Hibernian and Motherwell shared the spoils in an amazing Bank of Scotland Premier League encounter at Easter Road.

Kevin Nicol and Alan Reid's first goals for the Edinburgh club had given the hosts a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead but Motherwell battled back after the break with a quick Keith Lasley goal before skipper Derek Adams equalised from the spot.

However, the small band of Motherwell fans hardly had time to finish celebrating when Derek Riordan restored Hibs' lead with a much more controversial penalty when Nicol went down after a challenge by Well defender Stephen Craigan.

But Motherwell were not for giving up and a Scott McDonald shot was deflected over Daniel Andersson and into the net to round off a remarkable game.

Bobby Williamson's men looked hungry enough to make amends for some poor recent performance and when they took the lead in the fifth minute it eased the nerves a little.

A Tom McManus cross from the right was deflected up to the back post and when wide-man Reid headed back across goal, midfielder Nicol was almost on the goalline to head home.

It was one-way traffic towards Well goalkeeper Gordon Marshall's goal and the visitors were struggling to get out of their own half, far less set up any sort of attack.

Motherwell did not win their first corner of the game until the 25th minute but Hibs goalkeeper Andersson clutched Adams' in-swinger confidently.

The game was much more even now but in the 36th minute the home side got a welcome cushion when they doubled their lead.

After some scrappy build-up play, Riordan found himself in space at the back post and his cross-cum-shot was headed in from close range by Reid.

Young Well striker David Clarkson was withdrawn at the interval to be replaced by William Kinniburgh and the move paid dividends as it took Motherwell less than 30 seconds to pull a goal back after the restart.

Lasley drove straight into the Hibs box and his drive from 16 yards deflected off Hibs defender Colin Murdock and past the helpless Andersson, who had dived the wrong way in anticipation.

In the 59th minute the Lanarkshire side were back on terms after a clumsy tackle by Hibs midfielder Scott Brown on Motherwell striker McDonald inside the box. Adams stepped up to make no mistake and Motherwell were level.

However, less than a minute later Hibs ran up the pitch and when Nicol went tumbling to the ground inside the Motherwell penalty area after a seemingly innocuous challenge by Well stopper Craigan, a penalty was again awarded.

This time, when the mayhem subsided, Riordan sent Marshall the wrong way to restore Hibs' lead.

The game continued to flow from end to end and the sides were level again 11 minutes from time when a McDonald shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off Murdock, onto the crossbar and down over the line.

Teams

Hibernian Andersson, Caldwell, Doumbe, Murdock, Edge, Scott Brown, Nicol, Thomson (Whittaker 28), Reid, Riordan, McManus.

Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Zambernardi, O'Connor, Fletcher.

Booked: McManus, Nicol, Edge, Murdock.

Goals: Nicol 6, Reid 37, Riordan 62 pen.

Motherwell Marshall, Quinn, Corrigan, Craigan, Hammell (Dair 23), Lasley, Adams, Scott McDonald, Fagan, Clarkson (Kinniburgh 45), Burns.

Subs Not Used: Corr, Kevin McDonald, Wright.

Booked: Corrigan, Burns, Kinniburgh, Fagan.

Goals: Lasley 46, Adams 60 pen, Doumbe 80 og.

Att: 5,670

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).