Kilmarnock 1 Aberdeen 2

Aberdeen killed off Kilmarnock's fading hopes of clinching a Scottish Premiership top-six slot as goals from Adam Rooney and Cammy Smith sealed a 2-1 win at Rugby Park.

Rooney did his chances of landing a player of the year nomination no harm at all as he nodded home his 26th goal of season after 40 minutes.

Niall McGinn was the creator of the first and Dons' man of the match set up their second with another stunning cross for 19-year-old Smith.

But that goal on 69 minutes came after the second of two controversial refereeing decisions.

Official John Beaton, who had earlier given a foul against Tope Obadeyi as he prepared to fire into an empty net, waved play on in the build up despite Killie claims striker Josh Magennis had been fouled by Aberdeen skipper Mark Reynolds.

Craig Slater returned from suspension to fire the hosts level just after half-time but missed a stoppage-time penalty as Aberdeen held on for victory.

The defeat means Gary Locke's side will be locked out of the top half of the table.

Kilmarnock knew they had to win both of their remaining two fixtures before the split to have any chance of catching sixth-placed Dundee but they now sit six points behind the Dens Park outfit with only Wednesday's clash against Celtic to come.

Aberdeen, meanwhile, cement their place in second as they move 13 ahead of Inverness and within five of leaders Celtic, who have played a game less.

The Dons' midweek win over Caley Thistle had already put them on the verge of finishing as runners-up for the first time in 21 years and they started with a confident look on Killie's plastic pitch.

It took them just nine minutes to seriously threaten as Rooney ghosted onto McGinn's whipped cross from deep. His header though, drifted a fraction wide.

Craig Samson then saved his side as he palmed away Smith's shot after Ashcroft's weak clearance.

However, there were cries of outrage from the home support after 25 minutes as Killie winger Obadeyi was pulled back by referee Beaton just as he looked set to score.

The former Bolton youngster had tangled arms with Aberdeenmidfielder Willo Flood as he spent through on Dons keeper Scott Brown, but there no obvious foul.

With the goal gaping after he had leapt over Brown, Obadeyi thought he had a tap in until Beaton decided he had tugged Flood and blew for a free-kick.

Killie were sloppy with their passing though and their wastefulness came back to haunt them five minutes before the break as Aberdeen deservedly grabbed the lead.

From the set-piece wide on the right, McGinn swung over another beautiful delivery for Donervorn Daniels, who nudged it back across goal for Rooney to head home at the back post.

But within two minutes of the second half restarting, Slater put his side level with his fourth goal of the campaign.

Alexei Eremenko and Obadeyi led the charge after Killie broke up field before the ball was played into Slater. Daniels should have got out quicker to challenge the 20-year-old who swept his shot away from Brown's reach into the bottom corner.

Another Kilmarnock counter-attack looked promising as Chris Johnston picked out Magennis' burst into the box, but Brown palmed his header away.

Then came the second moment of controversy as Magennis fell to the ground as Reynolds slid in.

The home side wanted a foul but Beaton again told them to get on with it.

Aberdeen did not need a second invitation and raced up field.

From wide on the right, McGinn skinned defender David Syme as he threw over another quality cross that was perfect for the unmarked Smith to power home from just three yards out.

Daniels had to be alert to nod clear from Magennis' dangerous ball across goal as Killie looked for another leveller, while Johnston was not far away with a curling shot from 20 yards out.

But just as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, Brown handed Kilmarnock the chance to grab a point when he darted from his line to collide with substitute Lee Miller.

The keeper made amends, however, when he pounced on the midfielder's weak spot-kick.