Stewart clinches final spot

Dons defender Andrew Considine's header cancelled out Steve Tosh's opener in the first half, before the game exploded in a 12-minute spell after the break.

Twice Queen of the South forced themselves ahead through Paul Burns and Sean O'Connor, Aberdeen equalising each time through Barry Nicholson and Considine again.

There was barely time to draw breath before Stewart, on for Stephen Dobbie just before the break, latched on to a header from skipper Jimmy Thomson and drove home from 10 yards out to take the Doonhamers into their first Scottish Cup final.

Queens now face a wait to discover who they will face in the final next month. The winners of the replayed Partick Thistle versus Rangers quarter-final, who meet at Firhill on Sunday, will take on St Johnstone in the other semi-final.

The First Division side were showing no signs of inferiority and in the 21st minute they took a dramatic lead through former Dons midfielder Tosh. Aberdeen had been jolted into action and in the 35th minute they got an equaliser thanks to the head of Considine.

But the Palmerston men regained the lead three minutes after the interval. Jamie McQuilken's pass down the left flank was chased by John Stewart who left Alexander Diamond in his wake before cutting the ball across to Burns whose first attempt from 14 yards was blocked by Scott Severin. The ball rebounded kindly to the midfielder who made no mistake in firing high into the net.

But in the 52nd minute Aberdeen were level again. Chris Maguire's cross from the left was headed towards goal by Lee Miller and although Jamie MacDonald made a fine reflex stop, Nicholson was on hand to knock the ball in from close range.

There was more drama to come four minutes later when Aberdeen fell behind for the third time. Considine failed to cut out Tosh's long pass and O'Connor latched on to the ball and slotted past Derek Soutar from just inside the box. But two minutes later the teams were level again when Nicholson's cross from the right was helped on by Miller and Considine headed home at the far post.

The madness continued on the hour mark when Queens scored an almost identical goal to the one they had just lost, Stewart lashing the ball past Soutar after being left unmarked.