A Darren Mackie double gave Aberdeen a dramatic 2-1 win over Hibs in their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Easter Road and kept the Dons' European hopes alive going into the last game of the season.

Mackie opened the scoring in the 28th minute only to see Derek Riordan, who had a first half penalty saved by Reds' keeper Ryan Esson, equalise five minutes after the interval.

But, just as the game seemed to be swinging back towards the home side, Mackie popped up with the headed winner in the 70th minute to take the Pittodrie men to within three points of the Edinburgh club going into the final game.

Aberdeen weathered some stormy opening moments with keeper Esson's save from Stephen Glass's 25-yard free-kick in the eighth minute making impressive viewing.

Moments later at the other end, Mackie found himself with the ball at his feet inside the Hibs penalty area and with some time but the Dons striker could not set himself properly and his effort from 16 yards flew over the bar.

However, the visitors took some confidence from that missed opportunity and, in the 11th minute, Mackie had an even better chance when he turned Easter Road stopper Gary Smith inside the Hibees box but this time his effort went inches wide.

The big home support began to show their agitation as Hibs struggled to get to grips with the game and, in the 25th minute, Dons defender Alexander Diamond's header from a Scott Severin throw-in had home keeper Simon Brown scrambling to hold the ball at the second attempt.

There was no real surprise when Aberdeen deservedly took the lead in the 28th minute albeit with a scrappy goal.

A Scott Muirhead corner from the right found Severin 10 yards past the back post and, when the former Hearts player's header came back towards goal, Mackie somehow stabbed the ball in through a forest of defenders on the line from barely five yards out.

The home side were all over the place now as the buoyant Pittodrie men went looking for the second goal.

However, in the 41st minute Hibs captain Ian Murray broke clear of the Dons defence on the left although his angled shot from 16 yards was saved at the second attempt by Esson.

There was some drama in first-half stoppage time when Diamond clumsily felled Hibs midfielder Scott Brown in the Dons box to concede a penalty but Riordan's spot-kick was beaten away by Esson.

The home side's penalty miss before the interval seemed to affect their start to the second half and soon the Pittodrie men had regained control of the match.

In the 50th minute, however, the home side got back into the game with a fortuitous goal out of the blue.

Following an Ian Murray throw-in from the left, the ball bounced inside the Dons penalty area before Riordan appeared to almost tackle the ball into the net off Markus Heikkinen from around 10 yards out.

The relief amongst the Hibs fans was tangible and the match immediately swung back in their favour with O'Connor's near post header from a teasing Riordan cross testing Esson.

The play was stretched now and moments later Konte picked up an Antonio Murray pass and cleverly skinned Diamond 10 yards from goal but Esson was quickly out to smother the big striker's shot from a tight angle.

Then, in the 65th minute, as the visitors enjoyed a spell of pressure, midfielder Jamie Winters' snap shot from outside the box skimmed the Hibs crossbar.

But in another dramatic twist to the game in the 70th minute, the visitors stole back into the lead.

Severin's throw-in was mis-hit by Scott Muirhead but the ball fell invitingly for Mackie who headed past the helpless Brown from 12 yards out.

The final stages were manic. Mackie had an appeal for a penalty turned down when he clashed with Gary Smith, Ian Murray fired an angled shot high over the bar from only 12 yards out and Mackie then missed his chance for a hat-trick when he failed to hit the target from the edge of the box with only Simon Brown to beat.

In the dying seconds, Hibs defender Gary Smith headed against the post inside a packed Aberdeen penalty area but the visitors held on to doggedly maintain their quest for a UEFA Cup spot.

Teams

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Smith, Ian Murray, Scott Brown, Antonio Murray (Shiels 80), Glass, Riordan (Sproule 72), O'Connor (Beuzelin 62), Konte.

Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Hogg, Morrow, Murphy.

Booked: Antonio Murray, Glass.

Goals: Riordan 51.

Aberdeen Esson, Hart, Diamond, Heikkinen (McGuire 69), Byrne, Clark, Winter, Severin, Muirhead (Dempsey 76), Blaha (Adams 58), Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Preece, Stewart, Considine, Kiely.

Booked: Winter, Clark.

Goals: Mackie 28, 69.

Att: 15,288

Ref: M Ritchie (Scotland).