A late own-goal from Killie keeper Alan Combe gave Motherwell a vital point that secured their place in the top six of the SPL.

Combe collided with his own defender attempting to defend Stephen Craigen's long throw in but tipped the ball into his own net.

Peter Leven gave Killie the lead after 33 minutes with a curling left footed free-kick from over 20-yards out. (above & right)

The contrasting goals lit up a rather lacklustre affair at Fir Park.

Motherwell boss Terry Butcher will be relieved to have finished in the top half because at one point - with his side losing and Caley Thistle winning 3-0 - another goal against them would have seen them finish seventh.

The draw saw Jim Jefferies' Kilmarnock side end their five-match losing run away from home in the league.

However, the visiting players were furious at the award of the equaliser - for a foul on keeper Combe or the fact that no-one appeared to touch the ball from Stephen Craigan's long throw-in.

It was visitors who were first to threaten when Gary Locke - playing in a holding midfield role on his return to the side after suspension - curled a free-kick onto the head of Gary McDonald, who nodded into the side-netting from six yards.

The tension of occasion appeared to be affecting Motherwell in the early stages with both Jim Hamilton and Scott Leitch failing to control the simplest of the balls.

Indeed it took until the 29th minute for Motherwell to carve out their first real chance, Shaun Fagan bustling past a couple of challenges on the edge of the box before being crowded out by two desperate tackles from David Lilley and Garry Hay.

In the 33rd minute, suddenly Well's quest for a point became harder as Killie took the lead when Leven curled a beautiful left-footed free-kick over Motherwell's wall, past keeper Barry John Corr - in for the suspended Gordon Marshall - and into the right-hand corner.

It was Killie who came closest to scoring after the interval, when Corr did well to smother a fierce low drive from Gary Wales.

The Fir Park faithful could rest easy four minutes from time though when Craigan's long throw from the right somehow ended up in the Killie net with keeper Combe appearing to get the last touch.

Killie were incensed with Stuart Dougal's decision to award the goal and Combe and Gary Locke were booked for their protests.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Dindeleux, Hay, Greer, Locke,  McDonald, Wales,  Leven, Boyd (Nish 71 mins)

Subs: Smith, Johnston, Murray, Dodds, Johnstone, Naismith

Attendance: 4,999