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St Mirren 0, Motherwell 1
Match Date: Saturday, February 24 2001
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 4,044
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Kemble, McMillan, Strong, Corrigan (Elliott 57), Adams, Townsley,
Lasley (Ramsay 66), Hammell, Twaddle, McCulloch (Nicholas 77).
Subs not used: Connolly, Wood.
Motherwell scorer: Townsley (74).
DEL BOY POUNCES TO DOWN ST MIRREN
Saint Mirren 0 Motherwell 1
A CRUCIAL GOAL FROM DEREK TOWNSLEY Gave Motherwell all three points to push them back into contention for a top-six place.
Motherwell pushed up from the start and were unlucky when a long ball from Corrigan struck Lee McCulloch on the hand. It was clearly accidental but instead of bearing down on Roy in goals the free-kick went in favour of the home side. Saint Mirren hit back with Kerr making the by-line to whip in a deep cross which Benni Kemble did well to head clear. Motherwell were putting together some nice moves but like Wednesday’s game at Parkhead the final ball was severely lacking. One such move broke down allowing Saint Mirren to burst upfield where Dagnogo was only just wide with a low shot on the turn. Dagnogo again looked sharp when he turned onto Quotongo’s ball but Strong reached in to divert the ball behind. The visitors had a valid claim for a corner denied when McGowan got in ahead of Lasley to knock the ball past, the young Motherwell man trying to reach Adam’s cross which Turner had deflected to the back post.
A short pass from McMillan was intercepted by Dagnogo but the ball ran on to Goram. However, his clearance struck Dagnogo but fortunately ran away for a throw. Motherwell regained possession and McCulloch made a great run to beat Turner to cross in but it was McGowan to the rescue with a partial clearance with Towsley driving way over as the ball drop. Twaddle then ran onto Adam’s lob and with Roy rushing from his goals his lob deflected off the keeper and was cleared from on the six-yard line by Turner. Saint Mirren full-back Kerr was making probing runs down the flank and one such run was abruptly ended when Adams pushed him to concede a foul. Kerr took the kick himself but drove well over the bar. Fenton then had a shot blocked by Kemble and Goram gathered the loose ball. The game swung to the other end where Walker had to nod behind for a corner. Twaddle swung the ball back in where Turner sliced the ball narrowly past for another corner to Motherwell. This time the ball fell to Strong and his shot was deflected to McCulloch whose drive went inches past the upright.
The Buddies hit back with a shot from McGowan which troubled only the seagulls. A loose pass from Twaddle almost let Gillies in but Kemble came in with a terrific challenge. Motherwell broke forward, Townsley found McCulloch whose turn and shot was deflected over the bar by McGowan. Soon afterwards Twaddle made a great turn to beat Turner on the edge of the box but his drive went over the bar. Motherwell were beginning to create more with Townsley again making a great pass to find Twaddle. His cross in was stopped near the line by Turner who chested into the arms of Roy. There was anger amongst the away support when McGowan went down like the proverbial ton of breaks as Lasley won the ball near the corner flag, the fall enough to regain possession in the form of a free-kick for Saint Mirren. Hesitancy by Goram then forced Strong to have to nip in ahead of Fenton to concede a corner and seconds later the home side really should have taken the lead.
Saint Mirren were awarded a free-kick which Strong only deflected into the path of Fenton. With time and space, and only Goram to beat, he weakly struck the ball against the Goalie’s legs and as the ball spun out towards the edge of the box Walker wildly sliced the shot almost as far as Rutherglen. Motherwell’s response was a drive from McCulloch which went almost as far over. The home support were up in arms accusing McCulloch a deliberate elbow on the back of McKenzie’s head. It looked accidental and both players recovered after treatment. McCulloch picked himself up and put in a great turn’n’shot which Roy did well to hold down low. Townsley then got in on the act with a 25-yard-shot which Roy again got down to grasp. Motherwell were looking the more likely as the break approached with McCulloch’s shot charged down and Roy gathering just ahead of Adams. There was a soft yellow card for Stevie Hammel just before the interval for a challenge on Rudden who had seconds earlier escaped with a lunge at McCulloch.
