Motherwell 2, Celtic 1

Well what can I say? Beating the Old Firm is always sweet, but when the victory STOPS THEM FROM WINNING THE LEAGUE then there really isn't much to top it. And if there are any Celtic fans reading this, all I can say is

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

With the first team still decimated by injuries, it was another makeshift side which took to the field this afternoon, although at least Stephen Craigan was back after suspension and Martyn Corrigan, who was rated as doubtful beforehand, was passed fit.

The early play was scrappy, and although Celtic had the better of the game they created few real goalscoring opportunities. When the visitors did eventually make the breakthrough after 30 mins, it was down to poor defending from Motherwell as firstly Foran lost passion far too easily, and then when Thomson's cross was spilled by Marshall the defence was slow to react, and allowed Sutton to prod Celtic into the lead. There were no other incidents of real note in the remainder of the first half, with Motherwell going in at half time without having created anything in an attacking sense.

Right at the start of the second half Motherwell looked to have equalised, but Craigan's header was somehow cleared off the line by Agathe. There then followed a period of sustained Celtic pressure, but a combination of poor finishing and a few fantastic saves from Gordon Marshall kept the score at 1-0. A second goal for the visitors at this point would have killed the game, but the longer the half went on the more nervous they seemed to become and Motherwell at last began to assert themselves on the match. To be fair we still didn't really look like scoring, but then with 3 minutes to go the unthinkable happened when Scott McDonald brilliantly hooked the ball into the top corner of the net to equalise for Motherwell and send the home fans delirious. We had barely stopped celebrating when McDonald grabbed a second in the 90th minute, when his deflected shot looped over Douglas to give Motherwell a memorable victory.

I know it's a bit of a cliché, but it's games like this that make it all worthwhile. Skippy's two goals sparked scenes of unremitting joy among the home fans, while simultaneously emptying the South Stand and dashing any plans for a Celtic title party at Fir Park. There were of course loads of Celtic fans in the East and DC Stands, and those who hadn't already been outed left hurriedly when the winner went in. It was a bit disappointing that the stewards and police seemed somewhat reluctant initially to eject the Celtic fans from the home end, but they had all long since gone when the Motherwell team came back out for a well earned lap of honour at the end of a successful season for everyone connected with the club. And thankfully the fans stayed off the pitch as well.

Of course the only downside to today is that we've probably helped keep Alex McLeish in a job, but the 'Well fans won't be bothering about that at the moment as they celebrate this famous result. And I'm off back out to join them.

Roll on next season!

Team (4-4-2): Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Paterson, Foran, Kerr, Fagan, Fitzpatrick (Clarkson 88), McDonald, Hamilton (Britton 85).
Subs not used: Corr, Higgins, Connolly, Keogh, Smith.

Booked: Foran, Craigan.

Attendance: 12,944.

Terry Butcher's post-match comments were as follows:
"I have not been in a position when I have lost it on the last day but Martin (O'Neill) has been there twice. So I can't imagine what he will be feeling. I really do feel for them because they are nice guys but Celtic have had a great season. Rangers have had a great season and we have had a great season. It's been a great season for the SPL but it is a major disappointment for them. Scott McDonald had mixed emotions because his parents support different teams so he is flying out of the country. I am going to keep my phone off because I might be getting calls from these unknown Rangers fans but I have not done it for Rangers, we have done it for Motherwell. Any celebrations were for our own fans - it's been a wonderful season for us."

The club are currently trying to finalise a list of pre-season friendlies. There will once again be no tour, but Southampton (home), Clyde (away), QoS (away) and Bolton (away) have all been mentioned. Not sure about the Bolton one, but a match there would be a great day out.

Newspaper reports last week suggested that Falkirk were interested in re-signing Gordon Marshall.