Hearts 1 - 0 Motherwell: Stunning goal rewards Hearts with a victory - SPL - Scotsman.com DANNY GRAINGER'S raking 30-yard strike brought Hearts three points against Motherwell as the Edinburgh club moved from tenth to joint seventh in the Scottish Premier League. Grainger (14) Attendance: 11,572 The full-back struck the winning goal in stunning fashion after just 14 minutes on a day when both teams displayed plenty attractive and entertaining attacking football. Motherwell, disappointing in the first half, pressed forward after the break but were met by a stubborn Hearts defence, in which Grainger, Andy Webster and goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald all excelled. The visitors caused problems with Jamie Murphy, Chris Humphrey and Michael Higdon constantly a threat, however, Grainger's early strike proved pivotal to the final outcome. Hearts, with the same team that started at Celtic Park two weeks ago, threatened early in the match through the pace of wingers Andy Driver and Arvydas Novikovas. Driver arced a shot wide from Darren Barr's 11th-minute lay-off before Grainger opened the scoring. Allowed time and space to sprint forward in possession, he lashed a spectacular 30-yarder with his left foot into the top corner with the Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph comprehensively beaten. It was, as the stadium announcer claimed, a genuine contender for goal of the season. The visitors toiled to find a passing rhythm as Hearts stroked the ball around confidently. Jamie MacDonald held a curling effort from Murphy, who appeared to be Motherwell's most dangerous player. Higdon had a strong penalty claim on 34 minutes when he appeared to be bundled over as Andy Webster challenged him from behind in the air. Referee Willie Collum remained impassive, however. Higdon ought to have equalised shortly after the interval but could only send Humphrey's cutback wide of target whilst under pressure from his marker. Ryan Stevenson then angled an effort just past Randolph's top left corner from 20 yards. Higdon had another opportunity after Humphrey dispossessed Grainger on the edge of the Hearts penalty box, but this time MacDonald held the Englishman's first-time attempt. Motherwell were imosing themselves and at times Hearts were pinned in their own half as the second period progressed. Whereas the hosts passed the ball crisply throughout the first period, it was the Lanarkshire team now keeping possession better. John Sutton, a replacement for Novikovas, headed narrowly past in the 68th minute but the visitors weren't deterred. From Humphrey's cross and Higdon's header across goal, Nicky Law's header beat MacDonald only for Webster to clear the ball off the Hearts goal line. The resilience continued throughout the tension-filled closing stages. Motherwell introduced the pacey Omar Daley and piled players forward in search of an equaliser. They were met by a stubborn Hearts rearguard which contributed to a vital three points and morale-boosting clean sheet against one of the better teams in Scotland in recent seasons. Hearts (4-2-3-1): MacDonald; R McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Barr (Robinson 71), Taouil (D McGowan 90); Driver, Stevenson, Novikovas (Sutton 62); Paterson. Subs: Enckelman, G Smith, McHattie, Carrick. Motherwell (4-3-3): Randolph; Kerr, Hutchinson (Carswell 45), Ramsden, Hammell; Lasley, Hateley, Law (Daley 86); Humphrey, Higdon, Murphy (Ojamaa 74). Subs: Hollis, McHugh, Francis-Angol, Hetherington. Referee: Willie Collum.