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Aberdeen 3, Motherwell 3
Match Date: Saturday, November 25 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 12,324
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Corrigan, Kemble, Strong, Hammell, Townsley, Brannan (Adams 45), Leitch,
McMillan, Goodman (Elliott 17), McCulloch (Twaddle 75).
Subs not used: Woods, McLen
Motherwell scorers: Townsley (14), McCulloch (43,69).
GORAM SLIP COSTS WELL DEAR
Aberdeen 3 Motherwell 3
A LATE, LATE SLIP BY CAPTAIN ANDY GORAM Cost Motherwell the three points at a windswept, soaking Pittodrie. Well into the fourth minute of time added on Goram failed to hold a shot which was snapped up and slotted away.
The home side attacked from the off with Young breaking upfield to fire in a shot which Goram did hold. Seconds later Di Rocco thought he had put Aberdeen ahead when he tucked the ball under Goram though he was way off side and there were few complaints. Hesitation by Don Goodman then saw him dispossessed allowing Guntveit to set Stavrum running down the wing. His cross was put behind for a corner by Corrigan and when it was swung in Brannan headed Stavrum's goal-bound header away. Motherwell were struggling to put any attacks together and it was the home side who came close again. Stavrum and Guntveit combined out on the right to allow Young to cross deep where Strong had to be alert to clear ahead of Di Rocco. In fact it was an error by White which gave Motherwell their first opportunity. Townsley took advantage to cross for McCulloch and his back header took the ball away from Brannan and the ball was cleared. Solberg then tried an ambitious over-head kick from Young's swinging cross which went well over. Somewhat against the run of play Motherwell took the lead on 14 minutes. Stevie Hammel passed to McCulloch on the wing at the half-way line and, looking up, the striker played a terrific defence-splitting pass to the sprinting Townsley and he outpaced McNaughton to slot the ball wide of Esson. Aberdeen tried to hit back with Kemble doing well to block Stavrum's cross, the corner falling for Solberg but his header sailed over. Motherwell then had to make an enforced change when Goodman pulled up sharply, Elliott replacing him. Goalscorer Townsely almost played a part in extending Motherwell's lead when he combined with Brannan to give McCulloch a chance, Esson saving well. Solberg then made an important interception when preventing Elliott's cross from reaching McCulloch. Moments later Leitch became the game's first booking for persistent fouling in the eyes of Referee Dallas. The home centre-halves then tried to show their strikers the route to goal when firstly White and then Solberg had efforts which were well saved and high over respectively. Derek Townsley burst upfield and, sending McCulloch racing into the box almost set up a second, Esson tipping round the post but much to the annoyance of the Motherwell players no corner was given. A dangerous pass by McNaughton gave Stavrum room to shot though Goram got down to hold. Rowson then made ground out wide to deliver for Di Rocco with Kemble making a great clearance just ahead of the home forward. With time approaching the interval the home side drew level and it was far from a pretty goal to lose from Motherwell's point of view. Di Rocco drove a low shot towards the back post which Goram parried rather weakly into the path of Stavrum and outpacing Hammel he made no mistake to level. However, the joy of the home fans was short-lived as Mothewell regained the lead with two minutes to the break. Stuart Elliott headed a loose ball over Solberg and there was Lee McCulloch to beat the off-side trap and drive under Esson.
Half-time Aberdeen 1 Motherwell 2
Motherwell were forced to make a second substitution with Brannan being replaced by Derek Adams just before the re-start. Benito Kemble made an important clearance from close to his own line when Di Rocco met Stavrum's cross. As the ball ran clear Winters made a dramatic fall to the ground under a challenge from McMillan, the Motherwell man being booked. Although the home side were pushing for an equaliser it was Motherwell who nearly added to their lead. A long free-kick by Hammel was nodded on by Townsley for McCulloch whose first-time shot was well held by Esson. It should have been three on the hour mark when a superb pass by Leitch gave Townsely only the Keeper to beat but the shot struck Esson and spun behind for a corner. Aberdeen attacked with Winters racing clear. As he made the box his cross was met by Stavrum who, having pulled Hammel's shirt to gain an unfair advantage, had a header blocked by Strong and cleared. The home fans were screaming for a penalty when Elliott appeared to impede Rowson just inside the box. An indirect free-kick was given which Solberg drove against the packed wall and behind. Aberdeen took off Guntveit for Jess during the stoppage. Kemble then stopped Solberg by knocking behind for a corner which was headed over by Di Rocco onto the cross from Young. Despite the pushing by Aberdeen it was Motherwell who doubled their advantage and went 3-1 ahead with 21 minutes to go. Leitch passed into the box for Adams and his knock-down was sent across the goal by Elliott for Lee McCulloch to slam high into the net. That should have been that as they say but it was far from the end of the game. Solberg drove over when latching onto a loose ball. Rowson was then booked when his deliberate trip on Hammel was punished. McCulloch too the free-kick and Esson produced a comfortable save. As Aberdeen made a change Motherwell did likewise bringing on Twaddle for McCulloch. Some slack defending by Motherwell handed Aberdeen a lifeline with 11 minutes left. Seconds after Di Rocco had a header saved the same player took advantage of Eliott's loose marking and drove beyond Goram and high into the net. Greg Strong then slipped up allowing Di Rocco in again though this time Goram held the shot. Play was stopped to allow treatment to Corrigan who appeared to take an elbow from Clark. Aberdeen continued to push for the equaliser and White saw a shot deflected behind for a corner. With time running out Motherwell had a chance to finish the game off when Elliott headed wide. However, well into time added on from somewhere it was a bad mistake by Goram which gifted a point to the home side. Jess made his way across the box 20 yards out and as he fired in a shot Goram got down to save. However, as the ball reached the Keeper he inexplicably allowed it to bounce out and Di Rocco needed on second invitation to score. It was a painful goal to lose and time up quickly followed.
Full-time Aberdeen 3 Motherwell 3
Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)