It was a case of too little, too late for Motherwell as a Nicky Law strike could not inspire them to a cup comeback in the 2-1 home defeat against Aberdeen.

The midfielder's 79th-minute effort made it game on for Stuart McCall's side and, had it not been for a fine, last-gasp save from Aberdeen keeper Jason Brown, the Fir Park side might have earned a replay.

In a frantic finish the hosts even sent keeper Darren Randolph up the park, though that move only presented Aberdeen's Peter Pawlett with an open goal to shoot at from distance – a chance which he duly passed up.

Either way, it is Aberdeen who go through to the semi- finals thanks to Rory Fallon's first-half double, while Well were left to rue a catalogue of setbacks.

Michael Higdon's first-half penalty miss, Stephen Craigan's injury in the warm-up, Shaun Hutchinson's early head knock, Keith Lasley red card and Stuart McCall spending the second half of the game in the stand never looked like adding up to a successful afternoon for the hosts.

However, with a third-placed SPL finish all but secure and second spot possibly up for grabs, Motherwell will feel that their season has been a success regardless of this result.

McCall's real disappointment was reserved for the match officials after Fallon's fourth-minute goal came from a corner which ought to have been a goal-kick.

"Everyone makes mistakes," said McCall. "But I fully expected that an experienced referee like Craig Thomson would have looked at the reaction of the Aberdeen boys.They were all heading back to the halfway line and, as you see week in, week out, when a referee realises his mistake, the ball goes in from the corner and he blows his whistle for a foul.

"Craig said to me that he can't make up fouls, but let's be honest, it happens every week, without exception, in games. I felt that it really affected the players for 10 or 15 minutes after that.

"I was sent to the stand for telling the linesman that he'd be embarrassed when he saw his decision back on TV. I didn't call him embarrassing and I didn't swear so I don't know why I was stopped from doing my job in the second-half."

The visitors doubled their advantage minutes from the break when Fallon netted a cracking volley.

Henrik Ojamaa tried to bring a bit of bite into Motherwell's attack whenever they broke forward, but by the time Lasley was handed a straight red – his third of the campaign – for a crude and late tackle on Dons youngster Fraser Fyvie, it looked like a mammoth task for the Steelmen.

They found some reason for hope when Law converted after a mistake by Brown, but it was not enough and McCall will look for better from his men when they face the Dons on league duty next week.