Dundee Utd 1, Motherwell 1
Match Date: Saturday, August 12 2000
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 6,281
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Corrigan, Ange, Strong, Hammell, Townsley (Goodman), Harvey (Leitch),
Brannan, McMillan, Spencer, McCulloch.
Subs not used: Woods, Adams, Wood.
Motherwell scorer: Spencer (11).
LATE, LATE FLUKE PINS BACK 'WELL
Dundee United 1 Motherwell 1
A VERY FORTUITOUS GOAL In the last five minutes of normal play gave the home side a point, denying Motherwell their first win of the season. Despite controlling almost three-quarters of the match the Steelmen failed to finish off their hosts and suffered the late setback.
Dundee United, under new management, almost took the lead in the first minute but Paterson's cross, met by Thompson at the near post, went wide. Almost immediately Motherwell burst upfield and after good linking by Townsley and Corrigan, Spencer almost got on the end of the through ball. A weak pass-back by Hannah then forced Combe to boot the ball away from the alert Spencer at the expense of a throw. Harvey and Townsley combined to set Spencer for a cross which McCulloch met at the back post, though the header went over with the striker perhaps feeling he could have done better. Motherwell were the much more determined side and again went close when Townsley worked the ball to Spencer. The nippy striker chipped the ball in only for Combe to narrowly beat McCulloch and gather. McQuillan then saved his team by knocking Harvey's cross out as McCulloch looked to score. Oueifio then attempted an over-head kick from the corner but was harshly punished when he collided with De Vos and a free kick was awarded. However, Motherwell's pressure paid off when they deservedly took the lead after 11 minutes. Ged Brannan played a brilliant defence-splitting pass which picked out Spencer on the run, and he outsprinted De Vos to knock the ball past the desperate Combe and into the back of the net. United hit back when Thompson was free in the box to head De Vos's cross in but the ball went wide. Greg Strong then did well to beat Thompson to the ball and knock back for Goram, and the keeper then sent Motherwell back on the attack. Spencer sent McMillan clear only for the midfielder to stumble on the edge of the box and the ball was cleared. Another short pass-back, this time by De Vos, saw McCulloch nip in but his drive went inches past the far post. Ange Oueifio, deputising for the injured Benny Kemble, then did well to deny Thompson twice as he attempted to cross the ball from a dangerous position. Harvey burst up the park and he sent Spencer away only for the Linesman to flag somewhat questionably. McQuillan should have seen yellow when he brought down McCulloch out wide. The free kick, taken by Brannan, was then sent goal-wards by Spencer and his cross-cum-shot was tipped over by Combe. United were then given a somewhat controversial free-kick when the ball clearly played McMillan's arm on the edge of the box. The wall, however, did it's job and blocked the effort though as the ball spun wide United obtained another free-kick, which Goram took under pressure. A terrific ball by McMillan gave Harvey the chance to cross and whilst McCulloch's effort was blocked out, Brannan followed up and piled in a rasping shot from 30 yards which Combe did well to hold. Seconds later Hannah sent a 25-yard shot well past the far post. A superbly timed tackle by McQuillan stopped his team going two behind when Spencer latched onto Harvey's terrific through ball. The home side perhaps should have drawn level 10 minutes from the break when Mathie hooked the ball over the bar from 8 yards out, connecting with McQuillan's cross with Ouefio slow to cover. Soon after Motherwell should have doubled their advantage when a great ball from Spencer sent McMillan running towards the box. He was crowded out but the ball spun to McCulloch whose first-time shot was well saved by Combe, though with Townsley in support he would perhaps have been better served squaring the ball. Hannah hit back for United when he connected with another McQuillan cross but again his effort hit the upright of the stand. As half-time approached the visiting fans were up in arms as Combe cleared the ball from hand with his feet well outside his box, the Referee and his assistant, in good position, failing to spot the offence. Oueifio then did well to block Aljofree's cross with Mathie in a menacing position in the box.
Half-time Dundee United 0 Motherwell 1
It took a superb save by Combe to deny Paul Harvey within seconds of the re-start, the Motherwell man sending in an angled shot which looked netbound until Combe intervened. The ball went for a corner, though firstly Fernandez and then McCracken cleared. A De Vos slip then gave Spencer the chance to cross but his ball for McCulloch was too deep and out. United then took off Fernandez and replaced him with Easton. United pushed forward and it was Thompson who went close with a dipping shot after a run by Paterson. The ball then fell for Hannah but his over-head kick went by. The home side were enjoying a spell of pressure, Paterson's cross coming off Townsley and running for a corner with the home crowd screaming for a penalty. De Vos headed the ball goalwards but Goram saved easily. Motherwell then replaced the ineffective Townsley with Goodman, making his first start of the season after injury. Spencer gathered a loose ball and looked set to run towards goal until McCracken pulled him back, play being waved on by Referee Young when a foul should have been given. McCracken then performed the exact same foul on Goodman and once again Young failed to stop play, that was until a rather innocuous challenge by Spencer on Buchan was punished. Motherwell Boss Billy Davies then gave a debut to Scott Leitch with Paul Harvey making way. A dangerous cross by Mathie was well cleared by Brannan who set McMillan away. His cross was cleared in the nick of time by McQuillan with Spencer in close attendance. The visiting fans again had cause to complain when John Spencer, clearly running from an onside position to go clear as Hammel passed through, was flagged off by a trigger-happy linesman. The flow of play was again stopped, United taking off Mathie for McConalogue. Some great play by Don Goodman gave Spencer the chance to set up McCulloch, but in the end the striker's weak shot was held by Combe. The home keeper sent the ball deep and as the cross came in Easton headed way over. There was a late, late challenge by Aljofree which should have carried a card, McCulloch lucky to escape serious injury and Aljofree fortunate Referee Young had apparently left his cards at home. Hannah then went off to be replaced by Heaney as the home side tried to draw level. It took a good tip over by Goram to deny a long-range shot by McConalogue with Goodman doing well to clear the corner. He set Spencer away whom in turn sent McMillan racing to the by-line, Easton blocking for a corner. Both McCulloch and Easton then required treatment as they collided chasing a high Brannan cross, Combe gathering the ball as it spun high towards goal. Combe then had to be sharp to race from his goal to prevent Spencer gathering Ouefio's through ball. With four minutes of regulation time remaining, however, United did draw level. Following a good move on the right Paterson, intending a header back across goal for Thompson, saw his floating knock drift over Goram and in at the back post. Motherwell tried to hit back and it was De Vos to the rescue to deny Spencer. Play swung to the other end and it was Goram who held a drive from Paterson. Suddenly it was end-to-end with Combe making an excellent save to deny Lee McCulloch who shot from just inside the box. Scott Leitch then saw a shot deflected for a corner as it was Motherwell who finished the stronger. Hammel picked out McCulloch and the striker should have scored but instead drove over the bar. Just at time-up Corrigan fired in a 25-yard shot narrowly over the bar.
Full-time Dundee United 1 Motherwell 1
Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)