…as Dons halt losing run.

Aberdeen controlled the game for long spells at Fir Park, but found themselves a goal behind in the 35th minute against the run of play. Diamond was beaten by Blackman and as the ball came into the middle Ifil slipped allowing Murphy to stroke the ball past Langfield. Aberdeen levelled early in the second half when McArdle took a short throw to Maguire and the youngsters cross was turned into the net by Vernon for his second goal in two weeks. Despite pressing forward the Dons could not find the winner and were lucky not to lose a goal in the 90th minute when Jennings ran in behind the Dons defence, but headed wide. It would have been rough justice as the Dons certainly deserved to end their losing run.

Motherwell kicked off, but Aberdeen created the first chance in the second minute when Maguire was brought down 30 yards out. Randolph handled well as he dealt with a fine effort from Hartley. Aberdeen had started well and were putting the home defence under some early pressure. Motherwell broke quickly in the 5th minute, but Hartley was on hand to cut out the danger. Having survived the opening eight minutes the ghost of Tannadice had been laid to rest and the team were looking solid at this stage.

Good interplay between Vernon and Considine almost created a good chance in the 12th minute before the home defence eventually scrambled the ball clear. Aberdeen were playing some fine passing play as they probed the Motherwell defence. A tight offside decision denied Vernon a scoring chance in the 17th minute and two minutes later Hartley made a last minute challenge to keep Motherwell out at the other end. Lasley should have earned the first caution of the match in the 21st minute for a poor challenge on Considine, but he settled for a sharp word from the referee.

The Dons defender required lengthy treatment before resuming when Maguire had a chance and won the first corner of the match after Randolph was forced to tip a chip over the bar. Motherwell stood firm and were able to clear their lines and thereafter enjoy a spell of possession for the first time in the match. Just after the half hour mark Ifil was penalised for a challenge 25 yards out, but the wall did its job as it blocked the effort from Hateley. The match was now suffering for too many stoppages and in the 35th minute Motherwell took the lead against the run of play.

Diamond was beaten by Blackman and as the ball came into the middle Ifil slipped allowing Murphy to stroke the ball past Langfield. The positive play of the first half hour appeared to have deserted Aberdeen now as the home side took control of the play. Vernon should have levelled in the 42nd minute when he collected a long ball from Langfield. He showed a great first touch, but then fired wide with only the keeper to beat. At the other end Murphy fired over as Motherwell looked to take advantage of the miss.

Seconds into the second half Chris Maguire picked up a nasty knock and required extensive treatment. Fortunately he was able to resume and Aberdeen carved out a half chance in the 49th minute, but Vernon couldn’t convert. Two minutes later Motherwell won a corner and Langfield did well to clear and set up a Dons attack that finished with Maguire firing well wide. A minute later Vernon intercepted a back pass from Craigan, but again Aberdeen couldn’t capitalise. A Dons corner followed in the 55th minute, but the ball was scrambled clear before McArdle was penalised for his second foul throw.

Aberdeen then levelled in the 56th minute when McArdle took a short throw to Maguire and the youngsters cross was turned into the net by Vernon for his second goal in two weeks. The same move was almost repeated on the hour mark when McArdle threw the ball to Maguire, but the youngster was crowded out as he worked his way towards the Motherwell goal. Another good move involving Maguire and Considine was thwarted by Randolph as he smothered the shot from the full back and Randolph was again in action five minutes later as Aberdeen pressed for a second.

The home side then won a free kick on the edge of the Dons box that was hotly disputed by Zander Diamond. Once again the wall did its job and Young completed the clearance. Strong pressure from Motherwell was repelled by Aberdeen as both sides looked for a winner. The Dons were defending well, but at this stage of the game they were struggling to clear their lines. Aberdeen then broke and went close as great play from Maguire set up Vernon again, but this time the striker headed into the side netting. In the 74th minute Megginson replaced the impressive Maguire who had taken a few knocks.

Both sides were having a go now and defences had to be at their best to keep the opponents out. With five minutes remaining McArdle was beaten by Murphy but the goal scorer failed to find the target. At the other end Vernon and Megginson tried to combine, but the final pass was too strong and collected by Randolph. Jennings almost grabbed an unlikely winner in the 90th minute when he slipped behind Ifil, but fortunately he headed wide. In injury time Jennings collected the first yellow card of the game when he brought Young down. The ball was launched into the Motherwell box, but it was cleared and the game ended all square.