Aberdeen 2 - 2 Motherwell

Highlights available on RedTV on Monday.

This match exploded in the second half as the Dons found themselves two goals down with their captain stretchered off and down to ten men. Enter Darren Mackie and the Dons finish up with a share of the points as he grabs a brace in his first competitive match of the season. Poor defending handed the visitor's a two goal lead then a controversial red card appeared to seal the win. Darren Mackie had other ideas and after slotting home a penalty he headed a Crawford cross into the net to gain the point.

Aberedeen kicked off and won an early free kick with only two minutes on the clock. Barry Nicholson delivered the free kick from the right, but it was easily cleared. Two minutes later the Dons won their first corner and following a short free kick Crawford fired the ball into the side netting. After the positive start from the Dons Motherwell won their first corner in the 7th minute but Anderson made a positive clearance. Anderson dominated his area again in the 11th minute as he cleared before Esson easily held an overhead kick from McDonald. Motherwell were creating some decent chances now and O'Donnell went close when he fired over the Dons bar from eight yards.

Aberdeen then went close in the 14th minute when Lovell released Smith and the winger's cross was headed out for a corner. Diamond then threatened from the set play before the ball was scrambled clear. Lovell collected the first yellow of the game in the 17th minute for what looked like a fair, but heavy, challenge on Kinniburgh. The Motherwell player came back on after treatment but had to go off minutes later and was replaced by Quinn. A minute later Severin played a neat one-two with Smith, but his cross was too deep to threaten.

Aberdeen threatened again in the 28th minute when Nicholson set up Lovell before Smith raced off his line quickly to block. A minute later Winter drove an ambitious effort from 30 yards that went well wide before Byrne turned a Nicholson free kick back across goal, only to find a defender who quickly cleared. Richie Byrne then picked up a nasty knock in the 36th minute but failed to win a free kick for the challenge then after several minutes of treatment the game restarted and Motherwell won a bizarre free kick for an innocuous challenge on Craigan from Steve Lovell.

Severin then went close in the 40th minute when his shot shaved the post after good build up play from Nicholson and Smith. Two minutes later Severin went even closer when Crawford found him in the middle and his header was well held by Smith in the Motherwell goal. In the closing minutes Motherwell won a couple of corners and the second forced a save from Esson before the ball was scrambled clear. In injury time Smith had a tame shot at goal and Clarkson had a speculative shot from distance that Esson held comfortably. Then Byrne carved out a chance that was headed wide by Nicholson as the game started to come to life.

Aberdeen almost made a dream start to the second half as Crawford broke on the right and delivered a cross that was just missed by Lovell. In the 49th minute Lovell was released inside the box by Byrne, but he shot wide under pressure from McLean. Aberdeen were looking more threatening with Lovell and Crawford looking lively. Motherwell then won a couple of corners. The second one saw Esson pull off a great save from Foran.

Motherwell then took a sensational lead in the 63rd minute when Fagan headed a clearance back into the Dons half and Clarkson turned Anderson and rolled the ball past Esson. The goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of the Dons as Motherwell pressed for a second. Darren Mackie replaced Winter in the 68th minute for his first appearance of the season, but within seconds the Dons defence went to sleep and Clarkson raced through to add a second. The afternoon got worse a few minutes later when Russell Anderson was stretchered off with a head knock and was replaced by Muirhead.

Another controversial decision in the 75th minute saw Darren Mackie booked for going for a ball he had every right to go for. McLean then pushed the striker yet escaped any punishment. The controversy heightened two minutes later as Clarkson tried to grapple Byrne to the ground and the Dons defender tried to shake him off because he was getting no protection from the officials. Referee Thomson shocked the home support by showing Byrne a straight red card. When the game finally restarted McNaughton broke into the box and was tumbled to the ground. A penalty was awarded and Darren Mackie stepped up to score his first goal of the season.

The Dons levelled in the 85th minute when Crawford collected the ball on the right following a corner and swung in a deep cross that was headed home by Mackie. Aberdeen's tails were up now as they pushed for a winner and it was difficult to work out which team had the eleven men. As Aberdeen pushed for a winner a mix up at the back almost gifted Motherwell the winner when Clarkson drove the ball across the goal then Esson saved from McDonald. Incredibly only four minutes of injury time was found and in the dying seconds McDonald fired wide of the goal before Thomson blew the final whistle.

---

Match Stats:

		Dons	'well
Goal Attempts		6	7
On Target		3	5
Corners		5	6
Possession		53%	47%

---