A last-gasp strike by defender Mark Perry was enough to secure the win as Aberdeen struggled against Scottish Premier League newcomers St Mirren.

Dons reject Ricky Gillies looked set to haunt his former club when his first-half goal cancelled out Arild Stavrum's early opener.

Aberdeen wasted no time in slicing through the Saints' defence after only 38 seconds.

A Hicham Zerouali cross in the box was missed by Stavrum but picked up by Robbie Winters, only for the shot to be easily held by keeper Ludovic Roy.

But Stavrum made sure he was on target in four minutes when he skipped past stopper Barry McLaughlin to fire the opener past Roy.

A dazzling display by St Mirren's Jose Quitongo, when he came off the bench against Kilmarnock last week, earned him a place in the starting line up.

And his inclusion almost paid off when he went on a mazy run sending a cross to Steven McGarry who flicked on to Mark Yardley in 12 minutes.

But the big hit man's effort was weak and he never really troubled young Dons' keeper Ryan Esson.

Despite a shaky start St Mirren fought their way back into the game but chances were few and far between at both ends.

Aberdeen resorted to long-range efforts and Darren Young's 25 yard drive on 26 minutes was easily blocked by the Saints defence.

But Zerouali was proving to be a danger and his cross to Andy Dow provided the Dons' second - but the shot was cleared by Jamie McGowan.

Gillies came close to levelling the scores but he shot over the crossbar on the half hour mark - however on 37 minutes the former Pittodrie midfielder made his point when he finally snatched the equaliser.

A move started by Quitongo saw Gillies pick up the ball in the box and drill low past Esson.

Stavrum should have netted a second just before the break when Moroccan Zerouali made another blistering run to the far post.

He squared the ball to the Norwegian in front of goal but Stavrum fluffed the shot and the chance to put Aberdeen back in the driving seat.

St Mirren started the second half well and again it was Quitongo who was setting up the chances when he picked out McGarry in the area - but the young striker couldn't get a clear shot at goal and sent the ball to Ian Ross.

There were calls of offside from the Aberdeen defence as Ross burst through on goal and looked certain to give the Saints the lead - but somehow managed to send the ball wide.

On 67 minutes Stavrum made an attempt to make up for his earlier blunder with a chance on the edge of the 18-yard box which he also pulled wide.

Also desperate to add to his goal scoring tally at the other end was Gillies, who skimmed the bar with a free-kick from 20 yards.

The best chance of the game fell to Quitongo in 73 minutes, who again rounded the Dons' defence but saw his strike hit the post.

Ian Nicolson pounced on the rebound at the near post and despite the keeper being well beaten slid the ball inches wide.

With five minutes to go it was the Saints defence's turn to be rattled by a Darren Young strike which just scraped the bar.

And three minutes later Aberdeen took the game beyond Saints when Perry prodded the ball in after a goalmouth scramble.