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Motherwell 3, Celtic 3
Match Date: Sunday, October 29 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 10,820
Motherwell Team:
Woods, Corrigan, Kemble, Strong, Hammell, Adams (Townsley), Brannan, McMillan
(Leitch), Elliott, Spencer, McCulloch (Goodman).
Subs not used: Connolly, McLen..
Motherwell scorers: Adams (22), McCulloch (53), Brannan (78 pen).
THRILLER AS WELL HOLD CELTS
Motherwell 3 Celtic 3
THE STEELMEN SHOWED SOLID NERVES To battle back and gain a valuable draw against the runaway league leaders. A late penalty from Ged Brannan secured a crucial point as Motherwell's revival continued.
The inconsistencies of Referee Dallas were exposed in the first minute when he firstly punished a Corrigan challenge on Larsson but took no action when Mjallby tripped Adams as he ran onto a through ball from Spencer. The tall Rocky lookalike had to be sharp to cut out a Spencer ball which McCulloch then looked set to trouble Gould with. The visitors almost took the lead in the fifth minute in an incident which the wet conditions clearly contributed to. Thomson sent Petta out wide and his low ball appeared to be gathered by Woods. However, the ball squirmed out as Larsson challenged and it fell to the feet of Thomson but he shot wide. A corner was given, much to the amazement of the Motherwell players, but it was dealt with by Brannan. Shortly afterwards Larsson popped up in the box with a free header which went wide though the amount of room afforded to him would have alarmed Boss Davies. The game's first booking fell to Greg Strong and he was somewhat unfortunate to see a yellow. Larsson gathered the ball out by the touchline and as Strong challenged he did go in heavily but made contact with the ball. Another soft free-kick, given after Agathe hit the deck, was whipped in and McNamara fired a fierce shot which was going wide until it hit McMillan, diverting just inches past the near post. Celtic took the lead in 13 minutes with a goal which Stevie Woods will not wish to see again. Petrov's cross was blocked for a corner by McMillan and the inswinger was missed by Woods. Larsson headed down for Mjallby and he needed two attempts on the goal-line before scoring. Motherwell almost hit back immediately, Hammel's cross was cut out by Boyd ahead of McCulloch then Adams ball in took a bounce which almost deceived Gould, the keeper having to tip the ball over the bar. Spencer's corner was swung in evading everyone when it needed just one touch. The Fir Parkers were coming right back into things, Captain Ged Brannan leading by example and shooting from 25 yards only a foot or so past the upright. Spencer then sent Adams out wide and his cross was knocked behind by Valgaeran. That corner was cleared only as far as McMillan and his intelligent lob only just cleared the bar. It was only a matter of time before Motherwell levelled and they did just that on 22 minutes. Elliott sent Spencer into the box and although his initial ball was partially cleared Spencer again headed along the six-yard box where Adams rushed in to head the equaliser. From the kick-off Motherwell regained possession with Corrigan this time sending Adams to the by-line though his cut-back was gathered by Gould. A late, late challenge by Agathe saw Stevie Hammel in agony inside his own box and Dallas allowed play to continue for several seconds before halting for treatment. Agathe escaped a card, and there was the unusual sound of Celtic fans booing their own player for returning the ball in a sportsmanlike manner as McNamara kicked the ball back. On the half-hour Motherwell had a fair shout for a penalty as Valgaeran used McCulloch for leverage but there was no foul. A minute later Petta made a dramatic dive as Spencer tackled and with play waved on there was no foul, nor a card for Petta. Then Thomson had a kick at Adams but again play was not stopped. Although Agathe had a pop at goals which was well over Motherwell were the better side at this point. Brannan leapt onto a poor Larsson midfield pass to send Elliott towards the box. However, the Northern Irish International's cross was poor with Spencer lurking at the far post. Six minutes from the break John Spencer forced a terrific save from Gould on the angle and as the ball dropped Adams skied from close range and the chance was gone. Celtic attacked and Corrigan was forced to concede the corner. Petta crossed in and with Mjallby taking Woods out the ball could have gone anywhere, instead taking a path out at the other post. Near the interval some terrific defending by Kemble and Hammel stopped both Larsson and Petta as both seemed set to trouble Gould.
Half-time Motherwell 1 Celtic 1
Initial play at the beginning of the second-half was in Motherwell's favour and they took the lead in the fifth minute of play. Ged Brannan sent a great ball wide to Elliott but his cross was blocked by Valgeran for a corner. Spencer curled the ball in with Lee McCulloch bulleting an unstoppable header into the net. Petta then made ground out wide and his dangerous cross was blocked by Brannan with Kemble completing the clearance. A hand-ball against Agathe was ignored allowing the winger to race towards the box. He supplied Larsson but Brannan was on hand to clear. Motherwell broke forward with Spencer's lay-off to Corrigan resulting in a scorching drive which went inches past the far post. Poor defending by Motherwell however contributed to a second gifted goal for the visitors. From a free-kick on the left Larsson for once escaped Kemble to head on and there was the unmarked Valgeran to nod home from a few yards out. Again Motherwell tried to hit back right away with McCulloch just an inch away from connecting with Hammel's cross-ball. Lee McCulloch was unlucky to then be booked for a tackle on Boyd, no question of a free-kick but the card was harsh. Larsson was set to put his side ahead when Kemble made a brilliant challenge with Hammel knocking behind. Celtic should have gone ahead on the hour when Thomson crossed for Mjallby and his touch on the goal-line looked to have been cleared from well behind the line by Corrigan. However, no goal was given and play waved on. A clear and blatant dive by Petrov gained his side a free-kick as Spencer looked to have won the ball fairly with Thomson driving the ball well over. Motherwell then switched McCulloch for Don Goodman. A clearance by McNamara went high in the air and although Gould caught the ball over the line play was waved on. Larsson carried the ball towards the Motherwell box with more than a hint of hand-ball to control the pass but Kemble was able to boot away. A third Motherwell booking came when Corrigan brought down Petta, again a bit unlucky as it was a free-kick but another harsh card, and the free-kick was brilliantly headed away by Goodman. The Fir Parkers made a second change when McMillan left for Leitch's return from injury. Motherwell had fell right out of things at this point and it was no surprise really when the visitors took the lead. Again some poor defending by Motherwell contributed to this goal. It was good running by McNamara who played a couple of one-twos with Petrov and Larsson but the space afforded to the defender was alarming, and his mis-hit shot trundled in at the near post. Derek Adams then made way for Derek Townsley, the tall winger making his mark by winning a corner. Seconds later Superman made a rare appearance at Fir Park though he was escorted from the field as he had not been registered in time for kick-off. Boyd had to make an important interception to stop Leitch connecting with Townsley's cross. A poor pass by Hammel almost allowed Celtic in though Agathe's ball caught Larsson well off-side. It was all square however a minute later when Mjallby pushed Don Goodman in the box as he tried to get to Brannan's long ball. The Captain stepped up himself to drive the ball home with a finish Superman would have been well proud of. Celtic made an immediate change, bringing on Stubs form Mjallby. The visitors almost took the lead again when Larsson shot past on the penalty spot. A trip by Petrov should have seen him gather a card but only a free-kick was given. Hammel's cross was met by Petrov who conceded a fruitless corner. Celtic made another change when Agathe left for Moravcic's inclusion. Petrov then supplied Larsson but his header was well held by Woods. Motherwell had the last shout and almost scored a dramatic winner. With time running out Elliott's knock-down was fired towards goal with the ball just clearing the bar.
Full-Time Motherwell 3 Celtic 3
Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)