Hibernian 1, Motherwell 1

Match Date: Sunday, March 4 2001
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 8,252

Motherwell Team:

Goram, Corrigan, Townsley, Strong, Twaddle, Ramsay (Elliott 61), Leitch, Lasley (Pearson 78), Hammell, Spencer (Goodman 61), Adams.
Subs not used: Woods, McFadden.

Motherwell scorer: Strong (81).

MAKESHIFT 'WELL MAKE THEIR POINT

Hibernian  1     Motherwell  1

MOTHERWELL, WEAKENED BY RECENT DEPARTURES AND INJURIES, PRODUCED An outstanding performance to take a deserved point from Easter Road. Indeed, with a bit more luck, it could and should have been all three.

It was, however, the home side who produced the first chance when Zitelli fired in a free kick, which Goram got down well to hold. However, Kevin Twaddle then sent Keith Lasley racing to the by-line but his attempted cross was blocked and cleared by Laursen. Teammate Murray was lucky not to be booked for a tackle from behind on Ramsay which gave Motherwell a free kick. A few minutes later Hammel and Lovell clashed in a 50-50 challenge, and as Hammel turned Lovell appeared to hold him back but was penalised. With seven minutes gone Motherwell had the ball in the net though Referee Clark came to the home side's rescue. Smith and Adams challenged for a lob into the box with the latter holding off the challenge of the home defender to score. The celebrations of the Motherwell fans were cut short by Clark who awarded a free kick to the home side which was soft to say the least.

A minute later Ramsay then provided Adams with a great pass, Adams in turn cutting back for Lasley but his volley went way over with Twaddle clear at the back post. Hibs were doing little up front though Zitelli set up Latapy with an opportunity on the edge of the box but his drive went well wide. Playing his last match for Motherwell was John Spencer, and he had a great chance to round off with a goal when Leitch chipped through. However, Spencer's first touch wasn't quite good enough allowing Smith to recover. Fenwick then brought Adams down giving Motherwell a free kick some 40 yards out. Hammel crossed in towards Adams who was challenged by Murray. The ball broke for Lasley but his shot was blocked by Smith and cleared. Spencer picked up and sent Twaddle to the by-line with a terrific pass and as the cross came in Ramsay should have scored with a header he sent inches wide.

Although seeing plenty of the ball Hibs were doing little up front though a tackle from Greg Strong on Paatelainen gave the home side a free kick in a dangerous position 25 yards out. Strong needn't have worried as Zitelli firstly drove into the wall then way over the top. Terrific passing between Spencer and Adams set up Twaddle but the cross was weak and deflected behind. Laursen then nicked in ahead of Townsley for a second flag kick which this time was cleared.

Many expected Motherwell to be swept away but they continued to take the game to Hibs. Adams sent Hammel wide and his cross came off Lovell for another corner. Adams rose with Jack who fell rather easily to take the pressure of his defence. Referee Clark then failed to spot a rather deliberate elbow by Jack on Lasley and as the ball broke Adams beat Fenwick but was penalised. Just on the half-hour a horrendous pass-back by Fenwick put Colgan under severe pressure and he could only slice the ball wide for a throw. Ramsay picked up possession but was brought crashing down by Latapy. Up stepped Twaddle and his curling shot was well held by Colgan in the home goal.

A neat move involving Latapy and Smith saw Zitelli in with a chance but a superb tackle from big Derek Townsley ended the danger. Twaddle and Ramsay then combined to set up Spencer but he dragged his shot across the box and past from 16 yards out. Lasley lost possession when fouled by O'Neill near his own box and with play allowed to continue O'Neill then appeared to handle the ball but still play went on. His dangerous cross found no takers and was eventually cleared by Corrigan. Danger man Latapy was being kept quiet by Leitch but he managed to shake free to connect with Zitelli's pass but the eventual shot was woefully wide.

Another clever pass from Spencer to Twaddle was desperately cut out by Murray with a corner the result. Townsley connected but his far post header was again knocked behind by Smith. Twaddle jogged across to take with Jack, under no pressure, conceding a third. Four minutes from the interval Motherwell should have taken the lead. Ramsay slipped the ball through the centre of the Hibs defence for Townsley who rounded Colgan but got the ball caught under his feet and skewed it wide of the target. Just before the break Ramsay sent Twaddle racing to the by-line with Smith forced to concede yet another corner which was cleared.

Half-time     Hibernian  0  Motherwell  0

The start of the second half was delayed due to a failure in the dodgy-looking temporary lighting Hibernian had installed due to work on a new stand. It was no surprise that Motherwell should take the field first with the home side rather dragging themselves onto the pitch. Motherwell picked up where they had left off with Townsley pushing forward. He beat Paatelainen to the ball giving Twaddle the chance to break but it was Murray who sent the ball out of play. Lasley then set Spencer up but his rather ambitious shot from well out would have been better served going wide to Twaddle who was clear. Murray should have seen yellow for a kick at Lasley who took a sore one, Referee Clark deciding a free kick was sufficient.

