Motherwell conceded late to drop two points against Kilmarnock as the teams shared four goals.
Having lost the opening goal Motherwell fought back to take the lead thanks to Tawanda Maswanhise and Emmanuel Longelo and seemed to be cruising to a first win of the campign but a mistake from Callum Ward let the visitors leave with a point.
Callum Slattery and Kofi Balmer were missing from the opening eleven as Liam Gordon and Ibrahim Said started. Stuart Kettlewell’s arrival on the touchline was greeted with a few boos but he would leave Fir Park the happier manager.
Motherwell stuck to the expected passing game from the kick-off and probed the Killie ranks as they retreated for the first ten minutes. Their strategy was rewarded after twenty minutes when they took the lead against the run of the game. An attack on the right produced a squared ball across the box and it ran through to Djenairo Daniels on the opposite side for a well placed finish.
The big home support in the crowd of 7,000 got behind their favourites as they resumed the build up from the back. A series of corners bore no fruit and it looked like Kilmarnock would retain their advantage at the break. Inside the added minute Motherwell advanced on the left and Said tested Maks Stryjek. The ‘keeper spilled and Maswanhise pounced to level the game.
The home side dominated possession (over 70%) and took a deserved lead on the hour. Apostolos Stamtelopoulos’ persistence produced a break of the ball and Longelo drove hard and low for Motherwell’s second.
The test for Motherwell was whether they could score a third or see the game out. They seemed to be in command with the visitors lacking any threat but when Ward reached for a routine high cross the game changed. He made contact but failed to hold and presented George Stanger with a gift. The visiting fans though Christmas had come early and they celebrated their good fortune.
The final ten minutes saw both sides strive for a winner but none came. It will be a surprise if Aston Oxborough is not between the sticks for the next match at Dens Park in a fortnight.
Motherwell 2 Kilmarnock 2
Attendance 6,963
Team: Ward, Gordon, McGinn, O’Donnell (Koutroumbis 88), Longelo, Watt (Priestman 73), Said (Charles-Cook 72), Fadinger, Just (Balmer 94), Maswanhise (Hendry 74), Stamatelopoulos
Saturday 30 August 2025
