Killie return to action with win over ‘Well

Killie returned to action for the first time in four months with a 3-2 friendly win over Motherwell at Fir Park.

Members of Alex Dyer’s squad got some vital minutes under their belts in the match with two different sides playing 45 minutes each.

Killie lead 1-0 at the interval before an entertaining second half packed with goalmouth action.

Before the shutdown, Eamonn Brophy and Nicke Kabamba had started what appeared a promising partnership and this continued in Lanarkshire.

Fine hold up play by Kabamba allowed Brophy to fashion space for an excellent individual effort from distance, which struck the crossbar.

After a strong and disciplined display, Killie got their rewards on 40 minutes when Kabamba evaded the attentions of his marker to glance his header from Chris Burke’s corner past Trevor Carson in the home goal.

A much-changed Killie side emerged after the interval with Motherwell gaining an equaliser through former Killie player Mark O’Hara scoring with a powerful strike from just outside the box.

Curtis Lyle saved well with his legs from a Tony Watt volley while Killie felt they were denied a penalty when Greg Kiltie appeared to bundled over inside the box.

Killie regained the lead when a teasing cross from the left was finished well by one of our trialists.

However, the home side responded once more when Tony Watt headed home at the back post following a cross from the Motherwell right.

It was not to be the end of the drama as Greg Kiltie worked space into the box and produced a lovely driven finish at the far post to immediately restore Killie’s lead.

Kilmarnock first half: Trialist, Millen, Broadfoot, Findlay, Waters, Power, El Makrini, Burke, McKenzie, Brophy, Kabamba

Kilmarnock second half: Lyle, Trialist, Broadfoot (Dicker), Rossi, Taylor, Kiltie, Brindley, Pinnock, Trialist, Cameron, Connell (Trialist)

Motherwell: Carson, Grimshaw (Cornelius 60), Donnelly (Mugabi 60), Lamie (Hussain 82), McGinley (Johnston 75), Maguire (O’Hara 45), Campbell, (Polworth 45), Turnbull (Long 60), Robinson (Hastie 45), Seedorf (Hylton 45), White (Watt 45).