Football: Wil to win is a Kil-ler blow

CALEY kept their slim hopes of a top six finish alive thanks to a Barry Wilson goal as they ended Kilmarnock's season.

Jags boss Craig Brewster may have sported three stitches he had inserted at half time after a clash with David Lilley - but he was feeling no pain

He said: "The top six is still a long way away, but we wanted to catch Killie and we have. Now we will target Motherwell.

"I said before this game that I thought we needed nine points to have a chance - and Well had a great result today at Aberdeen."

If his side does come up short, Brew won't look at that as failure. He said: "Whether we finish sixth or seventh it doesn't matter, these guys have done brilliantly."

It was a strong rear-guard action that earned the points and the boss knows the strengths of his side.

He said: "Grant Munro, Toss Tokely and Stuart Golabek, three of the back four are from the Highlands, it's great for them. We're big and strong and hard to break down at the back and Ian Black did well in that midfield role for his first game."

Caley had the first attempt with a ferocious volley from Brewster in the third minute that Alan Combe did well to touch over.

Combe's opposite number Mark Brown dropped a clanger to gift Kilmarnock a goal on his last visit to Rugby Park and was thanking his lucky stars history wasn't repeated in the ninth minute.

Ian Black brought down Steven Naismith and Peter Leven sent the free-kick zeroing in at the far corner.

It should have been a routine tip over but he fumbled the ball and was relieved to see it bounce off a post.

Stuart Golabek broke from defence and found himself unmarked in the Killie area four minutes later. He looked odds-on to score untilCombe reacted superbly to block his effort.

Theball broke to Graham Bayne who had only Freddy Dindeleux to beat but he shot weakly against the post and the defence cleared.

Killie spurned the next good chance as Naismith picked out Gary Wales. The striker scuffed his shot but Gary MacDonald screwed the loose ball well wide.

Combe then had to produce a brilliant double save to deny Wilson and Brewster

A goal was coming though and it arrived in 33 minutes.

The Killie defence won't want to see it again as Caley won't score an easier goal.

Brewster combined with Wilson to send a simple pass beyond the static back line and the winger rounded the stranded keeper to slide the ball into an empty net.

Wales struggled but he should have equalised a minute later when he collected Kris Boyd's knock down inside the area but took too long and had to settle for a corner.

Killie muscled their way into the danger area five minutes after the restart but this time MacDonald failed to find the net, with Brown sticking out his right leg to block.

Leven was next to have a go for the Ayrshire men but his powerful shot was deflected inches past.

There was denying the effort the hosts were putting in but Brewster should have settled the match on the hour.

Killie pushed everyone forward and were vulnerable to the counter- attack. Brewster found himself with only the keeper to beat but his effort was weak and saved by Combe.

Wales passed up another chance when Murray's pass sent Naismith clear on the left. His cross found the striker at the near post but he failed to get his header on target.

The big Caley defence protected Brown well and the home side just couldn't carve out a chance Killie boss Jim Jefferies pointed to the missed chances.

He said: "We'd four great chances to score out there. Wales missed two and MacDonald should have shown more composure." And he refused to admit his season was over, saying: "We have to try and finish as high as possible."

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