Albion Rovers 0, Motherwell 2
| Match Date: Tuesday, July 10 2001 |
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| Competition: Pre-season friendly | |
| Attendance: a couple of hundred at most! | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Brown, Corrigan, Dempsie, Strong, Hammell, Twaddle, Martinez, Cosgrove,
Elliott, Wood (Fallon), Nicholas.
Subs not used: Connolly, McDonald, Clarke, Wilson.
Motherwell scorers: Twaddle (25), Elliott (60).
Yellow Cards: None
WELL KICK-OFF WITH A WIN
Albion Rovers 0 Motherwell 2
A GOAL IN EACH HALF Was enough to give Motherwell a winning start to the pre-season schedule at Cliftonhill.
The first of the action centred on the visiting goal when Cosgrove brought McMullan of Rovers crashing to the ground. McCormick took the effort but his attempted chip was way wide. The Coatbridge outfit then had another opportunity when Corrigan halted the progress of McMullan though this time Strong cleared the free-kick downfield. Nicholas picked the ball up and played a neat one-two with Hammel only for Easton to halt the play with a timely interception. The ball flew all the way upfield to Brown in the Motherwell goal. His poor kick almost presented McCormick with a chance but he fluffed his attempt at a lob. The home side claimed a penalty when McMullan fell dramatically to the ground as Strong cleared a corner though the challenge looked fair. Brown kicked from hand direct to Twaddle, the winger showing brilliant control and his chip forward ran only just ahead of Nicholas into the arms of Fahey. A superb tackle from Easton then denied Elliott as he looked set to bear down on goal, play then swinging to the other end were Brown was almost caught out delaying a clearance. The ball struck McCormick but fortunately ran behind. Rovers then came close when Waldie's pass found McMullan in the box and he fired in a low shot which Brown did well to turn round the post. Fahey in the home goal had to look sharp when Elliott's chip came off the head of Tait, the ball looping towards goal with Fahey scrambling to stop the ball at the second attempt. Motherwell had a claim for a penalty waved away when Twaddle appeared to be barged off the ball by Tait, and seconds later came close when Fahey got down well to hold Cosgrove's 18-yard effort. Another appeal for a penalty was denied when Cosgrove's chip struck the arm of Waldie. However, after 25 minutes Motherwell took the lead with a piece of clinical finishing. A terrific run by Stuart Elliott took him to the edge of the box and his cutback was swept high into the net by Kevin Twaddle. It could have been two soon after when Twaddle and Corrigan combined though the header from Elliott was uncharacteristically high. Rovers then had a chance to level when Brown's attempted punch clear was gathered by Silvestro and it took a superbly timed block by Corrigan to stop the shot. A loose pass by Dempsie in defence presented Silvestro with another chance but his chip went well over. Roberto Martinez was having a great debut, passing crisply and running things in the middle of the park and some fine skill from the Spaniard gave Hammel the chance to progress towards the box. However, the cross from the defender was poor with Fahey gathering unchallenged. Despite the bumpy pitch Twaddle was making some good runs down the wing and from one such burst he set up Martinez whose quick turn and shot was well held by Fahey. His kick-out found it's way to Waldie and making ground out wide his cross was knocked on by Strong to McMullan but again Corrigan was on hand with a great block. Just before the break Corrigan burst forward to supply Wood. He turned and played in Twaddle but the chip was narrowly wide.
Half-Time Albion Rovers 0 Motherwell 1
Albion made several changes at the break, four to be exact though Motherwell chose to start the second half the way they had finished the first. It should have been level inside the first minute when McCormick somehow managed to head over in front of goal after former Motherwell man Stirling had headed on a deep cross. Lumsden then up-ended Nicholas on the run to give Motherwell a free kick which was taken rather too quickly, though seconds later Lumsden again brought Nicholas down which in a more competitive game would have seen a card produced. Cosgrove picked the ball up and his fine shot was deflected over by Lumsden for a rather wasted corner. Strong was loose with a pass in his own half allowing Waldie to gather. As both challenged Waldie fell to the ground and this was enough to convince Referee Somers of a free-kick award. Stirling, whose career at Fir Park saw few highlights bar one brilliant free-kick on his league debut, almost scored with the take though Brown did well to touch the ball round the post. Rovers then made another change, McKenzie for Silvestro. A superb pass from Martinez then sent Nicholas clear on the wing but the eventual cross for Wood was expertly dealt with, Lumsden nicking in to do the needful. A tussle involving Strong and Diack looked to have been fairly won in the Motherwell man's favour but again Referee Somers chose otherwise. Stirling curled the ball in but Brown was on hand to gather. Young Brian Dempsie was doing well in defence for Motherwell and he sent Corrigan upfield. Picking out Twaddle his dangerous cross was headed behind by Tait ahead of Nicholas though much to he amazement of the Fir Parkers a goal kick was given. Just on the hour mark Motherwell doubled their advantage. Terrific build-up play, with Martinez at the heart of things, saw Nicholas make a good run out wide. His pass found Elliott and striding into the box the Northern Irish International made no mistake with a class finish. This prompted another change from Rovers, Rankin replacing McCormick. Motherwell had a good opportunity to make it three when a clever chip forward from Martinez sent Elliott clear but the ball held up in the bumpy pitch as Elliott tried to control and the chance was gone. Twaddle then sent Nicholas wide and his cut-back for Wood was sent inches past. It was Wood's last contribution of the match as he was then replaced by Fallon. An important clearance from Dempsie then set up another Motherwell attack. Martinez sent Elliott clear but the winger chose to shoot with other Motherwell men in support and the ball went wide. Motherwell were beginning to take control and Twaddle combined with Elliott to send Corrigan wide. His cross fell to Nicholas but a poor first touch allowed Fahey to hold. Fallon then ran onto a long clearance from Brown and his neat turn and shot wasn't far off target. Nicholas was next to test the Rovers goal though this time Fahey was on hand to save. Another Motherwell break from Elliott presented Nicholas with a great chance but again Nicholas wasn't decisive enough and he delayed long enough to allow Lumsden to block. An attempted chip from Martinez was held easily by Fahey then great work from Elliott sent Hammel into the box. With only Fahey to beat he chose to knock the ball to the side for Cosgrove but somehow the midfielder managed to balloon the ball over from 8 yards out in front of an open goal. As time began to run out Martinez had another shot well saved.
Full-Time Albion Rovers 0 Motherwell 2
Match Report by Ricky Mullen