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Motherwell 3, St Mirren 3
Match Date: Sunday, May 20 2001
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 4,158
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):
Woods, Corrigan, Townsley, Kemble, Hammell, Pearson, Harvey (Nicholas 54),
Lasley, Ramsay (McFadden 57), Twaddle, Elliott.
Subs not used: Connelly, Ouiefio, Okoli.
Motherwell scorers: Lasley (3), Elliott (73pen, 77).
Yellow Cards: Elliott
WICKED WILLIE'S AT IT AGAIN
Motherwell 3 Saint Mirren 3
ANOTHER WOEFUL REFEREEING PERFORMANCE From Willie Young looked to have given Saint Mirren a winning Premier departure at Fir Park on Saturday. Motherwell, however, refused to lie down and battled back from 1-3 behind to earn a point as the campaign came to a close.
The Fir Parkers were positive right from the off and forced an early corner. Twaddle curled to the back post but Turner cleared to McGarry and he raced away upfield. Hammel halted his progress and from the free-kick Townsley was on hand to hinder Rudden enough and see the ball go behind. A minute later Motherwell took the lead. Superb work by man-of-the-moment Stuart Elliott took him to the by-line and the cutback was swept high into the net by Keith Lasley for his first goal senior goal in claret and amber. Shortly afterwards a cross from Twaddle was deflected behind by Bowman though the corner came to nothing. Rudden then had to knock behind Lasley's cross and from the flag-kick both Kemble and Townsley saw shots desperately blocked and eventually cleared.
It was one-way traffic and Roy had to make a superb take from Turner's header back after Pearson had flicked on Lasley's cross. A rare visiting break had Fenton scurrying upfield. His cross was met by McGarry but his connection was weak, as was the follow-up from Quitongo and the chance was gone. Motherwell in turn burst upfield with Twaddle running clear onto Pearson's well struck pass but the winger chose to hit early and the ball sailed over Roy's bar. A soft free kick, given when Lasley won the ball from Turner, gave the latter the chance to strike but Woods held well. Turner then barged Elliott in the box but despite the valid claims a penalty was no doubt least likely in Young's eyes. Elliott recovered, however, and gathered the loose ball before sending it across the face of goal where there was no touch forthcoming. A break into the box from McPhee looked to have given the visitors a rare chance but Townsley made a brilliant tackle to clear.
Saint Mirren then gained a dangerous free-kick when Corrigan brought down Fenton on the run but the drive from Nicholson went well past. In keeping with his inconsistent Refereeing display Young then ignored a blatant foul by Fenton on Hammel just outside the box, waving play on. Seconds later a rash tackle from the back on Elliott by Rudden was not deemed bookable though Motherwell were no doubt thankful to have been given an overdue free-kick. Stephen Pearson is beginning to catch the eye in the midfield and he was unfortunate not to score when latching onto Harvey's chip and seeing his lob saved by Roy. Motherwell were still doing the majority of the attacking and went close again just before the half-hour. Hammel was fouled by Nicholson but, as play was waved on he managed to shrug off his opposite number to cut back towards Twaddle though Turner was on hand to clear. More good defending by Townsley saw him head Rudden's dangerous cross away, though from the throw Harvey was forced to block Fenton's cross behind.
Slack marking at the back then cost Motherwell dear as the smallest man on the park, Quitongo, rose unchallenged to deftly head Saint Mirren level. More slack defending then gave Fenton a shot at goals but he drove Quitongo's pass wide. A rare shot from Benito Kemble looked to be heading goalwards until the back of McPhee deflected the ball wide and Roy made a comfortable take. From the visiting keeper's kick McGarry raced through to the 18-yard-line but his shot went wildly over. The visitors were finishing the half stronger, McGarry set up Fenton but his touch was poor allowing Woods to gather. Motherwell then almost took the lead again from an unlikely source. A superb long pass from Townsley picked out Twaddle on the run and his cross from the by-line was chested down by Turner with Roy only just able to get back and save. Turner was then dispossessed by Corrigan and his curling cross was well taken by the alert Roy. Just before the break a poor pass-back from Corrigan was pounced upon by Quitongo though he was unable to take advantage, Townsley doing enough to end the danger.
