A superb second half hat-trick from David Clarkson gave fighting Motherwell victory over Dundee United.

A wonderfully struck free-kick in the 15th minute from Tannadice defender Mark Wilson gave the visitors a narrow half-time advantage and, at that point, United looked comfortable with their lead.

But Well rallied after the break and the 18-year-old striker equalised in the 59th minute from an acute angle and, nine minutes later, soared to head a Steven Hammell corner past Paul Gallacher.

Deep into injury time, the youngster capped a great display by slipping the ball past Gallacher for a wonderful end to a great second-half comeback for the home side.

The only piece of goalmouth action in the early stages came in the 11th minute when Clarkson nearly got a shot in at Gallacher from 16 yards out but the youngster's drive was well blocked by Tannadice defender David McCracken.

But, on the quarter-hour mark, United took the lead.

Well stopper Stephen Craigan fouled Jason Scotland just outside the box and, from the resultant free-kick, Wilson bent a right-footed shot round the wall and into the corner of the net past the despairing Gordon Marshall.

Motherwell were being pressed back further by a sprightly and mobile United but broke away in the 24th minute and Jason Dair's speculative effort from 25 yards was gathered by Gallacher.

United were employing a successful, if rather dangerous, offside tactics which further frustrated the home players and their fans.

United should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time.

Scotland sent Wilson clear on the right and the defender's cross into the box to Jim McIntyre was inch perfect.

The United striker's header from eight yards out beat Marshall but hit the post before bouncing along the goal-line and away from danger.

In the 48th minute, United were forced to use their second substitute when McIntyre limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury to be replaced by Collin Samuel.

But, gradually, Motherwell fought back into the game and, in the 52nd minute, Dair had a far post header from a Derek Adams' free-kick cleared off the line by McCracken.

However, in the 59th minute, a clever throughball by Adams beat United's offside trap for once, leaving Clarkson to confidently round Gallacher and slip the ball into the net from a tight angle.

It was no more than the Lanarkshire men deserved and they began to dominate possession as they went in search of the winner.

And, in the 68th minute, the home side took the lead with Clarkson's second goal of the game.

A Hammell corner from the right somehow found the Well striker with a free header inside the six-yard box and the youngster buried the ball behind Gallacher.

But Well and the teenager weren't finished and, in injury time, Clarkson broke free and slipped home his third to secure the match ball.

Teams

Motherwell Marshall, Quinn, Craigan, Corrigan, Hammell, Lasley, Leitch (O'Donnell 79), Adams, Dair, Clarkson, Burns.

Subs Not Used: Corr, McDonald, Fagan, Wright.

Booked: Hammell, Clarkson, Leitch.

Goals: Clarkson 60, 68, 90.

Dundee Utd Gallacher, McCracken, Innes (Duff 36), Archibald, Wilson, McInnes, Kerr, James Paterson (McLaren 66), Dodds, McIntyre (Samuel 49), Scotland.

Subs Not Used: Miller, Jarvie.

Booked: Archibald, McLaren, Wilson.

Goals: Wilson 15.

Att: 5,549

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).