Kilmarnock 0, Motherwell 1

Match Date: Saturday, January 25 2003
Competition: Scottish Cup 3rd Round
Attendance: 6,882
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Partridge, Hammell (Cowan 80), Lasley (Fagan 86), Leitch, Adams, Pearson, Clarkson, McFadden.
Subs not used: Woods, Ramsey, Clarke.

Motherwell scorer: McFadden (35 pen).

Yellow Cards: Clarkson, McFadden.

WELL UP FOR THE CUP

Scottish Cup Third Round

Kilmarnock  0     Motherwell  1

A FIRST-HALF PENALTY GAVE Motherwell a deserved win that saw them progress to a Fourth Round tie at Clyde. Roared on by a very large and vocal travelling support the Fir Parkers looked in little trouble once ahead in a game of few chances.

Causing problems for the home defence throughout was David Clarkson and within the first minutes his pressing saw Innes under severe pressure and he only just managed to use Marshall to clear. Clarkson then was just an inch from connecting with Adams's long ball as the youngster's pace had the Rugby Park men struggling. Kilmarnock's response was a shot from McLaren which was as high and wide as the taker. He did go a bit closer when he went upfield and his low cross along the six-yard box failed to find a taker. Innes then took Clarkson out of the play but Referee Underhill decided to play the advantage and although Pearson was in a promising position he failed to take advantage. Likewise, Referee Underhill failed to punish Innes. Motherwell's creative spark was James McFadden, and his mazy run caused all sorts of problems but with both Lasley and Clarkson available he took on one too many and was crowded out. The home response was another dangerous low cross from McLaren but again there were no forwards to connect. From the clearance McFadden was hit hard by Dillon but there was no card for what was a late challenge. Showing tremendous defensive duties was Keith Lasley, and he made a superb block to stop Boyd and the clearance had Shields struggling to find Marshall. There was a scare for Motherwell when Innes had a header which looked to be looping towards goal cleared by Leitch with Dubordeau beaten. Another late challenge, and again Innes was the culprit on Adams, failed to move Referee Underhill. However, there was a quite ridiculous booking for Clarkson when he stumbled over Fulton as he lay on the ground. McLaren then dramatically fell under minimal Hammel pressure and gained a free kick. An error from Dubordeau then almost presented McLaren with a goal but the French keeper recovered brilliantly to palm the ball to the side where Boyd was already offside. More mazy running from McFadden had the home defence in knots but again he took on too many. Seconds later McFadden slipped Adams a pass and though Marshall was out quickly the ball broke wide just beyond Pearson who looked set to score. Innes was at last booked when another bad challenge had Clarkson writhing in agony. From the free kick Partridge's back header was saved. Another run from McFadden ended when he eventually lost balance after four separate fouls, none of which were deemed worthy of a free kick. The home side then forced successive corners and from the second a header form Dillon was well wide. Motherwell then went close when McFadden set up Lasley and the midfielder, returning from injury, fired in an angled drive which Marshall held well. Pearson was then denied a goal when a vital block from Mahood took the ball away. Innes was treading thin ice when he again fouled McFadden, the free kick cleared just as Pearson was set to pounce. Dubordeau hadn't much to do but he was called upon when Di Giacomo whipped in a shot and the French keeper held the effort. A minute later Motherwell went ahead. A brilliant piece of skill from Clarkson seen him ghost past Shields and race into the box. He was clearly in goal-scoring position and Shields brought him down, resulting in a penalty. Strangely there was no card whatsoever; Shields very lucky, with McFadden striding up to expertly slot home the penalty with ease. Kilmarnock tried to hit back and won a corner which McLaren completely wasted, curling it out of play. McLaren the appeared to elbow Pearson which the Referee failed to notice though Mr Underhill wasn't slow to award a free kick when McLaren then lost possession. There was a clash between McFadden and Dargo which was surely worthy of only a talking-too though somehow Referee Underhill chose to give the customary booking to McFadden with not a word in the direction of the home player. However, there was a booking for Dillon when he sent McFadden flying again. The Motherwell man picked himself up and curled in an effort which Marshall managed to reach.

Half time     Kilmarnock  0     Motherwell  1

Motherwell resumed on the offensive right from the off in the second half with Partridge sending a long ball for Clarkson though Innes cut the ball out, Adams following up to force the corner. Marshall flapped at the ball as it came in with Pearson just missing out, and although Adams was able to secure a second corner it came to nothing. Kilmarnock were reduced to ten men when Innes produced a nasty tackle on Clarkson from the back. He didn't wait around to be shown the second yellow and was already running off the park when Referee Underhill showed the full set at him. McFadden gathered possession and he was only just short with a pass which would have set Lasley clear. He did connect a minute later and Lasley saw his shot drift wide. A neat one-two involving Clarkson and McFadden had Shields scrambling to clear for a corner. The home side then made a change, removing Dargo in favour of McLaughlin. There was another scare for the home fans when Marshall again flapped and missed a cross but there were no Motherwell forwards on hand to convert. It was good pressing from Motherwell, and another one-two involving Pearson and McFadden only just failed to produce. Kilmarnock responded with a flick by Di Giacomo held by Dubordeau. It was Di Giacomo's last involvement, being replaced by Murray. A run by Flower then took him right to the by-line but Dubordeau held the cross. During a Motherwell break Kinniburgh was taken right out of play by Boyd but even when play stopped there was no card, advantage seeing Adams having a shot cleared almost on the line by Shields. An important interception from McLaren stopped Clarkson going through, and minutes later there was a yellow cad when McLaren clattered Kinniburgh off the ball, clearly lucky not to see red once again. In order to prevent this his Manager then took him off, bringing on McSwegan in his place. His first involvement was a 20-yard shot which went wide. Motherwell then won a corner but allowed Kilmarnock to break with speed. However, great backtracking from Adams stopped the danger allowing Dubordeau to clear. Motherwell almost doubled their lead when a wild slice from Dillon crept just past his own far post. It took a superb save from Dubordeau to keep the home side out when, connecting with a Murray pass, Fowler fired in a shot which was palmed away. Motherwell then made a change, Hammel replaced by Cowan. There was then a booking for Lasley who saw yellow for a rather innocuous tackle on Murray. That was the last action of the day for Lasley who went off for Fagan. Kilmarnock were pushing up though Motherwell didn't help themselves by sitting back unnecessarily. Partridge expertly blocked a shot from Boyd with Kinniburgh mopping up. McFadden then raced away with the ball and he made his way into the box and saw his shot saved, though with support he perhaps could have done better. Right in the last minute the home fans rather ridiculously claimed penalty when the ball clearly struck Kinniburgh on the thigh and was cleared. It was all too much for Murray and he was booked when he couldn't keep his mouth closed. The full time whistle was greeted with loud cheers from the large Motherwell support.

Full time     Kilmarnock  0     Motherwell  1

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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