Motherwell let a one-goal lead slip at Fir park as third-placed Livingston enhanced their claims for a UEFA Cup spot with a smash-and-grab victory on Saturday.

After taking the lead through Jan Soloy Motherwell gifted an equaliser on the stroke of half-time to Marvin Andrews, before Fransisco Quino's 70th-minute strike clinched the points.

Motherwell will feel aggrieved considering their battling performance, particularly in the first half, and the defeat put an end to an excellent home run.

Livingston started brightly and the in-form David Fernandez did have the ball in the net only to be ruled offside, before Motherwell's James McFadden had a low shot cleared.

It was to be a particularly frustrating afternoon for the young home striker, who blighted an otherwise good display by being wasteful in front of goal.

In the 12th minute Livingston goalkeeper Nick Culkin had to be alert in saving an instinctive shot by Stuart Elliott.

Referee Mike McCurry had a busy afternoon and on two occasions he was called to the touchline to calm fraying tempers from both camps.

Livingston went agonisingly close on the half-hour mark but midfielder David Bingham's shot was cleared off the line by Scott Leitch.

In the 38th minute, however, Motherwell deservedly took the lead when Culkin allowed Soloy's shot to slip through his legs for the opening goal.

His team-mates spared his blushes with an equaliser just before half-time.

The Motherwell defence hesitated and left centre-half Andrews found himself unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box and lashed the ball into the roof of the net.

In the second half McFadden wasted another chance for Motherwell after a good assist by Dirk Lehmann, before substitute Stephen Nicholas blazed over at the far post, as the Steelemen tried to engineer a second goal.

Although they enjoyed plenty of possession, Livingston caught out the home side and took the lead in the 70th minute.

Quino showed excellent composure to place the ball from 18 yards beyond Woods into the corner of the net after being set-up by the hard-working Nathan Lowndes.

All Motherwell had to offer before the end was an eye-catching free-kick by McFadden which flew just past the post.

Teams:

Motherwell: Woods, Deloumeaux, Ready, Strong, Soloy (Nicholas 54), Leitch, Pearson, McFadden, Hammell, Lehmann, Elliott.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Corrigan, Martinez, Adams.

Booked: Strong.

Goals: Soloy 38.

Livingston: Culkin, Rubio, Andrews, Anderson, Hart, Quino, Tosh, Bingham (Makel 60), Bollan, Lowndes (Caputo 90), Fernandez.

Subs Not Used: Aurellio, McEwan, Santini.

Booked: Rubio, Quino, Lowndes, Hart.

Goals: Andrews 45, Quino 71.

Att: 4,458

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).