Heading for Hampden:

Aberdeen crash out to in-form Steelmen at Fir Park

Peter Hartley nods in Motherwell’s second goal in last night’s 3-0 Betfred Cup quarter-final victory over Aberdeen at Fir Park. Well will now meet Rangers with Celtic drawn to face Hibs in the other semi-final.

MOTHERWELL 3 ABERDEEN 0

In-form Motherwell swept into the Betfred Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen as visiting goalkeeper Joe Lewis had a night to forget at Fir Park.

Lewis fumbled Louis Moult’s hooked effort into his net and spilled Peter Hartley’s header as the defender scored his first goal for Motherwell to put them two up inside 19 minutes.

Aberdeen, finalists in both cup competitions last season, never recovered and Moult, the subject of a failed summer bid by the Dons, heaped more misery on their goalkeeper by firing a third inside the near post with five minutes left.

Motherwell were rewarded for a vibrant display with their fourth consecutive home win and first semifinal since 2011 as Aberdeen suffered their first domestic defeat of the season.

Ryan Bowman set up the 13th-minute opener after running at Mark Reynolds and sliding in to feed Moult when it looked like he had lost the ball.

The striker was running away from goal but he took everyone by surprise, especially Lewis, by flicking the ball up and hooking it over his head.

The effort looked to be going across the face of goal but the Dons keeper fumbled it into his net.

Dominic Ball sent a free header over from six yards at the other end, although Andrew Considine’s header came to him quickly, before the hosts doubled their lead.

Hartley got above Anthony O’Connor to meet Steven Hammell’s inswinging free-kick six yards out and Lewis could not keep it out.

Motherwell were relentless with their pressing and Bowman and Moult both escaped their markers to meet setpieces but could not guide headers on target.

Derek McInnes had seen enough by the 36th minute and sent on striker Adam Rooney for winger Gary Mackay Steven.

But the tide did not turn. Motherwell’s work-rate denied Aberdeen space when the visitors had possession and Carson saved brilliantly when Christie broke away following a home corner.

The hosts continued to look the likelier team though. Logan cleared Hartley’s shot off the line following a corner and Allan Campbell’s strike hit the inside of both posts before bouncing into Lewis’s arms.

And Moult sealed a memorable win when he raced on to a long ball and blasted a shot into the far top corner from a tight angle.

TEAMS

Motherwell: Carson, Tait, Kipre, Hartley, Hammell, Cadden, McHugh, Campbell, Rose (Grimshaw 70), Bowman (Fisher 87), Moult (Tanner 90). Unused subs: Plummer, Bigirimana, Frear, Griffiths.

Aberdeen: Lewis, Logan, O’Connor, Reynolds (Arnason 52), Considine, Ball (Tansey 67), Christie, McLean, Shinnie, Mackay-Steven (Rooney 37), May. Unused subs: Stewart, Maynard, Wright, Rogers.

Attendance: 6,430.

Referee: Kevin Clancy.

Picture: SNS Group.

Picture: SNS. Joe Lewis looks on as Motherwell’s Louis Moult scores to make it 1-0.