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Motherwell 0, Aberdeen 2
Match Date: Saturday, May 5 2001
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 3,905
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):
Connolly, Ouefio, Corrigan, Kemble, Hammell, Townsley (Ramsay 62), Chiba,
Harvey (Pearson 71), Elliott, Wood (McFadden 76), Twaddle.
Subs not used: Woods, Adams.
Yellow Cards: None
LUCKLESS WELL LOSE AGAIN
Motherwell 0 Aberdeen 2
A GOAL IN EACH HALF WAS ENOUGH To give all three points to the visitors and condemn Motherwell to their third straight defeat. In a fairly open match the Fir Parkers were somewhat unlucky with their finishing whilst the visitors completed the scoring with a slice of good fortune.
The opening action saw Motherwell test visiting Keeper Esson right away. Elliott breezed past A31on the left and his cross was missed by several players before falling to Twaddle. However, his shot was beaten down by Esson and saved easily. Aberdeen went close soon after when Young burst through themiddle. His pass found Stavrum but Connolly made a terrific block and as the ball spun up Young was lucky not to be penalised for a charge on the keeper, play being waved on. A powerful run by Twaddle then took him all the way to the visiting box and a one-two with Chiba gave the tall winger the chance to shoot. The shot was saved by Esson but Elliott was clear to the left and less than impressed. Young Martin Wood was then brought crashing to the ground by Solberg giving Motherwell a free-kick wide on the left. Twaddle curled in and an acrobatic over-head kick from Chiba went wide.
Slack play by Chiba then saw him dispossessed in midfield by Guntveit. Picking out Stavrum the Norwegian went clear but dragged his shot wide of the far post. Play swung upfield and it was Whtye to the rescue as he cut out Elliott's intelligent ball towards Chiba who was set to pounce. Motherwell came agonisingly close to scoring on 18 minutes and were denied only by the crossbar. Corrigan's superb long ball found Twaddle and he cut inside McNaughton before crashing a shot off the bar, the ball running away to safety. Aberdeen took advantage and broke upfield, Stavrum's cross bouncing awkwardly over Winters and way out wide. Townsley then went wide and crossed towards Elliott though Solberg's intervention saw the ball shoot high in the air with Esson claiming ahead of the Motherwell man. Aberdeen missed a great opportunity when Winters put past the far post when seemingly only needing to tap in after Stavrum and knocked the ball across the box. The sides were exchanging chances and it was Motherwell who were only inches away when Solberg beat Wood to the low cross from Twaddle. A push by Guntveit on Chiba should have given Motherwell a free-kick in a dangerous position but somehow Referee Fyfe gave Aberdeen the award. The visitors went upfield and Stavrum wasn't far away with his shot from Winters' pass. Belabed was putting himself about and he escaped any punishment when he quite blatantly took Chiba out of play. The game didn't stop, however, and Aberdeen promptly took the lead. Winters crossed to Mackie, and his lay off found Stavrum who clipped the ball beyond Connolly into the far side of the net.
A loose pass from Townsely then almost presented Aberdeen with another chance though Connolloy was at the rescue to boot clear. Townsely tried to atone and he almost set up Elliott only for Esson to gather. Motherwell were trying to come back into things with Twaddle's run and shot beating Esson but also the far post. The tall winger then made another mazy run and he sent in a dangerous cross which needed only a touch but found none. Young booted the ball way down field where McNaughton chased but Connolly claimed. Motherwell were coming closer and Townsley perhaps could have done better than to find Esson with a shot from inside the box. Chiba then played a delicate chip into the box and found Wood in space but his weak effort was saved easily. Aberdeen broke out with Belabed shooting from 18 yards though it was even weaker than Woods' effort moments previously. A break by Winters was broken up by an excellent tackle from Kemble with Corrigan completing the clearance. A corner to the visitors fell to Stavrum and he made space before forcing Connolly into a good save. Twaddle was making plenty of runs down the wing and from another, following good work by Wood, he set up Elliott only for Solberg to knock behind. Another late challenge from Belabed went unnoticed as he went in again on fellow Moroccan International Said Chiba. Motherwell did gain a free-kick, however, and Chiba's curling effort was only just past the post with Esson well beaten.
Half-Time Motherwell 0 Aberdeen 1
Motherwell were first to threaten in the second half when good work from Wood sent Elliott towards goal though Winters conceded a corner which Chiba headed wide. Aberdeen hit back with Winters crossing to Mackie and his header forced Connolly into a good save. Moments later Corrigan fired in a 25-yarder which Esson did well to hold. From the kick-out Belabed again fouled Chiba but there was still no card. However, a minute later Belabed was at last booked for persistent fouling of Chiba. The latter took the ball from the free-kick and made the by-line. Crossing near-post Wood missed the ball but Elliott was able to lay-off for Harvey and he cracked in a shot which Esson parried expertly and held.
Ten minutes into the second half saw Aberdeen double their advantage with a little slice of luck. Stavrum broke from midfield and crossed to Winters. His mis-hit shot spun high in the air and over Connolly before nestling in the net. Aberdeen immediately took off Belabed for Derek Young. Motherwell tried to hit back and Elliott's header from a Twaddle cross was held by Esson. The visitors then forced consecutive corners which came to nothing before a counter-attack saw Stavrum lob the ball narrowly over Connolly's bar. Motherwell then forced Aberdeen back with Twaddle sending in some dangerous balls. From one Elliott met the ball perfectly but the header was just too high. Derek Townsley then made way for Keith Lasley. The visiting Keeper was having an inspired game and he did well to beat Elliott to Twaddle's cross. Lasley picked the ball up and forced a corner off McAllister. Aberdeen were breaking with menace and Hammel was left with little option but to halt Winters' progress illegally with Stavrum heading the resultant free-kick narrowly past. A superb pass from Paul Harvey deserved better than to see Young come in to beat Lasley and clear though Chiba then laid the ball off for Hammel but the shot was well wide.
Winters then left and was replaced by Clark. Good control from Martin Wood created a chance for Lasley but again the shot went wide of the mark. Motherwell then made a further change with Harvey leaving for Pearson. A late, late lunge from Clark should have seen the game's second yellow but his effort on Corrigan went unpunished. Martin Wood then departed to be replaced by James McFadden. Motherwell then conceded a dangerous free-kick when Kemble and Stavrum went shoulder-to-shoulder and what looked like a fair challenge from the Motherwell man resulted in an Aberdeen free-kick near the corner flag. Stavrum recovered but some justice was done when Solberg headed way wide. The visitors final change saw McAlliseter make way for McGuire. With six minutes to go Stevie Hammel prevented a further goal when he cleared Stavrum's effort from almost on the goal-line. Motherwell's young Keeper Connolly then made a superb save to stop Young but that was the last of the action as Motherwell lost once again.
Full-time Motherwell 0 Aberdeen 2
Match Report by Ricky Mullen