Hearts 1 Motherwell 1

Motherwell's John Spencer grabbed a deserved late equaliser to deny Hearts victory.

Hearts had clung onto the lead given to them by a Gary McSwegan header in the eighth minute - the culmination of an excellent move.

But the Lanarkshire men then proceeded to dominate most of an entertaining game yet missed a succession of chances.

However, just as it looked as if the home side would hold on, Spencer pounced on a Stephen McMillan cross to claim a point and take their unbeaten spell to four matches.

Yet Jim Jefferies men got off to a perfect start with that early lead.

Steve Fulton and Stephane Adam combined to send Gary Naysmith clear on the left. The youngster's looping cross fell perfectly for McSwegan to bullet a header past Stevie Woods.

The visitors hit back and Hearts survived claims for a penalty when Gary Locke appeared to jump into Kevin Twaddle following a Michael Doesburg cross.

Motherwell almost equalised in the 28th minute when a well-struck free-kick by Ged Brannan was saved by Gilles Rousset low to his left.

The visitors were increasingly beginning to dominate the match and Hearts had a lucky escape on the half hour mark.

Superb wing play be Twaddle took him past a cluster of Hearts defenders and his dangerous cross was headed against his own bar by Grant Murray.

Lee McCulloch was thwarted by Rousset in the 33rd minute when Doesburg sent him clear but the striker's shot hit the legs of the giant keeper.

Motherwell were an inch away from equalising two minutes after the break.

Brannan combined with Pat Nevin and the veteran's delicately-chipped cross was headed against the post by McCulloch.

Then Nevin stole in at the backpost unmarked and nodded Twaddle's cross wide.

Hearts' Colin Cameron came close to extending their lead in the 72nd minute with a close-range header that just drifted wide.

Substitute Juanjo was controversially booked for diving two minutes later on the edge of the Motherwell box.

Motherwell grabbed a dramatic 83rd minute equaliser when Ben Kemble delivered a glorious long through ball for McMillan on the left whose cross was controlled by Spencer.

The striker steadied himself before shooting and although keeper Rousset got a touch the ball spun agonisingly over him into the net.

And sub Derek Townsley wasted a glorious opportunity at the death to steal all three points for the visitors when he shot straight at Rousset after being sent through.

Teams:

Hearts: Rousset, Pressley, Naysmith (Severin 49), Locke (Flogel 40), Ritchie, Fulton, Cameron, Jackson, Murray, McSwegan (Juanjo 61), Adam.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Makel.

Booked: Ritchie, Juanjo.

Goals: McSwegan 8.

Motherwell: Woods, Doesburg, McMillan, Teale, Kemble, Brannan, Spencer, Valakari, Nevin (Townsley 54), McCulloch,Twaddle (Harvey 81).

Subs Not Used: Brown, McGowan, Nicholas.Booked: McCulloch.

Goals: Spencer 83.

Att: 12,514

Ref: Alan Freeland (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com