BY: COLETTE CARR

Manager Gary Doctor said it was "pleasing" to see his new Accies team perform so well against tough opposition Aberdeen in their first New Douglas Park preseason match.
While the game ended goal less, the manager praised his new young team in their first match together.
"Definitely happy to kick off preseason with a game like that," he began.
"There's been a lot of call offs with training and things for everyone so it's been a bit interrupted.  Last week's game never went ahead so for our first game to be playing against a good team in Aberdeen who finished in the top half last season, and to draw nil nil with so many new and young players was really pleasing."
Despite it being early days Doctor has a lot of hope for the new look Accies side.
"If that's anything to go by we've a lot to look forward to. We've so many young players and lots more football to play before we play Hibs in the first game, but there's loads of good things when we consider the age of the players and we had players out of position defensively today so it looks really good.
"It was a big step up for a lot of them who are coming out of under-17s or second division or not having played much last year so I'm really really pleased."

Both sides started strong, but it was the hosts who found the first clear chance.  After nine minutes Jordan Daloisio shot just behind following great linking from McLeod and Baillie, before Elaine Fleming with a block at the other end.
The Dons continued to pressure Fleming who coped with ease.  On the 19th Hannah Scott curled a great freekick into the Accies box, but it was glanced just wide keeping the game on level terms.
The end to end action tested both defences, Gillian Inglis' freekick from wide was headed to safety before Daloisio's fantastic hooked strike forced the stretching Becky Flaherty to tap it over for a corner.
Deborah McLeod and Amy McCafferty did well to keep the visitors at bay with five until the break, and Fleming on the 44th produced a fantastic double save to see out a goal less first period.
Ten minutes into the second it seemed the deadlock had finally been

broken, as an Aberdeen corner was swung into a packed

box, but Daloisio cleared it to safety just in time.

Neither side could break down the other's defence despite constant

threatening in thehigh tempo clash, both appearing to cancel each 

other out.  

The Accies young guns looked bright and kept pressing the Northern

visitors, andwith five to go promoted player Laura Gallen tried her luck

from thirty yards, but her shot was too soft and the New Douglas Park

side had to settle for the stalemate in their preseason opener.