A headed goal by substitute Gerry Britton four minutes from time gave Dunfermline a precious and much deserved point.

They looked to be heading home to Fife empty-handed despite having the bulk of the play and chances only to be denied by Andy Goram who appeared to be in scintillating form.

Having withstood the first-half pressure Motherwell opened the scoring one minute after the restart when Lee Butler prevented two efforts from Jamie McGowan and Owen Coyle, but could do nothing as Lee McCulloch squeezed the ball over a packed goal line from two yards.

Even then Goram kept Motherwell in the game but could do nothing as Britton's header from a Greg Shield's free-kick drifted beyond him for the equaliser.

Goram, under pressure from the media after leaving himself out of last week's game, was immediately under pressure in this game when as early as the third minute the former Scottish goalkeeper produced a fine one-handed save to deny David Graham.

Then after 21 minutes Goram showed all his old skills when Scott Thomson's header looked to be destined for goal until the keeper at full stretch clawed the ball away.

Literally his opposite number Butler had nothing to do until he was beaten by McCulloch's effort.

Then with Dunfermline pressing for an equaliser the Dunfermline keeper produced a fine save of his own getting down well to block a drive from substitute Douglas Ramsey.

Then with just five minutes remaining Motherwell should have stretched their advantage when Ged Brannan pushed the ball in front of the on-rushing Ian Ross, but the substitute's powerful angled drive, though beating Butler, rattled the post and rebounded to safety.

It then looked as if Motherwell, without the influence of the suspended John Spencer, would take all three points despite a rather poor performance.

But Dunfermline got some reward for their afternoon's work with Britton's goal which gave them a point and continues their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Teams

Motherwell: Goram, Doesburg, Teale, McGowan, Nevin (Ramsey 80), May (Ross 68), Valakari, Brannan, McMillan, McCulloch (Adams 56),Coyle.

Subs Not Used: Bannister, Craigen.

Booked: Brannan, McCulloch, Adams.

Goals: McCulloch 46.

Dunfermline: Butler, Shields, Johnson, Tod, Thomson (Petrie 76), Dair, Dolan, Ferguson, Millar, Smith, Graham (Britton 66).

Subs Not Used: Westwater, Martin, Templeman.

Booked: Ferguson.Goals: Britton 86.

Att: 6,094.

Ref: W Young (Clarkston).