Filip Twardzik scrambled the ball into the net from a Tony Watt cutback in the 16th minute but a 25 yard wonder strike nine minutes from the break from Kieran MacDonald denied John Kennedy’s side full points.
Celtic had the bulk of possession in the second half but couldn’t work their way through the ‘Well defence.
CELTIC Thompson; Miller, Fraser, Findlay’ Chalmers; Herron (Gormley), Irvine, F Twardzik, Williamson (Kidd); George (Bogle), Watt
SUBS Daniels, Yaqub, Fisher, Atajic
Motherwell: Muir, Brownlie, Cummins, Murray, Francis-Angol, Hetherington, Watt, Mboa Mekongo, Moore, MacDonald, McGachie
Subs: Stewart, Erwin, Lynch, Leitch, Green