Half-Time Motherwell 1 Saint Mirren 1
The Fir Parkers began the second half the way they'd began the first by pushing forward from the start of play. Hammel sent Pearson into the box but his shot was deflected into the path of Hammel but his header went wide. Referee Young was then in his element when a moment of controversy gave Saint Mirren the lead. Townsley clearly won the ball fairly from Quitongo who made a dramatic dive over the ball. Young immediately decided otherwise and, despite protests from the Motherwell players, gave the free kick some 25 yards out in front of goal. The first take was driven way over by Kerr but Young then booked Elliott for an alleged breaking of the wall which was difficult to see exactly how. Fenton then strode up and his curling effort beat Woods in at the near post.
Motherwell were stung by this and tried to hit back right away. Hammel's cross was cut out only just by the outstretched leg of Walker, and as the ball came back in Elliott headed off Kerr for a corner but amazingly this was not given. Another ridiculous decision followed when Quitongo was allowed to niggle away at Kemble's ankles, the ball breaking for Kerr but he drove over. Motherwell broke away with Twaddle forcing a corner off Turner but it came to nothing. Elliott was then fouled by McGarry but incredibly Young thought otherwise and gave the free kick, inexplicably, to Saint Mirren. The Fir Parkers then took off Harvey and replaced him with Stephen Nicholas. Eleven minutes into the half and the visitors took an unlikely 3-1 lead. Quitongo made space on the edge of the box after being picked out by McGarry and he wasted no time in slotting the ball in at the near post. Motherwell responded by taking off Ramsay and replacing him with McFadden. An error by Walker then presented the ball to Pearson but his pass to Elliott saw a very close call for offside given.
Quitongo was going all-out for his hat trick and it took a brilliantly timed block by Townsley to stop the shot on the edge of the 18. There was a flashpoint when Lasley tackled Nicholson late. A free kick for sure but Nicholson's retaliation should have carried a yellow at least, though Young decided words were enough. Motherwell continued to press forward and Elliott's cross was deflected behind for a corner, or so it should have been, the Linesman failing to spot the ball going behind off McGarry giving the visitors the throw. The ball ran loose and was picked up by Corrigan who fired in a shot which Roy did well to hold. A terrific piece of skill from McFadden then nearly brought a goal for Motherwell when he turned on the edge of the box and fired narrowly over the bar. However, Motherwell did pull a goal back on 71 minutes. Twaddle forced a corner and as he swung the ball in Elliott's header was punched away on the line by Turner. Referee Young seemed extremely reluctant to send Turner off but had no alternative. Stuart Elliott strode up and confidently struck the ball in near the post. Saint Mirren replaced Fenton with Robinson to shore up the defence but it didn't work.
Five minutes later Motherwell were level. James McFadden deserved goal but he was unlucky to see Roy brilliantly parry his fierce shot. The ball spun wide to Elliott and he drilled the ball home from a tight angle to send the Motherwell support wild. It was backs-to-the-wall for Saint Mirren now as Motherwell scented a victory which seemed unlikely just seven minutes previously. Twaddle almost picked out Elliott in the clear with Rudden knocking the ball behind. Pearson rose above the packed box but his header crept agonisingly wide. Saint Mirren broke upfield and Quitongo almost grabbed a hat trick when he rifled in shot which Woods did superbly to knock behind. It was the Fir Parkers who returned to the attack and Twaddle's wicked cross was only just cleared by Rudden.
Having a terrific match was Keith Lasley and he almost capped it with a second goal. Starting the move in his own half he received Elliott's pass but his turn and shot went only just over. Saint Mirren tried to break the tide by removing Fenton for McNight but it was relentless. Townsley found Elliott clear on Roy and it looked a sure-fire winner only for the junction of the crossbar and post to deny the winger whose superb shot deserved a goal. Elliott then went close again with a couple of flicks from McFadden passes as Motherwell looked set to take the points. Lasley, Townsley and Elliott all saw shots desperately blocked before Lasley curled a shot inches past with Twaddle, clear on the edge of the box, screaming for a pass. Right on full-time Twaddle clipped the ball in striking Walker on the arm but the penalty was refused. Referee Young then made the unusual, but perhaps wise, decision to blow for time whilst running towards the tunnel. Both teams came out for a round of applause with the Motherwell support sportingly showing appreciation for the visiting players.
Full-time Motherwell 3 Saint Mirren 3
Match Report by Ricky Mullen