Aberdeen v Motherwell

Aberdeen 3

Rae 6′ McGinn 84′ Magennis 90′

Motherwell 3

Higdon 42′ Hutchinson 48′ Law 82′

FT 90 +4
HT 1-1

Highlights - Aberdeen 3-3 Motherwell

By Clive Lindsay BBC Scotland Sport

Josh Magennis's stoppage-time strike completed a two-goal Aberdeen fightback that denied Scottish Premier League leaders Motherwell a deserved win.

The Dons ended a home goal drought that had stetched to four games, Gavin Rae heading in from a sixth-minute corner.

But Michael Higdon replied from close range and, after the break, Shaun Hutchinson headed Well into the lead.

Nicky Law made it 3-1 from close range, but Niall McGinn headed in soon after before Magennis's dramatic leveller.

Motherwell enjoy the game at Pittodrie after Higdon's equaliser

It denied Motherwell a win that would have put them three points clear of Hibernian, who themselves missed a chance to top the table the previous day, and four ahead of reigning champions Celtic.

For the Dons, they at least ended a run of four 0-0 draws at home in the SPL - including the final game of last season - and manager Craig Brown avoided a sixth straight league defeat at the hands of his former team since leaving Fir Park for Pittodrie.

Unchanged Aberdeen gave themselves the ideal start in their search for a first home win in seven games since 7 April when Rae sent a beautifully glanced header into the far corner of the net from a Jonny Hayes corner.

Motherwell refused to be knocked out of the stride of some fine early season form and Henrik Ojamaa, justifying his inclusion in the starting line-up in place of Jamie Murphy, forced a save from Jamie Langfield with a shot on the turn.

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Hutchinson was perhaps fortunate not to be booked for a lunge at Jamie Langfield and became the latest a turn at kicking tricky winger Ryan Fraser - receiving a yellow card for his troubles - before Higdon fired a couple of powder-puff drives straight at the goalkeeper from just outside the penalty box.

Motherwell finally made the breakthrough their probing had promised when Higdon forced the ball inside the near post for his seventh goal in four games after Fraser Kerr's initial close-range poke at goal had been blocked by Langfield.

The visitors continued to look the more threatening after the break, with Ojamaa sending one shot into the side netting and forcing Langfield to beat away another.

It looked like Well had killed the game when Kerr headed on a Hateley corner, it was flicked on by Murphy and Law forced it over the line with eight minutes remaining.

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However, after half-hearted claims for a foul on Law inside the penalty box were waved away, Dons substitute Niall McGinn's powerful 12-yard header from a Fraser cross two minutes later gave the Dons renewed hope.

It proved to be justified when striker-turned-full-back Magennis showed he retains his predatory instincts by poking a mis-hit Andrew Considine shot past goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Aberdeen

01 Langfield
02 Jack (Smith - 80' )
04 Anderson
06 Considine
22 Reynolds
05 Rae (Osbourne - 63' )
11 Hayes
18 Hughes
20 Fraser
09 Vernon (McGinn - 63' )
21 Magennis

Substitutes

32 Brown
03 Robertson
07 Clark
10 McGinn
16 Osbourne
19 Megginson
38 Smith

Motherwell

01 Randolph
03 Hammell Booked
05 Hutchinson Booked
19 Kerr Booked
30 Cummins
04 Law
06 Hateley
07 Humphrey
14 Lasley
08 Ojamaa (Murphy - 79' )
09 Higdon

Substitutes

12 Hollis
15 Ramsden
26 Francis-Angol
17 Daley
18 Carswell
11 Murphy
29 Erwin

Ref: Madden

Att: 8,577

Match Stats

Possession 46 54

Shots

12 19

On target

8 11

Corners

5 5

Fouls

14 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:34 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:09

Andrew Considine takes a shot. Blocked by Shaun Hutchinson.

90:00 +2:37

Assist by Andrew Considine.

90:00 +2:37 Goal scored

Goal - Josh Magennis - Aberdeen 3 - 3 Motherwell Josh Magennis fires in a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 3-3 Motherwell.

90:00 +2:05

Foul by Chris Humphrey on Andrew Considine, free kick awarded. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:23

Cameron Smith takes a shot. Save made by Darren Randolph.

90:00 +1:10

The ball is sent over by Johnny Hayes, Darren Randolph manages to make a clearance.

88:18

Chris Humphrey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Fraser. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Fraser from left wing, clearance by Shaun Hutchinson.

86:31

Effort from the edge of the box by Josh Magennis goes wide of the right-hand upright.

85:48

Free kick crossed left-footed by Johnny Hayes from right wing, Shaun Hutchinson makes a clearance.

85:48 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Stevie Hammell for unsporting behaviour.

85:39

Free kick awarded for a foul by Stevie Hammell on Johnny Hayes.

83:52

Assist on the goal came from Ryan Fraser.

83:52 Goal scored

Goal - Niall McGinn - Aberdeen 2 - 3 Motherwell Niall McGinn finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Aberdeen 2-3 Motherwell.

83:46

The ball is sent over by Ryan Fraser,

83:24

Nicky Law sends in a cross, save made by Jamie Langfield.

81:15

Assist by Fraser Kerr.

81:15 Goal scored

Goal - Nicky Law - Aberdeen 1 - 3 Motherwell Nicky Law finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Aberdeen 1-3 Motherwell.

80:52

Tom Hateley takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post,

80:41

Chris Humphrey crosses the ball, Mark Reynolds manages to make a clearance.

79:50 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Jack goes off and Cameron Smith comes on.

79:38

Effort from just outside the box by Michael Higdon goes over the bar.

78:27

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Fraser, Fraser Kerr manages to make a clearance.

78:27 Substitution

Substitution Henrik Ojamaa goes off and Jamie Murphy comes on.