Main managed to stop Phil McGuire's close-range header after the defender had latched on to Sheerin's deflected shot.

Livingston substitute Barry Wilson, on in the first half for the injured Gustave Bahoken, was looking the home side's most impressive player and in the 56th minute he was unlucky to flagged offside when through on goal.

In the closing stages the visitors had to withstand some pressure and Livingston substitutes Rolando Zarate and David Bingham, on for Burton O'Brien and McMenamin had missed several opportunities to level.

Wilson missed the best chance of the game in the 80th minute when he ballooned the ball over from 16 yards with only Kjaer to beat.

Teams

Livingston: Main, Brinquin, Bahoken (Wilson 21), Maidana, McNamee, Makel, Camacho, Lovell, O'Brien (Zarate 57), Xausa, McMenamin (Bingham 57).

Subs Not Used: McEwan, Quino.

Booked: Lovell, Brinquin.

Goals: Lovell 2.

Aberdeen: Kjaer, Anderson, McGuire, Deloumeaux, Darren Young, Tosh, Clark (McNaughton 84), Sheerin, Hart, Hinds (Mike 74), Derek Young.

Subs Not Used: Preece, Rutkiewicz, D'Jaffo.

Booked: Derek Young.

Goals: Derek Young 29, Sheerin 31.

Att: 5,731

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).