Hamilton Academical needed a second-half equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, but their winless run was extended to six games.
It was a lively start to the match, with Dougie Imrie charging forward just moments after kickoff for Hamilton before seeing his effort parried by Danny Ward, while Grant Gillespie fired wide down the other end moments later.
Aberdeen opened the scoring just three minutes into the tie as Niall McGinn crossed the ball in from out wide, setting up Kenny McLean for a shot from the centre of the box, which went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Hamilton pressed for an equaliser as Imrie burst forward again, but was unable to find his teammates with a delivery in the box, while Greg Docherty's 30-yard drive was just wide of the mark.
Ward continued to come under pressure in the visiting goal as Carlton Morris and Docherty forced further saves from the Dons keeper, while another from the on-loan Norwich City striker went wide.
Aberdeen finished the first half on the front foot as they tried to add a second before the interval, but McLean's volley from the edge of the box went high, before Graeme Shinnie's cross was put behind.
The visitors could have doubled their lead moments after the restart as Jonny Hayes was left open in the penalty area, giving him space to connect with a cross from the right, but his finish was wide.
The hosts wanted a penalty down the other end a few minutes later when Morris went down on the edge of the box under pressure from Shay Logan, but the referee waved away Hamilton's appeals.
Aberdeen almost benefited from a poor clearance from Lucas just after the hour mark, with Willo Flood pouncing on the loose ball to try to set up Adam Rooney, but the striker's finish was straight at Michael McGovern.
The miss proved costly soon after as the home side were level through Imrie as the team's top scorer struck on the rebound after Ward tried to punch a Gramoz Kurtaj drive clear, setting the striker up for a simple finish.
The visitors tried to respond late on, pressing for a winner in the final 10 minutes, but McGovern was able to deny McLean a second as the scorer of the opening goal tried his luck with a long-range drive.
The home side sent on some fresh legs in the final moments to make sure they held on for the point though, despite Aberdeen continuing to run at the Hamilton goal deep into stoppage time.
The result means that Aberdeen stay third in the table, seven points off the top of the standings, while Hamilton move up to sixth.
Sian Cowper
