Kilmarnock 1 Hibernian 1

Last updated : 14 February 2009 By Footymad Previewer
It was another case of missed opportunities as Kilmarnock's poor home record was stretched.

Jamie Hamill's late leveller to Derek Riordan's deflected opener was scant reward for the Ayrshiremen who dominated the match.

The first half was typical of Kilmarnock's season. Jim Jefferies side began looking like a team who had lost seven of their last eight games and they were fortunate not to be behind within two minutes as Hungarian Denes Rosa's shot was blocked by Simon Ford and Sol Bamba's follow-up deflected into the welcome arms of prostrate Killie keeper Alan Combe.

Combe had to produce a terrific fingertip save to deflect a John Rankin drive on to the post in the 18th minute, but the home side were growing in confidence.

Hamill was having a strong influence on the right and he sparked Killie's best chance of the half as he charged down Paul Hanlon's clearance.

Craig Bryson burst onto the box and cut the ball back to Conor Sammon, but the striker's rustiness after a long lay-off showed as he could only prod the ball goalward allowing Chris Hogg the chance to deflect the ball on to the roof of the net.

Killie's growing confidence was punctured in the final minute of the half with a glorious if fortunate strike by Riordan.

The striker transferred the ball from right to left 30 yards out and fired a ferocious shot which deflected off Killie skipper Manuel Pascali and wrong-footed Combe to give Hibs an undeserved half-time lead.

Killie regained the upper hand in the second half, but both Sammon and Pascali headed over from great positions as they searched for the elusive equaliser.

The Hibs fans behind Combe's goal were yelling for a penalty in the 62nd minute when Grant Murray's trailing arm blocked Hanlon's cross, but the referee ignored the appeal.

Killie found the leveller they deserved with 15 minutes left from their man of the match Hamill.

A Pascali through ball ran loose but young Hanlon snatched at his attempted clearance and it fell to the wing-back, who cut inside and sent a left-foot shot across statuesque keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski and into the far corner.

Sammon had the chance to win it for Killie in injury time when the Hibs defence failed to clear Garry Hay's free-kick, but he dallied too long and Hogg intervened.