Second-half goals from Darren Mackie and Steve Tosh gave Aberdeen a happy ending to the season at Dundee United's expense.

But overall this was disappointing fare from two sides whose fans will be expecting much more next season.

Celtic's run to the UEFA Cup final, which ended in defeat in Seville on Wednesday, would have been food for thought for many at Tannadice today.

For Porto's victory meant Aberdeen remained the last Scottish club to lift a European trophy, the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup, with United having been the last to reach a final, the 1987 UEFA Cup.

Of course, those successes were largely down to two extraordinary managers in the shape of Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen and Jim McLean at Dundee United.

The latter has only just left Tannadice following a controversial stint as chairman but there was no hiding from the fact that the fortunes of these two clubs have significantly waned since those days, with this fixture, a meaningless bottom half of the table affair, proof enough.

But both clubs have appointed young managers who had carved out reputations as the best in the Scottish Football League but so far Ian McCall at United and Steve Paterson at Pittodrie have found progress painfully slow to come by.

McCall has been able to deliver just one of the promises he made on replacing Paul Hegarty, a player from the United glory years, and that was simply not to finish bottom.

Signs of the green shoots of recovery were being keenly sought by both sets of fans therefore but initially they were in short supply indeed.

Mackie sent an early header into the arms of United goalkeeper Alan Combe, whose future at the club remains unknown, and at the other end the veteran Billy Dodds headed over after Jim McIntyre had flicked on a cross from Danny Griffin, another Arab whose contractual situation has yet to be decided.

Aberdeen did finish the half strongly but unfortunately the finishing of their chances was not so strong.

Leigh Hinds fired just wide from the edge of the box before the striker set up Paul Sheerin for by far the most inviting opening of the half. But the midfielder fired across goal and wastefully wide.

Hinds was off-target again with a smart effort on the turn and Mackie came close soon after with a glancing header before referee Hugh Dallas mercifully ended the half.

United fans could have been forgiven for turning to the match programme for entertainment long before then and there they could have found words of encouragement from McCall, who has recruited Scott Paterson and Alan Archibald from Partick plus Barry Robson from Inverness for next season.

Terms have also been offered to the appropriately-named Trinidadian Jason Scotland and playmaker Charlie Miller tied up on a new one-year deal. Miller was absent from this game and his skills were certainly missed.

End of season games are traditionally used as run-outs for youngsters so both sides made a change at the break. United sent on striker Stephen McGowan for Dodds while the Dons gave a debut to defender Alexander Diamond in place of Philip McGuire, who had taken a knock just before the break.

Things had to improve and within six minutes they duly did when the diminutive Mackie gained height to plant an emphatic header past Combe after teenager Scott Morrison had picked him out in the box with a fine cross from the left.

Aberdeen were buoyed by the breakthrough and promptly doubled their lead in the 56th minute through Tosh, who beat two men on his way to the edge of the area.

The shot was straight at Combe however but somehow the goalkeeper allowed the ball to slip through his gloves and bounce over the line.

United's hopes of saving the game disappeared in that instant and probably Combe's hopes of getting a new deal too.

Andy Tod, who is to return to the club that loaned him, Bradford, was booked on the hour for one foul too many.

The game also saw Aberdeen goalkeeper and captain for the day Peter Kjaer retiring with a clean sheet.

The Dane deserved it by saving at point-blank range from Stuart Duff after McIntyre had put him clear and a goal looked inevitable.

He was lucky straight after though when he missed a McIntyre cross which substitute Stephen O'Donnell headed just past the framework.

Fortune continued to smile on the visitors when substitute Aaron Conway missed a sitter in front of goal within seconds of replacing Griffin.

Combe made partial amends at the other end in stoppage time by denying Sheerin.

Teams

Dundee Utd Combe, McCracken, Tod, Bollan, Duff, Easton, Griffin (Conway 80), Wilson (O'Donnell 58), Ogunmade, McIntyre, Dodds (McGowan 46).

Subs Not Used: Jarvie, McCunnie.

Booked: Tod.

Aberdeen Kjaer, McNaughton, McGuire (Diamond 45), Hart, Clark, Tiernan, Tosh (Foster 66), Sheerin, Morrison, Mackie (Souter 84), Hinds.

Subs Not Used: Preece, Payne.

Goals: Mackie 51, Tosh 55.

Att: 8,516

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).