Motherwell and St Mirren played out a 2-2 draw at Broadwood on Monday in the SPFL Reserve League.
An experienced Steelmen side fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1, courtesy of a Christopher Long double.
However, an injury time leveller from a young Saints side meant Maurice Ross’ men had to be content with a share of the spoils.
Motherwell were able to call on several first team players with Bevis Mugabi, Mark O’Hara, Jamie Semple, Jermaine Hylton, Christian Ilic, Christy Manzinga and Christopher Long all named in the starting team. Saints’ notable names included Ethan Erhahon and Oan Djorkaeff.
It was a fairly uneventful first half, with the quality of the match negatively impacted by a swirling wind in Cumbernauld.
Finlay Gray had the first attempt of the match, his shot from distance forcing Peter Morrison to beat the ball away. At the other end, a Long shot trickled wide before Manzinga brought out a good save from David Wilson, who turned around his fizzing shot from a tight angle.
Both teams continued trade both possession and half chances, with Cameron Breadner again forcing a decent block from Morrison and Gray slicing a cutback inches wide of goal when he perhaps should have scored.
For ‘Well, Manzinga almost repeated his acrobatic effort against Gretna with a spectacular bicycle-kick attempt from just inside the box, but it was blocked en route.
Whilst the game lacked a cutting edge in the final third during the first half, Saints got their noses in front with the first attempt of the second period.
Motherwell failed to stop a deep cross from the left following a throw-in and substitute Jay Henderson got above Jack Brown to send an impressive header past Morrison.
To their credit, ‘Well responded in impressive fashion and equalised almost immediately.
Mark O’Hara’s searching diagonal ball found Manzinga in some space on the right-hand side of the penalty box. His low cross was inch-perfect for Long, who had time and space at the far post to slot home from close range.
That sparked ‘Well into action and Mugabi had a header from an Ilic corner go just over the crossbar, before Wilson denied Long his second after Manzinga neatly pulled it back and the former Evertonian youngster who fired low at goal.
The hosts were starting to dominate the game and almost scored a terrific counter-attacking goal when Hylton started and almost finished in style, only for his outside-of-the-right-boot curler to go inches wide of target.
Saints’ efforts were hindered when Gray was ordered off for a second bookable offence, putting in a heavy tackle on Hylton after being cautioned in the first half for a pull on Manzinga.
With ten minutes left on the clock, it looked as if Long had won it for the home side, collecting a positive pass from sub Adam Kettings before thundering a 25-yard rocket past Wilson into the top corner.
However, in added-on time, a free kick into the area was fumbled by Morrison, allowing Carter Frew to prod the ball into an empty net to earn his side a point.
Motherwell: Morrison, Cornelius, Brown, Muir, Mugabi, O’Hara, Manzinga, Ilic (Kettings), Long, Hylton, Semple
Subs Not Used: Connolly, Starrs, MacIver, Trialist