A goal in each half from Anthony Stokes saw Hibernian extend their unbeaten run to twelve games and remain in touch with the Old Firm at the top of the Scottish Premier League table. There was a very real danger of the game being called off - but fortunately the snow held off for pretty much the entire 90 minutes, by the end of which it was Hibernian manager John Hughes who was the happiest man.

For the third game running Hibernian John Hughes named the same starting XI as he took his team to Pittodrie to face an Aberdeen side that have been blowing hot and cold this season. It was certainly cold in the Granite City and the weather forecasters appeared to have called it right when in the minutes before kick snow blizzards arrived and made visibility difficult. Aberdeen got the action underway, kicking off with a yellow ball due to the conditions and the game was barely seconds old when Young picked up a caution for a poor challenge on Riordan.

The Hibernian striker fired the resulting free kick wide of goal from 40 yards before Ma-Kalambay had to race from his goal to clear by foot to prevent Mackie getting a shot away. Sol Bamba has been in excellent form this season and he was again in the right place at the right time to head clear an acrobatic effort from Mackie that would have at the very least tested Ma-Kalambay Anthony Stokes should have made more of the opportunity that came his way soon after when he raced away on the right after the home defence was caught napping. With Nish in the middle looking for a simple tap in, Stokes decided to go alone and his drive was deflected wide by Considine for a corner kick.

The opening period of the match had been very even but it was Aberdeen who went close to scoring on 14 minutes when Mackie slipped the ball to McDonald, and only the slightest of touches from Hogg was enough to divert the ball just wide of Ma-Kalambay's far post for a corner kick. Sol Bamba was then adjudged to have fouled Miller 30 yards from goal and that presented Mulgrew with the chance to have a shot from distance. The Aberdeen free kick specialist didn't quite get the power behind his shot that he would have hoped for - but he did enough to force Ma-Kalambay into making a save, the big goalkeeper diving full length to push the ball around his post for a corner kick.

The snow had long since stopped falling but the playing conditions remained difficult for the teams with a number of players loosing their footing on the wet surface. A cross from Mackie had to be touched over the crossbar by Ma-Kalambay after catching in the wind and almost looping over the Belgian and into the net. After a fairly bright opening Hibernian had dropped out of the game somewhat as an attacking force and as the match headed towards the half time interval Aberdeen were looking the stronger of the two sides without really looking a goal threat themselves.

Bamba had to leave the field for treatment on 36 minutes after coming off worst in a tussle with Lee Miller as the pair challenged for a high ball. It was then against the run of play that Hibernian opened the scoring on 39 minutes - Anthony Stokes was played clean through by Zemmama, the striker got a fortunate break of the ball from Grassi - he then held off two challenges from Aberdeen defenders before slamming the ball beyond Langfield for his eighth goal of the season and his fourth in the last three matches.

The visitors survived a shout from the home supporters for a penalty kick following the restart when Liam Miller brought the ball down with his chest - referee McDonald correctly waving play on and Hibernian entered the half time interval holding a precious 1-0 lead. Stokes' strike had been Hibernian's first real effort on goal but as John Hughes keeps reiterating, his side are not out of any game with such a potent strike force.

Half Time: Aberdeen 0 Hibernian 1

Neither manager made any changes at the interval and Hibernian got the second half underway. Aberdeen spurred on by a sense of injustice after losing a goal late the first half reappeared fired up and Mulgrew forced Ma-Kalambay into an early save with a curling free kick from 20 yards. The Hibernian goalkeeper was again called into action to push a rasping drive from Foster over the bar before Mackie fired over the top from the resulting corner kick.

It was however with their first attack of the second half that Hibernian doubled their lead in the 57th minute - Wotherspoon's ball found Nish and his drive across goal appeared to be going wide before being turned into the net at the back post by Anthony Stokes for his second goal of the afternoon. The Dons defenders protested that the striker had been offside, but the goal stood. Aberdeen almost pulled a goal back within minutes when McDonald latched onto a flick on from Mackie but found his first time volley kept out by yet another fine save from Ma-Kalambay.

As Murray broke forward on the counter-attack the full back was cynically taken down by Mackie - a challenge that earned the forward a yellow card. A foul by Wotherspoon on Miller gave Aberdeen yet another free kick in a dangerous position. This time Miller took the responsibility for the set piece and his drive was deflected wide by the defensive wall. Aberdeen put Hibernian under a lot of pressure in the moments that followed with a series of corners and Wotherspoon had to clear from the goal line after Considine had headed Mulgrew's corner kick towards the back post. McDonald then attempted to lob Ma-Kalambay, who was well out of his area, and fortunately for the goalkeeper the effort was off target.

Sol Bamba was the man behind a Hibernian counter attack and his low cross was cut out by Mulgrew, who almost knocked it into his own net in clearing as Stokes once more lurked just behind him. With 14 minutes remaining Hibernian had the ball in the net once more but this time the goal was chalked off - correctly - after being knocked into the net by the hand of Bamba. That earned the Hibernian defender a yellow card and he could have no complaints with the referee's decision.

For the closing stages Maguire replaced Paton for Aberdeen and Riordan was taken off to allow Stevenson to come on in his place as John Hughes looked to add more defensive cover in the hope of closing out the game. An angled drive from Stokes was held at the second attempt by Langfield as the home supporters headed for the exits. The Aberdeen cause was certainly not helped by a ridiculous challenge from Miller on Zemmama that resulted in a straight red card for the Dons' striker. The previous few moments had been hugely frustrating to the home side as Hibernian passed the ball around and had Aberdeen chasing shadows, Miller reacted badly and his 'tackle' was worthy of an instant dismissal.

Murray picked up a yellow card for a challenge on Maguire as the home support demanded harsher punishment but referee McDonald once more called the decision spot on. Zemmama was replaced by Benjelloun after failing to shake off the knock picked up in Miller's challenge and that change was quickly followed by another when Nish was replaced by Cregg.

Two minutes of additional time came and went as Hibernian held on to claim yet another valuable three points and extend their unbeaten run to twelve matches. Anthony Stokes will no doubt make the headlines for his double but the performance of Yves Ma-Kalambay was crucial in helping Hibernian to pick up the three points.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Mulgrew, Foster, McDonald, Considine, Grassi, Kerr, Young, Miller, Mackie, Paton. Subs: Nelson, Maguire, Stewart, Crawford, Jack, Ross, Megginson.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, Hogg, Bamba, Murray, Wotherspoon, Rankin, Miller, Zemmama, Riordan, Nish, Stokes. Subs: Flynn, McCormack, Hanlon, Stevenson, Cregg, Benjelloun, Byrne.

Report: Richard Payne