Kevin McGowne's dramatic late strike ensured Kilmarnock's New Year resolution
of maintaining a title bid remained on course with victory against Motherwell.
The Fir Park outfit offer cut price admission at Fir Park for all but the Old
Firm's visits, but the team give nothing away and looked to have secured a
well-earned point.
Yet Billy Davies' men missed several second-half chances and this proved to
their cost when McGowne's stunning shot from distance snatched an unlikely
Kilmarnock win with just four minutes remaining.
The visitors had moved ahead after 15 minutes through the familiar figure of
Ally McCoist, but lost momentum after Motherwell levelled through Ged Brannan's
well-taken 27th minute header.
Kilmarnock held out though when under pressure and their reward was a victory
to remain second in between leaders Rangers and champions Celtic in the race for
the Scottish Premier League.
Motherwell were without on-loan Everton striker John Spencer as well as
suspended duo Stephen McMillan and Shaun Teale, while Kilmarnock missed only
long-term victim Jerome Vareille.
The visitors should have moved ahead after just eight minutes when Gary Holt's
header fell invitingly for Paul Wright inside the six-yard box with time and
space at his disposal.
However the striker was unable to connect with the power he wanted and his
loose connection enabled Stevie Woods to gather, though the same player was to
test the keeper more minutes later.
Wright seized on a loose ball some 25 yards from goal and delivered a low
drive that Woods did superbly well to palm onto the post and away to safety.
After 15 minutes, Kilmarnock were ahead, Durrant releasing his former Rangers
colleague McCoist who defeated Woods with an angled drive just inside the far
post.
McCoist threatened again in Kilmarnock's next attack with a near post effort
clutched by Woods, but the Ayrshire outfit were unable to build on their lead.
After 27 minutes, they paid the price as Motherwell levelled when Michel
Doesburg's precise cross from the left picked out Brannan whose firm downward
header made it 1-1.
On the half-hour, the busy Holt made ground down the right flank and produced
a cross that encouraged Wright to attempt an ambitious overhead kick which
soared over the bar.
Jan Michels, otherwise unimpressive in midfield, did come to life after 34
minutes with a powerful drive from distance that Gordon Marshall was at his most
agile to push away.
Kilmarnock pressed from the restart with Holt again prominent as his pass fed
Ally Mitchell for a first-time effort that went narrowly wide of the mark.
Owen Coyle went close with an angled drive that went just above the upright,
while Simo Valakari had a snap shot charged down by the Kilmarnock backline.
After 68 minutes, Coyle should have done better when presented with a genuine
opening but dragged his attempt badly wide of goal when in position to do more.
Durrant and McCoist repeated the combination which led to the opening goal
four minutes later, but this time the veteran Scotland international failed to
find the finish required.
Pat Nevin's trickery was the main creative spark for Motherwell and after 77
minutes his cross merited a more powerful glancing header than managed by
Coyle.
With 11 minutes remaining, Kilmarnock thought they had won it when McCoist
headed in Holt's cross, but the flag had already gone up for offside before he
had even made contact.
Kilmarnock would surely now have settled for a point, but from nowhere McGowne
emerged to strike a blow from deep that left Motherwell down and out at the
last.
Teams:
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