Motherwell recorded their first point of the Scottish Premiership season but failed to do enough to win in their 2-2 draw with Livingston.
David Turnbull seemed to have given the home side the perfect start with the opening goal after only eight minutes.
But almost immediately a penalty provided Lyndon Dykes with the chance to level things, before Allan Campbell popped up before the interval to restore the home lead.
But the Steelmen lacked cohesion and conviction in possession and although they had chances to extend their lead, Alan Forrest knocked in a deserved equaliser for the Lions midway through the second half.
Despite two consecutive defeats, Stephen Robinson refused to make wholesale changes. Clearly with the intention of being more potent in front of goal, Jordan White made his first start, with Christopher Long supporting him on the right.
In a frantic opening, Campbell’s block denied Craig Sibbald before Jack Fitzwater swept the ball away from the inrushing Sherwin Seedorf.
It didn’t take long for the opening goal and for David Turnbull to announce his return. Seedorf chased a though ball to the edge of the box before rolling the ball to Turnbull. The midfielder took one touch to give him a sight of goal before guiding his low shot inside McCrorie’s right hand post for a fine finish.
The advantage was short lived as the West Lothian side were level within three minutes. And Ricki Lamie literally gave his former team mates a helping hand.
Rising with Dykes to meet Aaron Taylor-Sinclair’s high lob into the six yard area, the ball dropped on to the defender’s arm, leaving referee Colin Steven no option but to point to the penalty spot. Dykes showed little sympathy, ramming the ball down the centre of the goal to make it 1-1.
Livingston then had the majority share of possession around goal and ‘Well had a narrow escape when Forrest, in a similar style to his brother James, nipped along the byline before squeezing his cross just behind Scott Robinson at the back post.
A toe poke from the grounded Dykes gave Carson a comfortable save before out of nothing the Fir Park men regained their lead 10 minutes before the break.
Long chased Liam Grimshaw’s throw-in towards a packed box where the ball broke to Campbell who barged his way past a defender before driving the ball across McCrorie and just inside the ‘keeper’s right hand post.
Just before the interval the hard working, White who was the focus of the home attack and the close marking of the Livi defenders, won a free kick 25 yards from goal. Mark O’Hara curled his effort beyond the defensive wall but also wide of the ‘keeper’s post.
Holding a slender lead, the ‘Well boss was content to restart with the same starting team.
Although Livingston enjoyed the early possession ‘Well might have made it three after 55 minutes. Turnbull worked a neat exchange with Liam Grimshaw before whipping in a low cross which White directed towards goal only to see it deflected wide.
That signalled a good spell of play from the home side although Sibbald was given too much time at the edge of the box and Carson had to look lively to get down and hold his drive.
Play immediately moved to the other end. And as McCrorie raced to the edge of his box, Seedorf lobbed the ball over the stranded ‘keeper but with Long chasing in to make sure it would cross the line, Fitzwater booted the ball away from the empty goal.
The visitor’s, though, looked more comfortable in possession and more dangerous around goal and with 20 minutes remaining they grabbed the equaliser. Carson did well to block Sibbald’s fierce angled drive but the ball fell into Forrest’s path and he nudged it past the grounded ‘Well ‘keeper to make it 2-2.
There were no signs of the ‘Well subs until a triple substitution, provided Jermaine Hylton, Liam Polworth and Jake Hastie, 15 minutes to come up with a much needed goal.
In a tense finish both teams chased a winner with play moving furiously from end to end.
The last chance came ‘Well’s way in added on time. But after cutting in from the touch line, Hylton’s ambitious drive fizzed away from goal and with it the opportunity for the home side to claim the first win of the season.
