lukas jutkiewicz scored an injury-time equaliser as motherwell came from four goals down to snatch a late draw against hibs on an unbelievable night at fir park.
colin nish scored twice early as hibs assumed control and coasted into a 4-2 lead at half-time which they soon extended to a 6-2 advantage through a close-range double by anthony stokes.
but giles coke's second of the game for the home side and a fumbled tom hateley free-kick set up a dramatic finale which gathered pace when john sutton's second made the score 5-6 in the 76th minute.
substitute ross forbes even missed a penalty with three minutes to go before jutkiewicz volleyed the equaliser from an almost impossible angle in injury time.
it means craig brown's side remain one point ahead of hibs going into the season's final round of matches this weekend.
the fir park boss made two changes on the night, with coke and jutkiewicz in for steve jennings and forbes.
and they were on the back foot in the opening stages as hibs made a bright start to the game.
nish created a good chance for stokes early on but he dragged his shot wide of the target.
the visitors continued to press and they were rewarded with the opening goal after ten minutes when david wotherspoon crossed for nish to convert from close range.
it was a blow for motherwell but they responded well and hateley drew a fine save from smith with a curling free-kick.
jutkiewicz then tested the former fir park keeper with an awkward bouncing shot from 25 yards.
play raged back up the other end and nish almost doubled his side’s lead from the edge of the area but his low drive struck the base of the post.
it proved to be a key moment as motherwell went up the park and equalised. jutkiewicz did well to beat paul hanlon inside the box and his low cross was met by coke for his first goal of the season.
but they were only level for four minutes as hibs restored their lead in similar fashion.
ian murray picked out john rankin from a throw-in and he played the ball across the face of goal for nish to grab his second.
it was a soft one for motherwell to concede and they shot themselves in the foot again on 28 minutes as hibs made it 3-1. coke played a blind pass back to ruddy and riordan nipped in, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net.
things went from bad to worse on 36 minutes as nish completed his hat-tick with another simple finish – this time converting a riordan cross from six-yards.
but sutton headed home a jim o’brien cross just three minutes later to pull one back and give the steelmen hope going into the break.
and they started the second-half encouragingly, creating two good chances to further reduce the deficit.
firstly, a jutkiewicz free-kick was blocked in front of goal, almost landing at the feet of jamie murphy before the hibs defence scambled the ball clear.
then sutton diverted a jutkiewicz header towards goal, only to see it saved on the line by smith.
but just as it looked as though motherwell were getting back into the game, hibs made it 5-2, with stokes firing past ruddy from a miller cross.
stokes then grabbed his second from a riordan corner as the visitors moved further ahead.
at that stage it looked as though the game was over and many of the home fans started heading for the exits.
however, those who chose to leave the ground would later regret it as motherwell launched an incredible fight-back.
coke started it all with his second from close range after an o’brien shot from the edge of the area came back off the post.
hateley made it 6-4 on 73 minutes with an inswinging free-kick which evaded everyone inside the box before nestling in the bottom corner of the net.
the midfielder then turned provider for sutton to head home his second of the game as hibs fell to pieces in the closing stages.
hateley was replaced by forbes moments later and the substitute was presented with the perfect chance to draw motherwell level after jutkiewicz was hauled down in the box by smith.
however, the hibs keeper atoned for his mistake with a good penalty save to deny forbes from the spot.
the drama wasn’t over just yet though as in the third minute of injury time, jutkiewicz crashed a wonderful volley into the top corner of the net to earn motherwell the unlikeliest of draws.
the result is the highest-ever scoring match in the scottish premier league and it keeps the steelmen a point ahead in the battle for fourth and a place in the europa league.
) 