It took a terrific block by Townsley to deny Paatelainen after he had space to turn on the edge of the box and fire in a shot, the big Motherwell centre half not only stopping the shot but clearing the effort too. Hibs then got a soft free kick when Latapy, who'd lost possession, fell as Hammel challenged. Fenwick was allowed a free header which he sent wide. Lovell then made a darting run but was dispossessed by a good Leitch challenge with the home supporters screaming for a free kick as Lovell fell to the ground. Hibs then took off Paatelainen for Libbra. Motherwell attacked with Spencer again prompting. His pass for Hammel was knocked back to Townsley but his effort was wide with Twaddle again clear on the flank.

Townsley got back to block a shot from Latapy and as the ball spun wide Zitelli found space to drive in but Goram saved well, with Libbra rather unnecessarily following right into the Goalie's midrift. Strong and Townsley then looked to leave the ball to each other as it came into the danger zone with Leitch only just beating Zitellit and clearing the high up and under from Laursen. There was a booking for Corrigan for a foul on Laursen though seconds later Lovell's hard challenge on Adams was completely ignored by Clark.

Motherwell then made a double change with Ramsay being replaced by Goodman, and John Spencer, making his last Motherwell appearance, making way for Stuart Elliott. Given the booking for Corrigan for no more than a trip it was surprising Libbra wasn't given a card after he climbed all over Townsley, with an elbow thrown in for good measure. Adams was then brought down some 30 yards out by Smith though the free kick, taken by Twaddle, was well high. Hibs then brought on Brebner for Jack. Good play from Lasley and Goodman almost sent Adams through, Lovell making the covering to clear. A late tackle from Lasley on O'Neill then gave Hibs a free-kick but the reaction from O'Neill should have seen him gather a yellow card. With 19 minutes to go Motherwell fans and players alike were incensed when firstly Hammel took a head knock and play was allowed to continue. Then Libbra carried the ball towards the box and as Greg Strong challenged the Frenchman took a blatant dive as the ball ran away from him. IT was most definitely not a penalty but Referee Clark ignored the cheating and waved play on, eventually allowing treatment for Hammel.

Hibs pushed up again with Zitelli but his shot was way over the bar. Goodman then looked to have won the ball fairly in the box but Smith managed to ensure a free kick as he crashed to the ground. Hibs then made another change with Zitelli going off for McManus. Motherwell were still determined to attack with Lasley setting Adams up only for Smith to clear well. As the ball spun wide Elliott forced a corner off Smith. However, Lasley's loose pass on the edge of the box allowed McManus to break. He sent Libbra to the by line and the cross was met by Townsley who headed partially clear. Lovell picked up and looked to have driven behind though surprisingly a corner was given. Then Laursen looked to have headed behind but again a home corner was the result. Murray fired in a shot as the pressure continued forcing Goram to make a fine save. Then Hibs fans and players were screaming for a penalty when Brebner shot struck Strong on the shoulder. No way was this a penalty. Seconds later they were at it again when O'Neill's cross struck Lasley but again it was no penalty. Motherwell then gave a debut to Steven Pearson who replaced Keith Lasley.

A push by Laursen on Goodman gave Motherwell a free-kick some 28 yards out. Leitch saw his shot deflected wide with Elliott forcing a corner off Laursen. This was cleared by Smith as far as Hammel and his delicate chip in was headed on by Goodman into the path of Strong. With his back to goal he cleverly controlled the ball on his knee before turning to slam the ball beyond Colgan and put Motherwell a goal to the good. It was a finish a striker would have been proud of but Motherwell could not keep the lead for long. After conceding a throw Libbra flicked on a header which Townsley could only head into the path of Latapy and he made no mistake finishing from 12 yards out. A deliberate hand ball by Libbra failed to attract a card from Referee Clark soon afterwards.

Fenwick then pushed Hammel to concede a free kick but again this was wasted. A minute later Adams was booked for almost exactly the same thing on Laursen with Townsley also carded for pointing out to Clark the obvious. Motherwell continued to press and as Twaddle's hot was blocked Pearson almost stole the show with a shot which wasn't far away. Referee Clark was having fun booking Motherwell players though Elliott's for a tug on O'Neill perhaps merited. Good work by Don Goodman sent Adams to the edge of the box and his drive was only inches over the bar. Just on full time Libbra at last was booked when he continued to go through after Goram had gathered though by now it should have been red. And just on full time Strong was booked when he was allegedly wasting time. However, at full time, although a draw, Motherwell were clearly the winners.

Full-time     Hibernian  1     Motherwell  1

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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