Aberdeen 1 - 1 Motherwell

Motherwell tried to hit back immediately and Preece produced a fine stop from Ferguson. In the 32nd minute Kevin Rutkiewicz picked up the second yellow card of the match as the visitors indiscretions continued to go unpunished. Jamie McAllister caused anguish to David Preece and the entire home support with a dangerous pass back in the 40th minute. Fortunately the keeper was able to clear.

A minute later a similar incident occurred and Preece was taken late by Ferguson as he cleared. This time Mr. Thomson produced the yellow card. The final chance of the half fell to Motherwell when McFadden slipped on the ball at the edge of the box and was promptly awarded a free kick, which he blasted over the bar. In the final minute Motherwell went close again as Rutkiewicz was caught in possession and play raged on despite Jamie McAllister lying inside the area nursing a head knock.

McNaughton made his long awaited return to action when he replaced McAllister at half time. Mr Thomson didn't take long to reassert himself in the second half by booking Darren Young in the first minute for a complaint, then only spoke to Corrigan a minute later after he took Mackie out of the play with a late challenge. Deloumeaux was next into the book and this time it was deserved, but how Leitch escaped discipline for retaliation on Deloumeaux will remain a mystery. Especially as he was not involved in the original incident.

Speirs responded by sending on Leon Mike in place of D'Jaffo. Aberdeen were awarded a free kick in the 64th minute which was greeted with ironic cheers and produced a yellow card for McFadden. Fagan was booked several minutes later for a brutal challenge on McGuire as the game threatened to boil over. Aberdeen had a great chance to regain the lead in the 72nd minute after Mike did well on the left and delivered a hanging cross. Deloumeaux steered the ball into the path of Tiernan, but the youngster failed to get his shot away as he was closed down quickly. Seconds later Mackie had a chance on the right, but finished weakly.

Aberdeen had gained the upper hand again and Rutkiwicz went close in the 77th minute when he headed a Deloumeaux free kick wide. Motherwell then had a real let off in the 81st minute when the keeper came sprinting off his line for a ball he was never going to reach. Deloumeaux forced the ball past him, but it drifted too wide for Mackie to convert. Seconds later Mike challenged the keeper for a high ball and the ball broke free. Unfortunately no one was on hand to capitalise.

Mr Thomson once again took centre stage when Rutkiewicz picked up a second yellow for a poor challenge. The card seemed to be produced more from the Motherwell players' reaction than anything else. Once again a Motherwell player raised his hand in retaliation (Adams), once again he was not involved with the incident and once more referee Thomson took no action. In the final minute Mike delivered another telling cross, but again the ball failed to break to any Dons player inside the box.