St Johnstone and Motherwell battled out an exciting 1-1 draw in the first game of the new Millennium at McDiarmid Park.

The Saints took the lead just before the break when Graeme Jones scored from close in.

But as the points looked like staying in Perth, Motherwell defender Stephen McMillan scored a late equaliser with a tremendous 25-yard shot.

In the end a draw was probably a fair result as neither team did enough to merit a victory.

The opening minutes of the game were punctuated with offside decisions and fouls and it was no surprise when Graeme Jones was booked for a bad tackle on Derek Townsley in the sixth minute.

It was the visitors who were first to threaten when a Kevin Twaddle lob almost caught Saints keeper Alan Main off his line, but the keeper did well to scramble back to save.

In the visitors' next attack Twaddle again came close but a shot from 12 yards was cleared by Saints defender Jim Weir.

At the other end, Motherwell keeper Andy Goram did well to save a Keith O'Halloran shot from point-blank range.

St Johnstone were employing dangerous offside tactics and only some kind decisions from the assistant referee prevented Motherwell strikers John Spencer and Don Goodman from going clear through on goal on several occasions.

Saints nearly took the lead 10 minutes from the interval when a John O'Neil cross was headed powerfully towards goal by striker Nathan Lowndes - but somehow Goram dived down to his right to pull off a great save.

Just when the first half looked like ending goalless, the home side took the lead.

A great pass from Paul Kane found John Paul McBride on the right and when the former Celtic player cut the ball back, Jones made no mistake from six yards.

The visitors started the second half looking determined to get the goal back and took control of the midfield - but without creating any clear-cut chances.

The home side were looking dangerous on the break and twice in a minute Lowndes was clear through on goal, only to be foiled by the Motherwell defence.

Jones nearly grabbed his second goal in the 67th minute when he found himself with the ball at his feet eight yards from goal.

But Twaddle, making amends for losing possession, saved the day with a great tackle.

The visitors continued to battle for the equaliser and again came close in the 80th minute when a John Davies shot went just over the Saints' bar.

There was controversy four minutes later when Motherwell striker Spencer went down in the Saints' box looking for a penalty - but referee Brown wasn't impressed and booked the former Chelsea and Rangers player for diving.

But with only three minutes left Motherwell equalised when the ball broke to Stephen McMullan from a corner - and he hammered it into the net from 25 yards giving Main no chance.

Both teams went all out for the winner but in the end they had to settle for a draw.

St Johnstone: Main, McCluskey, Weir, Griffin, Bollan, Kane, O'Halloran, McBride, O'Neil, Jones, Lowndes (Simao 64).

Subs Not Used: Ferguson, McAnespie, Dods, McMahon.

Booked: Jones.

Goals: Jones 44.

Motherwell: Goram, Doesburg (Corrigan 34), Denham, Kemble, McMillan, Valakari, Townsley (Nevin 46), Davies, Twaddle (Nicholas 65), Spencer, Goodman.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Ramsey.

Booked: Valakari, Kemble, Spencer.

Goals: McMillan 85.

Att: 4,158

Ref: Tom Brown (Scotland).