A dramatic 90th-minute winner from substitute Gary Wales saw Hearts sink Aberdeen in a match played in ferocious conditions at Pittodrie.

Neither side could play anything resembling football in driving wind and rain which at times turned the game into a lottery.

The match however, appeared to be heading for a goalless draw until Wales, who had come on earlier for Graeme Weir, was sent through by Jean Louis Valois and the wiry striker made no mistake from just inside the box.

It was cruel fortune for the home side who at least deserved a share of the spoils.

Battling the unforgiving elements, it was the visitors who almost took the lead in the fifth minute when defender Alan Maybury whipped in a low ball across the six-yard box.

Hearts striker Weir was first in and almost got his toe to it but Dons keeper David Preece saved bravely at the youngster's feet.

In the 20th minute the Tynecastle men nearly contributed to their own downfall when defender Andy Webster was caught in possession by Dons striker Leon Mike who squared the ball across the box to Paul Sheerin.

The debutant's angled shot was goal bound until Hearts keeper Tepi Moilanen managed to save at his near post and the ball was eventually put out for a corner.

Moments later, at the other end, Valois escaped the Dons defence and swung over a right-footed cross to the back post where Gorgie striker Mark de Vries was unmarked.

But the big Dutchman seemed to take his took his eye off the ball and somehow managed to head over the bar from only eight yards out.

The Dons fought back and in the 27th minute Mike set up Steve Tosh inside the box but the former Dundee striker snatched at his shot and could only hit the side netting.

As the first half wore on and the conditions deteriorated, Weir and Scott Severin had half chances for the visitors but still the breakthrough would not come.

Within two minutes of the restart Mike drew a great save from Tynecastle debutant Moilanen with a close-range volley but referee Dallas had already whistled for an infringement by the Dons striker.

The pitch was almost unplayable in places and Valois' snapshot from 30 yards was dug out of the puddles but Dons keeper Preece gathered safely.

In the 53rd minute Severin had a decent chance when he was lurking at the back post to latch onto a Valois corner but the midfielder was off balance and sent his angled shot high and wide.

The 9,332 fans saw the game worsen as the game moved towards the hour mark. The ball began sticking, players started slipping and basic mistakes increased.

But it was the home side who nearly got the first goal on the hour mark when Tosh had a free header from a Sheerin cross but the striker's close-range header was straight at Moilanen.

Moments later, with the Dons looking more threatening, Chris Clark's shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off Hearts skipper Steven Pressley and Moilanen did well to tip the ball over for a corner.

In the 73rd minute Hearts substitute Kevin McKenna, who had come on earlier for De Vries, had a good chance when Russell Anderson's mistake let him through, but the big Canadian slammed the ball high over the bar.

But there was drama when the visitors won the game in the dying moments. In the last minute Valois put Wales clear and the ex-Hamilton player slipped the ball past Preece for the winner.

Aberdeen: Preece, McGuire, Anderson, McAllister, Payne, Rutkiewicz, Tosh, Sheerin, Clark, Mike (Michie 75), Mackie (Derek Young 80).

Subs Not Used: Kjaer, O'Donoghue, D'Jaffo.

Hearts: Moilanen, Maybury, Webster, Pressley, Mahe (McCann 42), Boyack, Severin, MacFarlane, Valois, de Vries (McKenna 57), Weir (Wales 67).

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Janczyk.

Booked: McCann.

Goals: Wales 90.

Att: 9,322

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).