A late goal by young Motherwell substitute Kenny Wright, his first for the club, gave the Steelmen a narrow victory over Aberdeen at Fir Park.

The 18-year-old was only on the park two minutes as a second half replacement for Shaun Fagan when he was on hand to hammer home a pass from Steven Craig, himself just on for Scott McDonald, into the net from close range.

Dons striker David Zdrilic missed a first minute chance to give the visitors the lead but after that, in a game that failed to ignite, there was little goalmouth action.

The second half saw the Steelmen create and miss a couple of gilt-edged chances but Wright then slotted Steven Craig's pass for three welcome points for the Lanarkshire men.

It was the visitors who had the first chance of the game with only a minute played when Scott Booth's header to Zdrilic inside the Well box found the Australian unmarked but the Dons striker's volley from 16 yards was comfortably saved by Fir Park 'keeper Gordon Marshall.

The early let-off jolted the home side and Terry Butcher's men began to scrap energetically to take control of the match.

In the seventh minute Dons midfielder Paul Sheerin worked a clever one-two with Booth but the former Ayr player's angled shot from inside the penalty area sped across the six yard box and away from the danger area.

As the Steelmen pressed, the Aberdeen defence looked well organised and resolute and Dons 'keeper David Preece was little more than a spectator.

In the 25th minute Motherwell substitute Kevin MacDonald, on in the 10th minute for the injured Jason Dair, had a shot from 30 yards but, in keeping with the lack of goal threat from the home side, the ball sailed high over the bar.

There was little of note until the 36th minute when Dons striker Leigh Hinds' angled shot from 16 yards was deflected into the path of Booth but Marshall was quick off his line to block at the feet of the veteran striker.

Well striker Alex Burns, playing slightly deeper than usual, drove at the heart of the Dons defence but he was eventually easily dispossessed.

In the 49th minute Sheerin picked up a pass from Dons defender Scott Morrison and tried his luck from 25 yards but his well-struck shot went straight into the arms of the well-positioned Marshall.

In the 55th minute the home side's industrious midfielder Keith Lasley's slide-rule pass split the Dons defence to find Burns clear on goal.

But the former Partick Thistle striker, under pressure from Russell Anderson and Alexander Diamond, could only fire his shot from 12 yards straight at the advancing Preece.

The goal attempt boosted the Fir Park men's spirits and on the hour mark they squandered another great chance.

Kevin MacDonald's fine cross from the right found David Clarkson unmarked only 10 yards from goal but the youngster's header was both weak and off target.

The Dons were offering little in an attacking sense although Motherwell had regressed and were hardly any better.

But out of the blue, in the 84th minute, the home side got the important goal.

Wright, who had come on for Fagan two minutes earlier, picked up a pass from Craig and slotted the ball past the flailing Preece.

Teams

Motherwell Marshall, Quinn, Craigan, Corrigan, Hammell, Lasley, Burns, Fagan (Wright 82), Dair (Kevin McDonald 10), Scott McDonald (Craig 73), Clarkson.

Subs Not Used: Corr, Kinniburgh.

Goals: Wright 84.

Aberdeen Preece, Diamond, Anderson, McGuire, Morrison, Clark, Heikkinen, Sheerin (Tosh 68), Zdrilic, Booth (Muirhead 60), Hinds (Prunty 74).

Subs Not Used: Foster, Esson.

Booked: Diamond.

Att: 5,220

Ref: C Murray (Scotland).