CHEERS OF A GOWNE; Last-gasp Kev keeps Killie in the title hunt.

MOTHERWELL 1 KILMARNOCK 2

KILMARNOCK began the new year the way they had finished the old.

They are still grinding out results and still breathing down the necks of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

This scarcely deserved but crucial victory at Fir Park yesterday took them to within three points of Rangers and confirmed them as serious challengers for the main prize.

Kilmarnock were in retreat for long periods of the game but still managed to emerge victorious by relying yet again on the league's meanest defence.

The Rugby Park side have conceded only 12 goals in 21 matches but sharper finishing by Motherwell's front players would surely have punished Ray Montgomerie, Kevin McGowne and Gus MacPherson, who was fortunate to remain on the pitch after having a toe- poke at the grounded Lee McCulloch in the second half.

They left Lanarkshire knowing fortune had smiled on them even if they had to endure a tortuous six minutes of injury time at the end when Owen Coyle might have scored had his finishing touch been better.

Killie also headed off into their winter hibernation thanking the old warhorse, Ally McCoist, who scored the first SPL goal of the New Year when he pounced after quarter of an hour.

His strike was unexpected but the former Rangers player and chat show host doesn't bother with reality.

He has been living a Boy's Own story all his career and even though he is carrying excess baggage around his middle these days it is still difficult to keep him down and harder still to keep him quiet.

It was McCoist's shout which prompted Kilmarnock's Kevin McGowne to smack in the winner four minutes from time.

McGowne said: "The ball dropped to me and I was about to play a pass wide, to Ally I think, but then someone shouted `shoot'.

"So I did and I was delighted to see the shot go in for my fourth goal of the season."

The yell he heard came from McCoist who said: "I thought he was going to pass to me but I didn't have any energy left to swing at the ball."

McCoist said recently that Killie wouldn't win the title and when asked last night if he would now eat his words, the rather rotund hero said: "I might as well, I'm eating everything else."

While he and Kilmarnock were all smiles, Motherwell were shattered, believing they should have at least had a share of the points.

They recovered their composure after McCoist's goal and equalised through Ged Brannan only to lose it in the closing stages of a pulsating game.

It was McCoist's old mucker Ian Durrant who supplied him with the ball just inside Motherwell's box for the opener.

McCoist turned to face Stevie Woods and started to fall backwards but he still managed to shoot and the ball beat the keeper at his left-hand post.

Seconds before allowing McCoist to bring in the New Year in such stunning fashion, Woods had almost gifted Ally Mitchell the first goal.

Mitchell had taken possession 30 yards from goal and when he looked up he had no runners. No problem, he decided to have a shot instead of playing a pass and although he hit the ball with enough venom Woods was painfully slow in reacting.

The keeper scurried across his line and flopped down like an old oak tree in a fierce gale but he managed to slap at the ball which hit the base of Woods' right-hand post.

Motherwell's fans fell silent when McCoist pounced and stared in disbelief because their side had been playing the better football.

They had also created a couple of good opportunities but Kilmarnock are always dangerous when on the back foot knowing their defence can usually soak up severe pressure.

Billy Davies' side recovered well from their setback and began again to play the ball about with a healthy degree of style and were especially menacing down the right where Martin Baker was having a difficult time.

Yet, the Fir Park side's equaliser came from the opposite side in 28 minutes when Michel Doesburg sent a high delivery to the far post.

Baker seemed unaware of the developing danger and stood by as Brannan rose and headed into the net at Gordon Marshall's right-hand post.

The play opened up considerably after the second goal and Kilmarnock started to hurt Motherwell wide on their left where Doesburg was being punished by Gary Holt's pace.

Minutes before half-time Doesburg resorted to illegal measures and was booked for a wild challenge on Holt.

The rain was driving down and rattling loudly on the roofs of Fir Park when the players returned to go at it again and for a spell their work was scrappy.

But Motherwell dragged themselves from the stupor and began to push forward. They were playing again with some fine passing movements and those, combined with flashes of deft footwork - particularly from Nevin - had Kilmarnock reeling.

On the hour Motherwell almost took the lead when Simo Valakari darted in from the right. His speed left two defenders trailing although his progress was impeded when he ran into one of his own men, Nevin.

Even so, Valakari still managed to a shot but the ball cannoned off a defender.

A little later Valakari was booked for a foul on Holt but Durrant sent the free-kick zooming over the bar.

In 78 minutes Owen Coyle should have given Motherwell fans the goal they craved but his header from Holt's delivery was weak and Marshall was untroubled. Coyle held his head in his hands knowing full well he could have won the match.

A few minutes later McCoist was left unmarked in front of goal and he headed Gary Holt's cross into the net but Motherwell's fans were mightily relieved to see the linesman flag his strikemate Paul Wright offside.

McCoist said: "I'll be interested to see that again on television because I don't think there was much in it."

Motherwell had lost their earlier drive but they still managed to work the ball towards Killie's goal and just as Nevin was moving dangerously close to the penalty area Mitchell brought him down. The Kilmarnock player was booked but Tony Thomas sent the free- kick wide.

Minutes later Montgomerie was cautioned after he hauled McCulloch to the turf but again Motherwell squandered the opportunity.

Nevin's free-kick from just outside the box was a fraction too high for McCulloch.

In 86 minutes McGowne showed how it should be done. Durrant knocked the ball high into the air and McCoist jumped but failed to make contact.

Still, he made the defenders hesitate and McGowne stepped forward to smack a shot into the net.

There was no way back for Motherwell whose legs suddenly felt heavy and slow. The heart had been torn from them.

Davies said: "We deserved something from this match. It feels as though the gangsters have come into town and robbed somebody."

Motherwell - Woods, McGowan, Brannan (Adams 81), Valakari, Coyle, Michels, Thomas, McCulloch, Doesburg, Matthaei, Nevin. Subs Not Used: May, Craigan, Ramsey, Bannister. Booked: Doesburg, Valakari, Matthaei.

Killie - Marshall, MacPherson, Montgomerie, McGowne, Reilly, Holt, Wright, Durrant, Mitchell, McCoist, Baker. Subs Not Used: Mahood, Roberts, Lauchlan, Burke, Strain. Booked: McGowne, Mitchell, Montgomerie.

Referee - K Clark, Paisley.

DREAM TEAM MAN OF THE MATCH: Gary Holt (Kilmarnock)