Motherwell 1, Dunfermline 1

Match Date: Wednesday, January 31 2001
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 4,601

Motherwell Team:

Goram, Corrigan, Kemble, Brannan, Strong, McMillan, Townsley, Leitch, Adams, Spencer (Goodman 75), McMulloch (Twaddle 75).
Subs not used: Woods, Hammell, Lasley.

Motherwell scorer: McCulloch (69).

WELL CAUGHT OUT BY LATE PARS LEVELLER                

Motherwell  1     Dunfermline Athletic  1

THE FIR PAKERS WERE DENIED AN Important win by a late, late equaliser from Dunfermline.  Having completely controlled the last third of the match Motherwell failed to take advantage and almost lost the match in a frantic last few moments.

Although the visitors began the match they lost possession to Spencer who sent a long ball through to McCulloch.   It took the intervention of Thomson with a neat cutout to prevent a shot going in.  Ged Brannan then picked out Corrigan on the wing who in turn found Townsley.  The cross was blocked by Thomson who conceded the corner.  This was cleared only as far as Leitch and he fired in a low 25-yarder which Ruitenbeek did well to save.  Dunfermline came close themselves shortly afterwards when Crawford’s near post header drifted just past after Ferguson had seen a shot deflected wide, Doesburg returning the cross.  Mason then brought Townsley crashing to the ground and from the free-kick Brannan managed to find McCulloch but the header was well wide. 

The visiting keeper made an important save to prevent Motherwell going ahead on 9 minutes when he got down to smother a shot from McCulloch and gather almost on his own line, Spencer having produced some magic to send the striker through.  It was a bad miss a minute later, however, which kept the scoreline blank.  Brannan threaded through for McCulloch and although his shot on the edge of the box was blocked by Ferguson the ball ran to Adams and he somehow managed to skew the ball over from 12 yards out.  Andy Goram had the Motherwell fans hearts in their mouths when making a cross-field pass along his own six-yard box, the ball drifting inches above Bullen’s outstretched foot and finding Kemble.

Dunfermline’s first real chance came when Bullen sent a header back across goals for Mason whose shot was superbly tipped round the post by Goram for a corner.  Spencer picked up a loose ball near his own box and made excellent ground to send McCulloch towards the box.  He in turn sent a pass back for Spencer but the resultant shot was blocked by Skerla and ran for a throw.  Dunfermline were coming more and more into the match after a poor start and went very close when McGroarty, a constant threat down the wing, sent a low cross along the six-yard box with no takers.

Benito Kemble then had to do well to defend a shot from Thomson with Strong following up to complete the clearance.  Spencer looked set to trouble the visitors when he picked the ball up some 35 yards out but a rash challenge from Skinner, who escaped a booking, stopped the play.  A minute later Ferguson should have seen yellow for clattering into Spencer but the free kick was the only award.  Brannan lined it up but sent it way over the bar.  Brannan was then involved in important defensive duties, turning a piledriver from Crawford away before it troubled Goram. 

Dunfermline then had an excellent chance to take the lead when Referee Orr pointed to the spot after McGroarty had somewhat spectacularly fell to the ground under a soft challenge from Corrigan.  Even the visiting Manager admitted it looked harsh but the award was given.  However, justice was seemed to have been done when Crawford’s kick smacked off the post and went behind, though Goram looked to have had it covered anyhow.  Motherwell recovered to race upfield and it was Skinner with a great recovery tackle to stop Spencer from firing in Brannan’s cross.  Spencer did, however, manage to gather the ball and saw a shot saved by Ruitenbeek. 

McMillan seemed to have done the hard work when making a great run towards the box but when in a good position his cross was easily dealt with by Skerla.  Four minutes from the interval Adams saw yellow when he was booked for a tug on Mason, a first foul of the match for the midfielder, with visiting No.5 Skerla again only talked to moments later for persistent fouling.  Kemble made a brilliant tackle to stop Crawford racing in on Goram a minute afterwards, with Townsley being pushed almost into the perimeter wall by Mason as he tried to race away with a free kick the only punishment metered out.  Just on the interval Leitch had to look sharp to stop a cross from Doesburg reaching the waiting Crawford.  IN the last action of the half Mason was carded for a challenge on McCulloch.

