Derek Riordan's 18th goal of the season was enough to give Hibernian a point in their rearranged Bank of Scotland Premier League match against Motherwell at Fir Park.

Stephen Craigan's first league goal for the Steelmen had given Well a half-time lead but when Gordon Marshall brought Garry O'Connor down in the 64th minute, the Scottish Under-21 international stroked home the resulting penalty.

It was a deserved point for the visitors who started slowly but in the end were hammering away for the winner.

Both sides were equally slow to come out of their blocks with the first effort of the game being Well striker Scott McDonald's looping header from Jim Paterson's cross in the sixth minute which went high over the bar.

The home side had another chance when defender David Partridge's header was cleared off the line by David Murphy and Hibs went close when Riordan latched onto a Sam Morrow cross at the back post but shot wide from 10 yards.

The Fir Park side looked the more likely and in the 13th minute skipper Scott Leith's snap-shot from 20 yards tested Hibs keeper Simon Brown.

In the 23rd minute Steven Hammell's free-kick from the right found Craigan at the back post but his goal-bound header was again blocked by Murphy.

However, the Irishman was to go better in the 26th minute when he gave the home side the breakthrough.

When another Hammell corner came over from the right, Craigan rose unchallenged above a static Hibs defence and headed home from six yards.

The goal shook Hibs but they slowly began to muscle their way into the game and got their first shot on target in the 39th minute through the tireless Steven Whittaker but Marshall saved comfortably.

In the 50th minute Craigan almost turned villain when he misjudged a Whittaker cross leaving Dean Shiels with only Marshall to beat but the Hibees midfielder opted for a first-time volley which the Motherwell keeper parried to safety.

On the hour mark, with a rare Motherwell foray up the park, Hamilton got his head on a Kevin McBride cross from the right but Brown was down quick at his right-hand post.

Well counter-attacked moments later and only Gary Smith's intervention prevented McDonald, who had run clear from a Marc Fitzpatrick through ball, getting his shot in from 10 yards out.

In the 64th minute the visitors got their first penalty of their SPL campaign when Shiels sent O'Connor through only for Marshall to come out and take the legs away from the Scottish international.

Riordan stepped up confidently to send the Motherwell keeper the wrong way for his 18th goal of the season, equalling last year's tally.

The visitors were on top now and looking for the winner and as the game heated up with tackles flying in all over the pitch, Motherwell were reduced to some desperate defending at times.

But in the end both sides had to settle for a point which puts third-placed Hibs three points ahead of Hearts in the table.

Teams

Motherwell Marshall, Paul Quinn, Partridge, Craigan, Hammell, McBride, O'Donnell (Fitzpatrick 45), Paterson (Clarkson 88), Hamilton, Scott McDonald (Foran 76), Leitch.

Subs Not Used: Corr, Wright, Kinniburgh, Connolly.

Booked: Hamilton, Craigan.

Goals: Craigan 26.

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Smith, Caldwell, Murphy, Shiels (Fletcher 76), Antonio Murray, Glass, Riordan, O'Connor (Konte 80), Morrow (Scott Brown 70).

Subs Not Used: Orman, McDonald, McCluskey, Alistair Brown.

Booked: Caldwell, Smith.

Goals: Riordan 66 pen.

Att: 7,453

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).