|
Motherwell were ravaged with injury while the Dons, looking to push for a UEFA slot, welcomed back the experienced duo of Noel Whelan and Russell Anderson.
In the early minutes Motherwell's Jim Hamilton tried to repeat his wonder goal of two weeks previous, but this time the keeper saved easily. The game had an end of season feel to it with both sides looking lack-lustre in the spring sunshine.
Motherwell did create a number of chances with Shaun Fagan dallying and being denied by Anderson's tackle. Hamilton then hit another left-foot shot wide of the far post. Stephen Craigan once again tried his throw-in trick of last week as he opened the gate at the East Stand, but this time the visiting keeper dealt with the danger.
Well looked to have taken the lead after 26 minutes, but Aberdeen's Ryan Esson managed to tip over Brian Kerr's screamer from 22 yards. The Dons had shown little at this stage, and it took until the 32nd minute before they had an effort at goal with Michael Hart slicing wide.
It only took a further minute for them to take the lead. Whelan held off a challenge from Craigan to send a cross into the box which was met by the unmarked Darren Mackie to head powerfully past Barry-John Corr.
Aberdeen started the second half the sharper of the two sides, and could have extended their lead with Russell Anderson toe-poking wide a Scott Severin free-kick and a Chris Clark effort that fizzed along the ground and just wide of the right-hand post.
Motherwell responded after 62 minutes as firstly Fagan's cross narrowly missed Kerr, and Steven Hammell cutting in from the left saw his right-foot shot comfortably saved. Minutes later Foran's cross was headed on to the roof of the net by Hamilton.
The Dons could have sealed the points when Richie Byrne found space on the right, but rather than shoot he chose to pass to Clark whose shot was blocked by a combination of defender and keeper.
Clarke was guilty of another miss minutes later when he drove wide from 18 yards.