Two goals within 10 minutes of his introduction from half-time substitute Abdessalam Benjelloun sent Hibernian past Aberdeen into the fourth round of the Tennent's Scottish Cup.

The Easter Road side came back from Barry Nicholson's early opener for the Dons to deservedly earn a fourth-round clash with First Division leaders Gretna. Hibernian led 2-1 at the break with first-half strikes from Steven Fletcher and Michael Stewart, the latter a stunning volley from a Dean Shiels corner.

Stewart's sensational strike separated the sides at half-time in this replay and there was no way back after Benjelloun's brilliant brace.

Nicholson's early breakthrough ignited an end-to-end match which was full of incident from start to finish and gave Hibs their first win at the fifth time of asking over the Dons this season.

The home side kicked off at a ferocious pace with an ambitious 4-3-3 formation which forced three early corners in a spell which almost brought the breakthrough twice in as many minutes.

There were only three minutes gone when Guillaume Beuzelin's low shot squirmed wide off Jamie Langfield's hands and Fletcher's deflected header from Shiels' corner struck the outside of the post on its way wide.

At the other end, Gary Dempsey then sent Darren Mackie scurrying away from Rob Jones in the seventh minute and Steve Lovell just failed to get enough on his strike partner's low centre.

But Hibs failed to heed the warning and three minutes later the Dons took the lead.

Chris Hogg and Jones passed up chances to clear and Lovell's toe-poke allowed the supporting Nicholson to run unchecked into the area and side-foot past the exposed Andrew McNeil.

However, Hibs took only three minutes to get themselves back level.

Shiels' corner found Fletcher leaping highest six yards out and his header soared into the top corner beyond Langfield's despairing grasp.

The Pittodrie men had a gilt-edged opportunity to regain the lead on the half-hour mark but Scott Severin's drive was blocked after the Dons were awarded an indirect free-kick only 10 yards from goal.

Three minutes later Dempsey's free-kick curled inches past as McNeil scrambled across his goalmouth and Steven Whittaker could not keep his drive down three minutes later as the teams traded attack after attack.

But in first-half injury time, Hibs took the lead with a magnificent strike from Stewart.

Shiels' corner found him unmarked on 25 yards out and his perfectly-executed first-time volley spun past Langfield into the roof of the net.

Hibs manager John Collins made two alterations at the interval, with the combination for their second goal, Shiels and Stewart, staying inside and Kevin Thomson and Benjelloun entering the fray.

Benjelloun did not take long to make his mark as he netted a third for the Easter Road side only two minutes into the second period.

Ivan Sproule won the ball just inside his own half and sparked a lightning break with a ball inside to Thomson.

His pass was shifted first time by Fletcher round Andrew Considine and perfectly into the path of Benjelloun, with the Moroccan rounding Langfield and side-footing home.

Hibs were well on top at this stage and Sproule had a shot after a mazy run held by Langfield and Fletcher's shot met with the same response from the Dons keeper.

Hibs then grabbed a fourth with a second from Benjelloun in the 55th minute.

He was allowed to run unchecked to the edge of the area as the Aberdeen defence backed off but his left-foot drive was devastating and ripped into the net past Langfield.

Aberdeen went man-for-man in defence in search of an unlikely comeback but it was not forthcoming and Hibs saw out the match looking the likelier to add to the scoring.

Teams:

Hibernian McNeil, Whittaker, Hogg, Jones, Stevenson,Beuzelin (McCann 75), Stewart (Thomson 46), Scott Brown,Shiels (Benjelloun 46), Fletcher, Sproule.

Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, Martis.

Booked: Fletcher.

Goals: Fletcher 13, Stewart 45, Benjelloun 47, 56.

Aberdeen Langfield, Hart, Anderson, Considine, Clark, Foster,Severin (Daniel Smith 70), Nicholson, Dempsey (Maguire 55),Lovell (Miller 64), Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Winter.

Booked: Considine, Hart, Miller.

Goals: Nicholson 10.

Att: 11,375

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).