It may not have the global appeal of a certain derby taking place some ten miles down the road, or, lamentably, even the Lanarkshire-wide appeal enjoyed by the meeting of Rangers and Celtic yesterday, but this match between Hamilton and Motherwell was everything you want from a clash between local rivals.

Drama at the death, chances galore at both ends, a red card, goals, and heck, even some football were all thrown into the chaotic mixture that made up a gloriously enjoyable Lanarkshire derby, as the bells were brought in with a real ding-dong battle that ended in a remarkable and unlikely draw.

The hangovers will likely be that little bit more severe on the claret and amber side of the Clyde this morning as Louis Moult headed home with the final touch of the game to spark wild scenes of celebration behind the goal that will have spilled into the wee small hours.

"That goal is up there with the best I have scored for Motherwell,” said a still slightly giddy Moult afterwards.

"The feeling of celebrating with the fans was unbelievable. I've never had that before. Everyone was jumping around together and I'm told Craig Samson was even up there. I didn't realise that because I was in a world of my own, just soaking it all in.

"I knew that I would score. I don't know why but I'd a feeling there was a goal coming. The little voice in my head told me that I'd get another chance and I'd score. That happens to me sometimes.

"It was a great feeling walking off the pitch at the end. The fans have been great with me from day one and I really value their support.”

Lee Lucas was dismissed for Motherwell after a wild challenge on Massimo Donati in the first half, before Alex D’Acol’s sixth goal of the season pressed home Hamilton’s numerical advantage early in the second to give them a lead that they really should have built upon.

Yet it was Motherwell who started brightest, and Scott McDonald should have had them ahead in the opening stages as Moult swung in a glorious ball from the right that the Aussie met flush with a header only to hit Gary Woods from point blank range.

The game became a touch on the scrappy side for the next 20 minutes or so, but the visitors again went close after Lucas’s deep free-kick delivery to the far post was met by the head of Craig Clay, but Michael Devlin was there to hook off the line.

Referee Euan Anderson then became the centre of attention as he firstly awarded a throw-in to Hamilton deep in Motherwell territory that had clearly flicked off an Accies foot. As the ball worked its way back into play, Lucas threw himself into a 50/50 with Donati with both feet off the ground, earning him a straight red card from the whistler.

The midfielder can have little complaint given the aggressive nature of his challenge and the lack of control he had going into it, particularly in such a harmless area of the field.

“It was a red card,” McGhee conceded. “Lee isn’t a dirty player. He went in to protect himself and he was too robust. I have no complaints. It wasn’t malicious, he’s just not a very good tackler.”

Crawford went close with the resultant free-kick, whipping the ball in to only be denied by the fingertips of Samson.

Accies had come to life and had a period of sustained pressure on the Motherwell goal until the break, and they started the second on the front foot too. They thought they had the lead as a low shot from Grant Gillespie was brilliantly saved low down by Samson only for Crawford to be denied by the assistant’s flag as he converted the rebound.

Motherwell’s reprieve didn’t last long though, as Crawford swung a ball in from the right that was met by the flying D’Acol with a header that flew past Samson from six yards out.

Louis Moult then directed a header straight at Woods when he might have done better, before the same player was denied by a stunning reaction stop from the keeper after being played in by McDonald.

Accies could have wrapped it up on the counter as Crawford had an effort swept off the line by Ben Heneghan, and they were made to pay seconds from the end as Moult popped up in the box to nod home a wonderful Carl McHugh cross and send the huge visiting support bouncing all the way into the New Year.

For Hamilton, it was yet another lead blown, and the vitriol aimed at manager Canning after the final whistle owed more to an abject set of results so far rather than just the last-gasp derby disappointment.

“I don’t hear what they’re saying but everybody gets it and it’s not a nice thing,” Canning said.

“I imagine 10 seconds before they’d be standing there saying well done guys, great performance. Everybody is disappointed and vents it in different ways but one thing we do need is to have the fans behind us.

“That’s not going to solve any problems.”

HAMILTON: Woods; Seaborne, Devlin, Sarris (Kurtaj, 45’); Gillespie, Donati, Crawford, Redmond (Longridge, 21’), Sowah; Brophy (MacKinnon, 77’) D’Acol.

Goalscorers: D’Acol (54’)

Booked: Sarris (24’), Kurtaj (56’)

MOTHERWELL: Samson; Tait, Heneghan, McManus, McMillan (Ainsworth, 85’); Campbell, Clay, McHugh, Lucas; Moult, McDonald.

Booked: McDonald (56’)

Sent off: Lucas (27’)

Attendance: 3526