This was the first time that Aberdeen had scored five goals in over three seasons, the last coming when they defeated lower league Brechin City in a CIS cup tie. Tonight's victory sets up a trip to Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood's former club Dunfermline in the quarter finals.
Aberdeen were first to show in four minutes when Sone Aluko glided past Paul Nugent before lofting the ball to the far post, Tommy Wright out-jumped his marker his downward header was parried onto the post by keeper McCulloch who held at the second attempt.
Disaster struck for the visitors in the next minute, neat footwork from Javan Vidal as he skipped past Shaun Fagan before playing in a superb through-ball to fellow England Youth International Aluko. The diminutive wide man was onto the ball in a flash, as he lifted the ball over the advancing goal keeper McCulloch instinctively handled the ball, however, as he was way outside his area he left referee Steve Conroy no option but to brandish a red card.
Aberdeen finally broke the deadlock in 16 minutes, Aluko picked up a loose ball out wide on the left and quickly fired the ball into the area. The visiting centre half Greig McDonald made a hash of his clearance, only succeeding in playing the ball onto Tommy Wright who swivelled and clipped his effort into the roof of the net from 11 yards for his first goal in Aberdeen colours.
Aberdeen extended their league minutes later, strikers Lee Miller and Wright combined to pick out Chris Maguire. The youngster held the ball up long enough to pick out Vidal who simply passed the ball into the corner of the net from 16 yards.
The Visitors were in disarray again as Aberdeen grabbed a third goal on 28 minutes. Aluko pounced on a loose ball after hesitancy from Paul Nugent. From an acute angle his cross-cum-shot took a slight deflection of McDonald and ended up beating Michael Brown at his near post.
On 43 minutes Maguire and Richard Foster combined well on the right, before the latter's ball into the box found Wright whose squirmed effort fell wide of the post.
Aberdeen striker Maguire finally got his name on the score-sheet on 82 minutes. He was on hand to nod home a Charlie Mulgrew corner which sub keeper Brown got a hand to but couldn't keep out.
Aberdeen went nap in 83 minutes, tenacious play from Maguire on the half way line saw him dispossess Jonathan Smart before carrying the ball 30 yards, gleefully slipping the ball passed Brown and into the unguarded net.