Half-Time Saint Mirren 0 Motherwell 0
A minute into the second half Saint Mirren went close. Quitongo and Kerr exchanged passes with the latter crossing deep where Dagnogo beat Kemble to the ball but sent a shot across the area and out at the far post. Corrigan and Lasley then did likewise after good work by McCulloch, the eventual shot from the defender saved by Roy. A fumble by the home Keeper then almost presented a chance for McCUlloch but Walker came out of nowhere to boot away downfield. Fenton made the most of a Strong challenge to win a free-kick some 15 yards from the by-line, the Linesman on that side waving play-on only for Referee McDonald, well back, to decide otherwise. However, the free-kick was cleared by Strong.
There was a worrying moment for the visiting support when Quitongo raced along the edge of the box leaving McMillan trailing before drilling a low shot which beat Goram but also the far post. Kerr then saw a shot deflected through to Goram who sent Lasley away. HIs pass to Adams inside the box was slipped into the path of McCulloch and, despite the attentions of Walker, he clipped in a shot which Roy was well positioned to save. Jose Quitongo then should have been booked when he quite blatantly dived with no one remotely close. Despite doing this in front of Referee McDonald the Official decided a word was sufficient warning. Motherwell then took off Corrigan to bring on Stuart Elliott and become a more attacking threat. There was danger when a cross in from Kerr looked set to be met by Walker only for Goram to puch well clear. With Walker lying injured Townsley sent the ball out of play to allow treatment to the home defender. A late challenge from Turner then saw Kemble having to receive lengthy treatment during which the home support rather unfairly accused him of timewasting. Kemble eventually recovered to derisory boos from the Saint Mirren fans. McKenzie then brought Lasley crashing to the ground but again there was no card for a home player.
Walker knocked behind for a corner which was poorly taken by Twaddle. There was more uproar in the away end when Lasley was booked after winning what seemed like a 50-50 ball with Rudden in midfield. Then there was another spectacular dive by Quitongo who, whilst there was no doubt was fouled by McMillan, looked to be trying for a card to be administered as well. Before the free-kick was taken Lasley was replaced by Dougie Ramsay. Saint Mirren took advantage of the stop in play to replace Quitongo, tired after all his theatrics, and Rudden with Yardley and Nicolson respectively. Twaddle then passed up a great chance to put Motherwell ahead when McKenzie made a loose pass which the winger gathered but a poor second touch allowed the ball to run away.
McGarry then replaced Fenton as the home side played their last card. A superb pass forward from Kemble who had made ground in midfield almost sent Elliott in, Roy racing from his goal to deny the winger. However, two minutes later Motherwell did take the lead and it was a well-worked goal. Derek Townsley raced down the wing to receive a terrific through ball from Adams and he cooly drew Roy before slotting through his legs. Soon afterwards Motherwell made their third substitution when McCulloch left to be replaced by Nicholas. Motherwell almost made it two when Townsley’s low ball was missed by Turner with Hammel also missing out. However, Elliott connected at the back post but sent his shot wide. Townsley was enjoying himself a great deal and he saw a shot well blocked by Walker for another corner. Stuart Elliot became Motherwell’s next booking for a push on McGowan which again seemed rather harsh given what had been allowed beforehand.
Turner stole 10 yards though he needn’t have bothered as Kerr drove way over the bar. With three minutes to go Andy Goram came to the rescue with a tremendous tip round the post from McGarry’s header as he rose to power in a cross from Kerr. Then Nicolson made a break to supply Dagnogo but there was Strong to sent the ball behind. Motherwell broke out of defence with Townsley racing to the 18-yard line but rather unselfishley he squared for Adams whose shot was cleared by McGowan. There was another yellow card, unsurprisingly for Motherwell, when Ramsay was booked for allegedly kicking the ball away. With time running out Roy looked to have carried Twaddle’s lob out of the box but play was waved on. However, that was that and Motherwell recorded their fourth win over Saint Mirren this season.
Full-Time St Mirren 0 Motherwell 1
Match report by Ricky Mullen