Motherwell 2-3 Celtic
Celtic stayed top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table after a Fir Park thriller.  Georgios Samaras fired them in front with his fifth goal in four games but 'Well battled back and Lukas Jutkiewicz took advantage of Artur Boruc's hesitancy to level before Mark Reynolds fired the home side ahead on the stroke of half-time.  But Celtic upped the pace after the break and Aiden McGeady curled in the leveller before home 'keeper John Ruddy saved Barry Robson's penalty.  However sub Marc Antoine Fortune won it for Celtic with a rocket drive less than a minute after coming on as sub.
 
Aberdeen 1-2 Hamilton Academical
Accies won at Pittodrie for the second consecutive season thanks to James Wesolowski's late winner.  Mickael Antoine-Curier put the visitors ahead from James McArthur's mishit shot before the interval and although Accies lost goalkeeper Tomas Cerny to injury, they looked good for the win until Gary McDonald finished well following Maurice Ross's cross.  But Wesolowski fired in with ten minutes left after good work by Antoine-Curier to lift Accies to seventh in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, two points behind the Dons.
 
Hearts 0-0 Dundee United
Hearts had 'keeper Marian Kello to thank for a spot-kick save which denied United a Tynecastle win.  Eggert Jonsson bundled sub Danny Cadamarteri over as he raced into the box, but the striker's penalty was too close to Kello and Scott Robertson fired the rebound into the side-netting.  The closest Hearts came was a late drive from sub Gary Glen which drifted just wide.
 
Kilmarnock 1-1 Hibernian
Hibs needed Anthony Stokes' equaliser after 'keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay gifted Killie an opener.  The goalkeeper fumbled Jamie Hamill's cross under pressure from Frazer Wright and Mark Burchill bundled the ball home.  But Hibs were level within six minutes when Stokes ran on to Colin Nish's pass to rifle the ball home.  Derek Riordan almost won it with a volley which hit the bar in the final minute but Hibs had to be content with extending their unbeaten SPL run to 11 games.
 
Rangers 3-0 St Johnstone
Gers took advantage of Saints' defensive errors to stay in touch with leaders Celtic.  Kris Boyd fired the home side ahead after a Graham Gartland error and grabbed the second from the penalty spot on 27 minutes after Nacho Novo had been fouled.  Novo scored his first league goal of the season six minutes after the interval after Kenny Miller's effort had been saved.  The Spaniard also saw a drive rebound from the post as Rangers dominated.
 
St Mirren 1-1 Falkirk
Saints missed the chance to climb to eighth in the table after another disappointing home draw.  Former Falkirk favourite Michael Higdon fired them ahead from 35 yards early in the second-half but Carl Finnigan rescued a point for Falkirk with two minutes to go when he converted from Pedro Moutinho's through ball.  That point still leaves Falkirk four points adrift at the foot of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 14 December 2009