Queen of the South 4-3 Aberdeen

Apr 13 2008 Mark Guidi at Hampden

ABERDEEN turned in the kind of performance that could get their gaffer the sack as they crashed to a shock defeat.

But Queen of the South's heroes put on a thrilling display that should earn their manager a bumper new contract.

Gordon Chisholm was chuffed to bits after leading his side to the Scottish Cup Final for the first time in their 89-year history.

And he had every right to bask in the glory following an epic Hampden victory.

Three times his side took the lead only to be pegged back each time by Jimmy Calderwood's troops. But former Dons striker John Stewart had the last laugh as he cracked home the winner.

Chisholm's players gave everything for the cause and no one typified their spirit more than Steve Tosh.

The veteran midfielder ran himself into the ground and kicked off a seven-goal thriller with the opener after 22 minutes.

Lee Miller was penalised for fouling Ryan McCann a yard inside the Aberdeen half. McCann took the free-kick and Derek Soutar failed to hold his floated cross under pressure from Sean O'Connor.

The ball fell to Andy Aitken and he laid it perfectly into the path of Tosh.

The former Dons star's shot was well struck and Soutar could only parry it into the net.

It was a deserved lead for the underdogs but with both defences looking dodgy you had a feeling there would be more goals.

And Aberdeen levelled in 36 minutes. Scott Severin got on the end of a Barry Nicholson free-kick after Chris Maguire was fouled.

His header back across the six-yard box hung in the air nicely, begging to be attacked.

Andrew Considine obliged as he rose above Jim Thomson to power a superb downward header into Jamie MacDonald's left-hand corner.

Queens were dealt a blow when Stephen Dobbie went off injured two minutes before the break.

Stewart took his place and the enforced change worked a treat as Queens netted again in 48 minutes.

Jamie McQuilken slid a long ball up the line and O'Connor's dummy allowed Stewart to race clear.

Zander Diamond tried to catch the Queens substitute but the stopper was never getting there.

As his team-mates raced to join him and offer options, Stewart looked up and slid the ball along the six-yard line to the back post for Paul Burns. The midfielder made a hash of his shot but was lucky as the ball broke back to him again. This time, with his left foot, he buried it high into Soutar's top corner for a fine finish.

The SPL side couldn't believe it but still had an air of confidence about them from middle to front.

And their equaliser arrived after 52 minutes. Maguire's cross was met by Miller and his effort was beaten out by MacDonald only for Nicholson to slam home the rebound from six yards.

Queens could have crumbled but instead regained the lead just three minutes later.

Tosh sent a long ball deep into the Aberdeen half and Considine failed miserably to deal with it.

O'Connor pounced and Diamond tried to stop him by diving him. But his schoolboy defending was punished as O'Connor sidestepped him before drilling past Soutar from 14 yards.

It was a great finish from the impressive striker whomoved back to centre-half in the dying stages to help his under-pressure defenders.

The goal-fest continued in 58 minutes when the Dons made it 3-3.

Nicholson's cross was flicked on by Miller to the unmarked Considine who powered a header past MacDonald at the back post.

Queens claimed for offside but the stand-side assistant called it right as McQuilken played Considine on.

This amazing game took another twist two minutes later when the First Division side netted again.

McCann's cross was won by skipper Thomson and his neat flick was picked up by Stewart. The striker's first touch was perfect and he had plenty of time to blast past Soutar from seven yards.

Stewart enjoyed his moment as the Dons fans gave him pelters throughout.

Calderwood responded by throwing on Darren Mackie for Jackie McNamara and the former Celtic defender was unhappy with the decision as he made his way straight up the tunnel.

Diamond thought he had levelled in 71 minutes when his header rattled off the bar. The rebound fell to him only for the defender's shot to come back off a post this time.

Calderwood's men kept at it and had a shout for a penalty turned down in 83 minutes when Sone Aluko appeared to be tripped by Thomson. Kenny Clark waved away the appeals.

Nicholson then saw his close-range effort saved by MacDonald in injury time but there was to be no great escape for the Pittodrie men.

To save his job Calderwood needs to be ruthless with his under-achieving players. There was no leadership and Severin did not give the performance of a captain in a semi-final.

But it's hard to think of any Dons player who got pass marks. Queens had more desire and got their reward with a place in the Final.

REF WATCH

KENNY CLARK didn't have too many problems to deal with and let the game flow. Could have awarded a late penalty to Aberdeen but it wasn't a stick-on award. Rating: 7/10.