Norwegian striker Arild Stavrum curled home his 16th goal of the season to give in-form Aberdeen the half-time lead at Motherwell.

With European and relegation issues in the melting pot elsewhere there was little more than pride at stake at Fir Park.

It gave both sides the opportunity to experiment for next season and Motherwell manager Billy Davies made three changes from the side which went down at Dundee United last week.

James Okoli was suspended after being sent off at Tannadice and Stephen Pearson and

Keith Lasley also missed out, making way for Martyn Corrigan, Stuart Elliott and Derek Townsley.

Aberdeen were on a high after moving into seventh place last week with their impressive victory at St Johnstone which bizarrely gave them one more point than sixth-placed Dundee.

Manager Ebbe Skovdahl made just two changes with Robbie Winters coming in after injury along with Rachid Belabed, David Rowson and Chris Clark making way.

The home side pushed Aberdeen back from the first whistle and almost made the perfect start in the opening minute.

Elliott's cross from the left flank was not cleared sufficiently by Derek Whyte and his header fell to skipper Kevin Twaddle, whose shot lacked the power to trouble Dons keeper Ryan Esson.

Aberdeen, however, did possess a clear threat on the counter attack and that almost brought them the opener two minutes later when they comfortably cut through the Motherwell defence.

Winters exchanged passes with Darren Young outside the area before sliding the ball through into the path of Darren Mackie, whose shot was saved by the feet of young keeper Jon Connolly and Stavrum failed to follow up.

Motherwell came back through Twaddle, but his right-foot shot after a pass from Said Chiba was easily saved by Esson.

But the visitors were again guilty of squandering a gilt-edged chance in the 14th minute and this time Stavrum was the culprit.

Townsley was caught day-dreaming by Cato Guntveit on the half-way line and he played the Norwegian throw on goal, but the striker dragged his right-foot shot wide of the post with just Connolly to beat.

Twaddle looked the most likely of the Motherwell players to produce something special and in the 19th minute a moment of individual skill almost broke the deadlock.

He cut inside Kevin McNaughton on the left wing and crashed a fierce right-foot shot against the Aberdeen crossbar.

But the disappointing crowd were still being entertained despite the players' minds perhaps being on their summer holidays.

Aberdeen again missed a glorious chance to take the lead in the 21st minute as Stavrum cut the ball across the face of goal which fell perfectly to Winters but he snatched at the chance and fired wide of the far post from five yards.

The Motherwell defence were unable to cope with the Aberdeen attacking play and Stavrum's right-foot shot flew just inches past the upright from Winters' lay-off.

But the Norwegian finally hit the net on the half-hour when Winters cut the ball back into his path, on the edge of the box, and he coolly curled a right-foot effort into the corner of the net.

Motherwell almost drew level just eight minutes later when the Aberdeen defence were once again stretched.

Elliott's weak cross from the left wing evaded everyone in the box before finding its way to the unmarked Townsley, whose right-foot strike was superbly tipped wide by Esson.

But Stavrum could have doubled Aberdeen's advantage three minute before the interval when Mackie sent him clean through, but young keeper Connolly again made the vital save to deny him.

Motherwell came back at the visitors and only a crucial block from Thomas Solberg deflected Elliott's goal-bound strike over after good work from Twaddle on the right flank.

In the dying seconds of the half Chiba curled a right-foot free-kick agonisingly past the Aberdeen upright to give the home supporters hope for the second period.