Substitute Charlie Miller had the final laugh in this exciting game when he turned this game around for the Terrors helping them overcome a spirited Dons display.
Having been repeatedly scorned, by the visiting support, the substitute came on to score one and set up the winner.
Having started slowly the Tangerines finally got going in the 13th minute. Andy McLaren fired in a cross for Billy Dodds to head powerfully down into the corner, but a superb reflex save from David Preece prevented a certain goal.
With the Terrors in full flow, it was no surprise that they took the lead eight minutes later. Mark Kerr split the Dons defence with a wonderful pass to Mark Wilson. The youngster cut inside Scott Morrison, presenting the on-rushing Barry Robson with the easiest of chances to knock the ball in from six yards.
The shocked visitors were stung into action and they almost replied two minutes later. A curling Kevin Rutkiewicz cross caught the United defence off-guard and Leigh Hinds was unfortunate to see his header fly off the post with Paul Gallacher scrambling.
Despite United's pressure, the visitors missed a glaring chance in the 34th minute. A fortuitous flick from Hinds left Scott Booth with only Gallacher to beat. Unbelievably, the striker steered the ball wide from eight yards.
With the Tangerines cruising, ref Dougal was in the middle of controversy in the 53rd minute when he blew for a soft penalty. With no appeal from the visitors, the official mysteriously spotted a handball by Alan Archibald. The United players en-masse surrounded the referee, but he stood his ground allowing Booth to equalise from the spot.
Worse was to come for the Tangerines when the visitors grabbed the lead courtesy of an own goal from Archibald. The ball had broken to Chris Clark whose 16-yard shot appeared to going nowhere, but wickedly deflected in off a defender.
With United rattled, the Dons almost made it three in the 68th minute. It took a fantastic goal line clearance from Derek McInnes to stop Steve Tosh increasing the lead.
The Tangerines ploughed their way back and eventually after a series of corners, their pressure was rewarded with an equaliser from Miller in the 84th minute. Robson's inswinger missed the front defenders and the midfielder powered in his header from six yards.
But Miller was not finished. With the clocking ticking away two minutes into injury time, he enticed Tosh to trip him inside the box and Dodds wrapped up the three points from the spot.