Motherwell squeezed into the top-six of the Bank of Scotland Premier League after grabbing a bizarre late equaliser against Kilmarnock at Fir Park.

An own-goal from Killie keeper Alan Combe four minutes from time cancelled out Peter Leven's 33rd-minute free-kick and ensured Motherwell can look forward to a lucrative end to their season.

The point meant the Steelmen finished one ahead of Inverness and will now face the top fives sides in the league to complete their campaign - including big-money matches against the Old Firm.

Motherwell boss Terry Butcher will be relieved to have finished in the top half because at one point - with his side losing and Caley Thistle winning 3-0 - another goal against them would have seen them finish seventh.

The draw saw Jim Jefferies' Kilmarnock side end their five-match losing run away from home in the league. However, the visiting players were furious at the award of the equaliser - for a foul on keeper Combe or the fact that no-one appeared to touch the ball from Stephen Craigan's long throw-in.

It was visitors who were first to threaten when Gary Locke - playing in a holding midfield role on his return to the side after suspension - curled a free-kick onto the head of Gary McDonald, who nodded into the side-netting from six yards.

The tension of occasion appeared to be affecting Motherwell in the early stages with both Jim Hamilton and Scott Leitch failing to control the simplest of the balls.

The Steelmen were desperately missing the presence up front of top scorer Scott McDonald - out with a hamstring strain - while Brian Kerr made little impression as knee injury victim Kevin McBride's replacement on the right side of midfield.

Indeed it took until the 29th minute for Motherwell to carve out their first real chance, Shaun Fagan bustling past a couple of challenges on the edge of the box before being crowded out by two desperate tackles from David Lilley and Garry Hay.

In the 33rd minute, suddenly Well's quest for a point became harder as Killie took the lead when Leven curled a beautiful left-footed free-kick over Motherwell's wall, past keeper Barry John Corr - in for the suspended Gordon Marshall - and into the right-hand corner.

Butcher made a change at the break as winger Jim Paterson, anonymous in the first half, was replaced by Irishman Richie Foran.

David Partridge was the first man in the book when he was strangely yellow-carded for a challenge on James Fowler, despite it appearing that it was the Killie man's foot which was raised.

The home side were showing much more purpose now but Butcher was still unhappy with events as he brought on Marc Fitzpatrick for captain Leitch, who had been a pre-match doubt with a head knock.

Jefferies made his first substitution when Kris Boyd was replaced by Colin Nish on 70 minutes and seconds later Butcher played his final card when veteran striker Gerry Britton came on for Kerr as Motherwell fielded a four-pronged attack.

However it was Killie who came closest to scoring next though, when Corr did well to smother a fierce low drive from Gary Wales.

The Fir Park faithful could rest easy four minutes from time though when Craigan's long throw from the right somehow ended up in the Killie net with keeper Combe appearing to get the last touch.

Killie were incensed with Stuart Dougal's decision to award the goal and Combe and Gary Locke were booked for their protests.

Motherwell saw out the remaining minutes and can now look forward to taking on the top five sides in the table.

Teams

Motherwell Corr, Paul Quinn, Partridge, Craigan, Hammell, Kerr (Britton 71), Leitch (Fitzpatrick 60), Fagan, Paterson (Foran 45), Clarkson, Hamilton.

Subs Not Used: Kinniburgh, Higgins, Ewings.

Booked: Partridge, Fagan.

Goals: Combe 86 og.

Kilmarnock Combe, Lilley, Greer, Dindeleux, Fowler, McDonald, Locke, Leven, Hay, Boyd (Nish 71), Wales.

Subs Not Used: Johnston, Smith, Murray, Dodds, Johnstone, Naismith.

Booked: Combe, Locke.

Goals: Leven 33.

Att: 4,999

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).