Motherwell 2, Kilmarnock 2
| Match Date: Sunday, August 12 2001 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 5,188 | |
| Motherwell Team (3-5-2): |
Brown, Ready (Forrest 40), Corrigan, Strong, Twaddle, Martinez, Leitch (Adams
45), Dow, Hammell, Tarrant (Elliott 62), Kelly.
Subs not used: Woods, Cosgrove.
Motherwell scorers: Dow (13), Elliott (90).
Yellow Cards: Ready, Leitch, Martinez, Forrest, Elliott.
HEAD MAN STU GETS WELL ON THE LEVEL
Motherwell 2 Kilmarnock 2
A SUPERB DIVING HEADER BY Stuart Elliott with just seconds left rescued a point for Motherwell in a bad-tempered clash at Fir Park. The visitors were a man short for over 50 minutes but almost snatched a victory against the odds.
Within the first few seconds former QPR man Ngonge endeared himself to the home support with a dramatic fall as Strong appeared to win the ball. From the free kick Ngonge himself sent the ball well wide. Soon after the visitors pushed upfield again and from Di Giacomo's ball Canero almost nipped in, Martinez making a great clearance after some good backtracking. Another break saw Mitchell race away but his pass was knocked out of play by the alert Dow. However, Motherwell failed to head the early warnings and it was Kilmarnock who took the lead. Pizzo slotted through for the Mitchell and although his shot banged off the far post the unmarked Ngonge was on hand to slam the ball home. The game's first bookings came within minutes of each other and both were for first-time challenges, Scott Leitch and then Karl Ready falling victim to Referee Brown's fussiness. Ready's challenge was clumsy but perhaps a booking was a bit harsh. A long ball from Strong saw Kelly lay-off for Leitch who shot wide, though the late tackle from Mitchell was ignored by the Referee. Motherwell drew level with a well-worked goal just seven minutes after going behind. Brown's kick was controlled by Kelly who then supplied Twaddle out wide. The tall winger curled a great ball to the far post and Dow, on the angle, looped a header over Marshall and into the net. The visitors tried to hit back and were given an opportunity when, despite winning the ball, Leitch was punished after challenging Pizzo. The free kick was struck by Ngonge but he drove over the bar. Stevie Hammel then pushed forward for Motherwell and he was hauled back by Innes. Unfortunately, though, the only person who thought otherwise was the Referee who waved play on. Ngonge and Strong then tussled for the ball and what looked like a foul on Strong turned into a corner for Kilmarnock. Canero laid off for Pizzo and his shot drifted inches past. Mitchell then sent Innes into the box and it took a well-timed interception from Strong to stop the danger. Kilmarnock were still looking the more likely and a snapshot from Mahood was well held by Brown. The first visitor into the Ref's book was Ngonge, and according to the gestures of Referee Brown the persistent fouling had been at last noted. Innes then followed his teammate after a rash tackle on Hammel. The fullback picked himself up and swung in a dangerous cross which was headed home by Tarrant, though the striker had strayed offside. The home support were up in arms when a blatant dive by Canero conned the Referee. An amazing recovery saw Canero take the free kick himself but Tarrant was on hand to clear. The game boiled over 8 minutes from the break when Ngonge lost control of the ball and as Hammel picked up launched himself studs-first into the defender. During the pushing and shoving which followed Mahood and Martinez were seen to be at the heart of things though only the latter saw yellow, whilst Ngonge saw red. Karl Ready was getting involved in things and a foul on Mahood saw Dindeleux rather unnecessarily appeal for a red card to Referee Brown. This was to be Ready's last involvement and he was substituted to protect himself, Eddie Forrest making his competitive debut for Motherwell in Ready's place. Motherwell went close near the break when Dow set up Corrigan and his 30-yard drive went narrowly over. Mitchell should have been next in the book for a reckless challenge on Martinez but the free kick which was awarded was wasted.
Half-time Motherwell 1 Kilmarnock 1
The Fir Parkers eventually made a change at the start of the second half, Leitch replaced by Adams after what seemed like an age before the Referee appeared. A neat one-two involving Martinez and Dow was broken up by a very late Dindeleux challenge but the Referee, still no doubt thinking about his half-time cuppa, missed the tackle. Some good work by Tarrant and Adams saw Twaddle swing in a dangerous cross though Kelly was unable to direct his header goalwards. The visiting fans thought their team had taken the lead after Di Giacomo had wrestled the ball from Strong and netted, the far side linesman spotting the offence and stopping play. On the hour mark Kilmarnock forced a corner when Forrest knocked behind Di Giacomo's pass. Mitchell swung the ball in and it was firstly Strong and then Adams who headed goal-bound headers from Hessey and Innes respectively away. Motherwell then took off the tiring Tarrant and replaced him with the spring of Elliott. The visitors again threatened when Di Giacomo burst into the box but a superbly timed tackle from Forrest cleared the danger. Di Giacomo was becoming deeply involved and he pounced on an error from Martinez though Strong stopped any further problems. Pizzo of the visitors then left to be replaced by Reilly, a former Motherwell man. It was that man Di Giacomo again soon after, spinning in the box to fire in a shot which Brown did brilliantly to parry away, Corrigan completing the clearance. A two-footed challenge by Hay on Brown as he gathered a through ball brought uproar from the Motherwell fans but again Referee Brown kept quiet. Stuart Elliott's first tackle, a rather innocuous trip on Innes, brought the Northern Irish International a booking. Elliott almost put Motherwell ahead soon after, Dindeleux of Kilmarnock making the important challenge as Dow's ball came in. Kilmarnock then made a further change, Mclaren replacing Di Giacomo. Good chasing by Kelly kept the pressure up on the Kilmarnock defence with Dindeleux and then Marshall lucky to escape. With 8 minutes to go Kilmarnock took the lead thanks to some poor home defending. McLaren took the ball to the by-line and spotting Mitchell in splendid isolation picked him out, the latter stroking the ball home. Derek Adams then had a couple of rather tame headers as Motherwell attempted to hit back again. Eddie Forrest marked his debut with a yellow card for bringing down Mitchell out wide. The visitors made a late, late change with Mahood making way for Fowler, but it was to be Motherwell who had the last say. Martinez sent Twaddle racing to the line and the winger's inch-perfect cross was bulleted home by Elliott to send the home fans wild with delight.
Full-time Motherwell 2 Kilmarnock 2
Match Report by Ricky Mullen