Motherwell teenager Paul Quinn grabbed the only goal of the game against Kilmarnock to send the Fir Park side back into the top half of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table again.

He nodded home from a Derek Adams free-kick - and Terry Butcher's men managed to hold on for all three points.

Kilmarnock finally seemed to be back on track last week when they recorded their first league win since the start of December by coming from behind to take all three points from Partick.

But manager Jim Jefferies had warned his players that the win would mean nothing unless they could continue that form in the game against Motherwell and start closing the gap between themselves and the teams above them in the table.

And Killie certainly seemed the hungrier side in the opening stages at Fir Park.

The Rugby Park side tested the home defence when Gary Locke picked out Gary McSwegan for the header and only a frantic goalmouth scramble saw the ball eventually cleared to safety.

They came close again when Eric Skora's corner was met by Stephen Murray in front of goal only for him to hook the effort just over but Motherwell managed to weather the early storm and it was the home side who took the lead.

They were handed a free-kick out on the touchline and Derek Adams did well to pick out Quinn at the back post to nod past goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau from just outside the six-yard box with 15 minutes on the clock.

Motherwell were looking more than capable of adding to their tally and they came close 10 minutes before half-time.

Keith Lasley went on a decent run before trying to place the shot in the top corner of the net but he was denied by a vigilant Dubourdeau, who just managed to hold the effort.

The second half was only a few seconds old when Kilmarnock could have hauled themselves back into the game.

Kris Boyd went to ground following a challenge from Stephen Craigan and the young Killie striker claimed for a penalty - but he was forced to make do with a free-kick on the edge of the area instead.

Martin Hardie played the set-piece short to Boyd but the opportunity was wasted when he fired off Alex Burns and the danger was cleared.

With an hour on the clock, Killie manager Jim Jefferies made two substitutions - McSwegan and Murray made way for Colin Nish and Craig Dargo.

Dargo could have had an immediate impact on the game when he was released by Hardie with only the goalkeeper to beat - but he was penalised for offside before he could shoot.

With the game still hanging in the balance, Motherwell were desperate for the second goal that would all-but end Killie's hopes of a comeback.

And it almost came when Steven Hammell's free kick was cleared by McLaughlin but only to the feet of Adams - who shot powerfully just wide.

But they managed to hold on for the win which sends them back into the top half of the table again.

Teams

Motherwell Marshall, Quinn, Corrigan, Craigan, Hammell, Lasley, Adams, Dair, Scott McDonald (O'Donnell 77), Burns, Clarkson (Wright 88).

Subs Not Used: Corr, Kevin McDonald, Kinniburgh.

Goals: Clarkson 15.

Kilmarnock Dubourdeau, Lilley (Fowler 82), Greer, McLaughlin, Hay, Skora, Locke, Hardie, Murray (Dargo 61), Boyd, McSwegan (Nish 61).

Subs Not Used: Dindeleux, Meldrum.

Booked: Hardie, Locke, Boyd.

Att: 5,163

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).