DEREK Riordan's eighth goal of the season wasn't enough to earn Hibs victory as Motherwell came storming back to deservedly claim a point with a second half penalty from David Clarkson.
Riordan gave the home side the lead after just seven minutes but Mixu Paatelainen's players found themselves under increasing pressure after the interval and finally cracked when substitute Steven Thicot was adjudged to have pulled back Jamie Murphy
15 minutes from the end.
Riordan got Hibs off to the perfect start, rifling the ball into the net from 14 yards after Denes Rosa's pass had found Ross Chisholm's run, the little midfielder cutting the ball back for his striker to thump it home first time.
The Easter Road pitch was showing little improvement from a fortnight ago when the surface was roundly condemned and a swirling wind didn't improve things for either set of players although, that Riordan goal apart, it was Motherwell who held the upperhand in the early stages.
However, despite their superior possession, the Fir Park outfit were unable to trouble Grzegorz Szamotulski in the Hibs goal, the Pole being perfectly positioned to collect efforts from Stevie Hammell and Jim O'Brien before a long clearance from skipper Rob Jones saw Riordan beat the visitors' offside trap only for the strong wind to carry the ball out of his reach.
Quick-thinking by Rosa, the Hungarian spotting Riordan in space as he took a throw-in almost caused further problems for Motherwell but the Hibs striker found himself crowded out long before he could get his shot away.
Szamotulski kept Hibs level in the 58th minute, getting down well to push aside a low shot from Clarkson before a fantastic ball out of defence from Rosa set Riordan free. Rosa, however, wasn't content at that, racing 70 yards to support the striker who spotted his run.
Rosa attempted to chip Motherwell goalkeeper Graeme Smith but, alas, his effort drifted wide before Riordan caught a shot on the volley from 18 yards only to see the Fir Park No 1 push the ball away.
Hibs again were badly in need of a second goal, a point which was emphasised in the 69th minute when Clarkson caught Chris Hogg trying to run the ball over his own bye-line, his cut-back finding Murphy who contrived to drive wide from only eight yards.
It was becoming very much backs-to-the-wall stuff for Hibs as the game approached the final 15 minutes, Paul Quinn bringing out the best in Szamotulski as he burrowed his way deep into the home side's penalty area only for the Pole to bring off a tremendous save.
But even Szamotulski had to admit defeat in the 75th minute after Motherwell were awarded a penalty as referee Mike McCurry ruled Thicot, who had replaced Chisholm at half-time, had pulled back Murphy, Clarkson stepping up to blast home the spot-kick and level the score and leave Hibs hanging on grimly for the final whistle.
Hibs: Szamotulski, McCormack (van Zanten 71), Hogg, Jones, Hanlon, Rankin, Chisholm (Thicot 46), Stevenson, Rosa, Nish (Keenan 60), Riordan. Subs not used: McNeil, Yantorno, A O'Brien, Johansson.
Motherwell: G Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Klimpl, Hughes, J O'Brien, Fitzpatrick (Murphy 64), Sutton (D Smith 64), Clarkson. Subs not used: Krysiak, Malcolm, Lasley, McGarry, McHugh.
Referee: Mike McCurry.The full article contains 566 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
