Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Hibernian: Riordan's ninth goal of the season isn't enough for Hibs

DEREK Riordan's ninth goal of the season wasn't enough to give Hibs a first victory in three attempts over Kilmarnock this season, the striker's 44th minute effort cancelled out by a stunning shot from Jamie Hamill with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Hibs made all the early running and carved out the first opening after just two minutes, John Rankin's low cross rolling behind Riordan but into the path of Denes Rosa whose shot was blocked by Garry Hay.

Then Rankin cracked a low left foot shot from 25 yards off Alan Combe's left-hand post before Colin Nish had the ball in the net against his old club only to be ruled offside.

Killie, weakened as they were through suspension and injury, managed to weather that storm and came back into the match, Hamill driving a free-kick across the face of the Hibs goal before young Paul Hanlon was caught, not for the first time, dwelling on the ball only to be robbed by Hamill again.

The ball fell for Craig Bryson who looked up and cut it back for Conor Sammon who had an open goal n front of him but, unfortunately for the home side, his finish was too casual, allowing Chris Hogg to clear his weak effort off the line.

Hibs made the most of that let-off in the 44th minute as Riordan gathered a pass from Sol Bamba, lifted the ball over the head of the bemused Gavin Skelton and unleashing a shot on the volley which took a wicked deflection off the back of Manuel Pascali and beyond the flat-footed Combe.

The Easter Road side, however, were dealt a massive blow as skipper Rob Jones failed to reappear for the second half, his place taken by Ross Chisholm as Bamba stepped back into central defence.

Jones had again been a tower of strength for Hibs and in his absence Killie began piling forwardd , Sammmon and Pascali heading over as they sought an equaliser.

Overall, though, it was a scrappy affair with both sides guilty of mispalaced passes and niggly fouls which broke up the game, Hay picking up the first booking for a cynical challenge on Riordan.

Hibs wer finding themselves having to rely on the counter-attack, Riordan, their most potent weapon, testing Combe again with a low shot which was comfortably held by the iKillie goalkeeper.

And Killie finally got a deserved equaliser as Hamill, scorer of the home side's winner on Hibs last visit to Rugby Park, picked up a loose clearance from Hanlon before curling an unstoppable left foot effort from 25 yards beyond Grzegorz Szamotulski and into the top corner of the net with 15 minutes remaining.

But Bamba almost restored Hibs lead six minutes later as he stole in behind the Killie defence to meet Riordan's free-kick only to see Combe pull of an instinctive close-range save.

It was a rare moment of relief, however, for a Hibs defence which was coming under increasing pressure as Killie pressed for a winner, Mixu Paatelainen's side managing to hold out for a draw.

Kilmarnock: Combe, G Murray, LIlley, Ford, Hay, Hamill, Bryson, Skelton, Pascali, Gibson, Sammon. Subs not used: Rascle, Locke, Johnston, Clancy, Flannigan, Anson, Nolan.

Hibs: Szamotulski, McCormack, Hogg, Jones (Chisholm 46), Hanlon, Rosa, Bamba, Stevenson, Rankin, Nish, Riordan. Subs not used: McNeil, Yantorno, Fletcher, O'Brien, Kennan, Johansson.

Referee: Chris Boyle.