GLASGOW (AFP) - Queen of the South caused one of Scottish football's greatest shocks on Saturday with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup at Hampden to book their first ever appearance in the final.

The First Division side had taken the lead through former Dons' player Steve Tosh but were pegged back by Andrew Considine before half time.

But nothing in the opening 45 minutes hinted at what was to follow in a sensational second half.

In a terrific 12 minute spell five goals were scored, with Queens twice regaining their lead through Paul Burns and Sean O'Connor and Aberdeen levelling on both occasions through Barry Nicholson and then Considine.

And in the 60th minute the First Division team ended the goal feast when they took the lead for the fourth and final time through another former Don, John Stewart to clinch the famous victory in front of a crowd of 24,008.

Queen of the South were playing in their first Scottish Cup semi final since they lost to Rangers in 1950.

And the Dumfries side made the brighter start and deservedly took the lead in the 22nd minute.

Ryan McCann launched a high ball into the penalty box which should have been comfortably dealt with by Aberdeen goalkeeper Derek Soutar.

However, under pressure, Soutar flapped at the cross, the ball fell to Queens' defender Andy Aitken and he rolled the ball back to Tosh who smashed it into the roof of the net from 12-yards.

The Scottish Premier League, though, levelled in the 36th minute.

Barry Nicholson's free-kick towards the back post was headed back across goal by Scott Severin and Considine rose to send a downward header into the corner of the net from six-yards.

The equaliser should have handed Aberdeen the initiative after the break but instead it was the First Division side who regained their lead in the 48th minute - to kick-start a crazy 12 minute spell.

Another former Dons player Stewart, who had replaced the injured Stephen Dobbie before half-time, made a fantastic run up the left before squaring for Burns and although his first-time shot was blocked by Severin he smashed the rebound into the top corner of the net.

But in the 52nd minute Jimmy Calderwood's side were level.

Maguire's cross from the left was met by Lee Miller and, although his header from six-yards forced MacDonald into a fantastic point-blank save, Nicholson was on hand to fire home from close range.

Only four minutes later Queens were ahead for the third time in the match.

A long ball forward from Tosh found O'Connor and he cut inside away from Dons' defender Zander Diamond before firing a low left-foot shot into the corner of the net, sending Soutar the wrong way.

Every attempt on goal during this period seemed to result in another goal and in the 58th minute Aberdeen levelled for a third time.

Nicholson's cross from the right was nodded on by Miller and Considine raced in unimpeded at the back post to nod the ball past goalkeeper MacDonald.

The Aberdeen support would have hoped finally their side would live up to their billing as favourites but yet again it was the First Division side who took the lead in the 60th minute.

Ryan McCann's cross from the right was flicked on by Jim Thomson and Stewart was free at the back post to blast the ball past Soutar.

Aberdeen pushed for a fourth equaliser, with Nicholson coming closest in injury time when his shot from eight-yards was brilliantly saved by MacDonald, but Queen of the South held on to make Scottish footballing history.