Motherwell 1 Hearts 1

A blunder by Motherwell goalkeeper Gordon Marshall allowed Hearts to take a deserved point from Fir Park.

Well midfielder Derek Adams had given the home side a 29th-minute lead when his free-kick deflected off Jambos' defender Patrick Kisnorbo.

But veteran Marshall allowed Paul Hartley's free-kick in the final minute of the first period to slip through his hands and cancel out Adams' effort.

However, the game will also be remembered for referee Charlie Richmond's over-zealous nature with cautions - booking a total of six players in what was seldom a dirty encounter.

But the result will have pleased Well manager Terry Butcher after he saw his team dumped out of the CIS Insurance Cup at Forfar in midweek.

However, Hearts made the more encouraging start to the game following their UEFA Cup win over Zeljeznicar.

Midfielder Phil Stamp went close with a third minute free-kick.

Motherwell looked reasonably enterprising and Steven Hammell was unlucky not to score from a free-kick as Hearts goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen turned away his effort.

But it was the home side who drew first blood in the 29th minute.

Adams won a free-kick on the left-hand side of the area and drilled in a low shot among a cluster of players.

But a slight deflection off Australian defender Kisnorbo left Moilanen with no chance for the opener.

Hearts were stung and Stamp tried to drive his colleagues along but they had lost their earlier confidence as Motherwell tried to build on their lead.

But it was the visitors who were to be beneficiaries of a gift from former Celtic keeper Marshall.

Hartley took an innocuous looking free-kick from 25 yards and, although the shot had some power, Marshall somehow managed to fumble the ball into his own net.

Hearts were clearly spurred by the late equaliser and were the dominant force in the second period.

But a lack of clear-cut chances cost dearly although Dennis Wyness tricked his way into the danger area just a minute into the second period only for his shot to cannon off the post.

Mark de Vries caught the eye with a volley on the hour mark, but, ironically, Motherwell could have been handed a winner with four minutes remaining.

But Steven Pressley deflected Steven Hammell's free-kick just beyond his own post.

In the final minute, Marshall atoned a little for his earlier error when he superbly saved a Stamp strike.

Teams

Motherwell Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, Adams, Leitch (Fagan 83), Lasley, Pearson, Clarkson, Craig.

Subs Not Used: Dair, Corr, Quinn, Wright.

Booked: Clarkson, Leitch.

Goals: Adams 29.

Hearts Moilanen, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, Kisnorbo, MacFarlane, Stamp, Severin, Hartley (Hamill 50), de Vries (Weir 77), Wyness (McKenna 77).

Subs Not Used: Kirk, Gordon.

Booked: Webster, Kisnorbo, de Vries, Stamp.

Goals: Hartley 45.

Att: 5,888

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com