Half-Time     Motherwell  0     Dunfermline Athletic  0

  It was another whirlwind start from Motherwell at the beginning of the second half.  Big Derek Townsley sprinted down the wing and his low cross only needed a touch but evaded everyone and ran wide to McMillan.  His shot from 16 yards was cleared near the line by Skinner.  A minute later Motherwell should have been awarded a penalty when Spencer was crudely brought down by a combination of Skerla and Skinner.  This was as much a penalty as the one given for McGroarty’s fall wasn’t, but Orr denied Motherwell.  Mason then made a run towards the home box and his deep cross was knocked behind by Corrigan, the corner coming to nothing.

Greg Strong made a rare foray upfield to send in a shot from 35 yards which spun of Ferguson and ran to an easy pick up for Ruitenbeek.  The visitors made progress upfield with former Motherwell man Doesburg passing inside for Crawford to shoot.  His effort was cleared by Kemble.  Soon after Doesburg had to return to defensive duties cutting-out a Leitch ball in towards Adams.  Spencer returned the ball for McCulloch but the header was saved.  Brannan then set Spencer up but Ruitenbeek got down low to hold.

Some great work by Spencer and McCulloch was undone when Townsley rather inexplicably mishit a cross way behind.  Motherwell were beginning to dominate and Spencer held the ball up well for McCulloch but he fired high over the bar.  Dunfermilne then took McGroarty off in place of Dair.  IT took a superb save from Ruitenbeek to stop Motherwell going ahead when he somehow was able to tip over a fierce shot from Spencer, the striker running onto McCulloch’s pass on the edge of the 18-yard box.  There then followed a succession of corner kicks.  Mason managed to nick in ahead of Adams then McCulloch’s knockdown was sent towards goal by Strong where Ruitenbeek fumbled behind.  Crawford looked to have handled when controlling the ball but Orr waved play on.

Big Derek Townsley was then fouled by Dair wide on the right and it took a good challenge from Ferguson at the expense of a corner.  Spencer swung it in and Skinner managed to clear only as far as Brannan.  Adams met the cross and although his header cracked off the post Lee McCulloch following-up smacked the ball into the net from only a few inches out.  Dunfermline tried to get back on level terms but Skerla’s shot from 25 yards was almost as wide.  Motherwell then made a double change, Goodman and Twaddle coming on for Spencer and McCulloch respectively. 

A clear handball, this time by Skinner, was denied by the Referee with Thomson slicing his clearance way behind his own goal for another corner.  Ferguson beat Kemble to the ball as it came in though Leitch was able to return it for Goodman.  He went clear on Ruitenbeek but a poor first touch allowed the visiting Keeper in.  However, he fumbled and was rescued by Skinner.  Goodman was in again, making a great run to the edge of the box where Skinner made an important interception to turn the ball back to Ruitenbeek.  He picked the ball up, a clear pass-back, though not in the eyes of Referee Orr.

Dunfermline then brought on Dijthuizen for Doesburg.  However, Motherwell still looked the more likely with Twaddle almost picking out Leitch, Skerla denying.  Bullen then made a great stop to prevent Strong doubling the advantage.  Townsley and Twaddle then both went close but to no avail.  Thomson of Dunfermline then should have seen yellow but again only was talked to by Orr for a foul on Twaddle.

With three minutes to go Goodman was rather harshly booked when he volleyed over after play had been stopped for an offside.  With a minute left, however, the visitors grabbed an unlikely equaliser.  Dijthuizen managed to send in a header which Goram somehow parried with an amazing save.  The ball, however, fell to Bullen who, from almost on the line. Scored.  And in time added on they almost completed a true smash-and-grab when Mason crossed for Dijthuizen who headed wide.  Right on the final whistle, however, Dunfermline should have been reduced to ten men when a quite disgraceful tackle from Nicholson on McMillan carried only a yellow card.

Full-time     Motherwell  1     Dunfermline Athletic  1

Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)

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