Kilmarnock 0, Motherwell 3
| Match Date: Saturday, August 17 2002 |
|
| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 6,164 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Woods, Ramsay, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell (Kinniburgh 42),
Lasley, Adams, Leitch (Fagan 45), Pearson, McFadden, Lehmann.
Subs not used: Dubourdeau, McDonald, Jack.
Motherwell scorers: Ramsay (67), Pearson (84), McFadden (86).
Yellow Cards: Pearson, McFadden, Partridge, Kinniburgh.
THREE OFF AS RUGBY PARK LIVES UP TO ITS NAME
Kilmarnock 0 Motherwell 3
THERE WERE INCREDIBLE SCENES at Rugby Park as Motherwell collected their first win of the season. The home side had three players sent off and there were also ten bookings as Referee Alan Freeland went card-crazy. However, Kilmarnock could not complain as they paved their own downfall.
Mahood of Kilmarnock was on hand early on to prevent Corrigan's header reaching McFadden before he fouled Hammel to concede a free kick. Terrific skill from James McFadden then took him to he by line and he breezed past Shields only for Locke to recover possession with an important interception. The home side came close when Woods failed to collect a Shields cross but as the ball fell to former Fir Park target McSwegan his shot was well blocked by Woods and cleared away. The Fir Parkers responded with a great ball from Lasley to Ramsay whose cross in was only just an inch or so over the head of Lehmann who looked poised to nod home. Hessey was the first in the book for the first of many quite disgraceful tackles on Stevie Hammel. Indeed, Hessey was probably lucky to remain on the park. From the free kick Leitch picked out Lehmann who saw his header well saved. Freeland then failed to book Sanjuan who deliberately tugged the jersey of McFadden. The home side were then awarded a free kick when Adams pushed Fulton over 20 yards out.
Kilmarnock wasted a good opportunity when Dindeleux crossed deep and as Partridge failed to clear McSwegan headed wide at the near post. Hammel then required further treatment when it was Locke's turn to crudely tackle him from behind, earning the former Hearts man a yellow card, though again he was lucky to stay on the park for as long as he did. A great tackle from Doguie Ramsay then stopped McLaren running clear as the Linesman failed to spot McSwegan offside. The ball came back in and Dindeleux tried an angled shot which sailed well past and only just inside the corner flag. A poor pass-back from Martin Corrigan then almost put Woods in deep trouble but Corrigan got back to tackle superbly and prevent McSwegan going in. The inconsistency of Freeland was beginning to show when he booked Pearson for tugging away at Fulton though previously having ignored the pull committed by Sanjuan. Only a terrific block by Marshall kept the scoreline blank when, having collected Ramsay's great long ball, McFadden got the break of the ball and shot low. More great play between McFadden and Leitch almost got a breakthrough with Locke clearing just in time. There was an off-the-ball incident missed by Referee Freeland when McSwegan took a swipe at Corrigan. The tackles were flying in on Stevie Hammel and another, this time by Shields, somehow only earned a free kick when surely the two-footed lunge should have carried more. McSwegan did see yellow for a late tackle on Leitch soon afterwards.
Motherwell earned a free kick a minute later when, following a wild off-the-ball foul by McLaren on Leitch went without any further punishment. From the free kick Partridge flicked on and Lehmann only just failed to connect. Kilmarnock were next to threaten when Hammel failed to clear a Hessey cross. The ball fell for McSwegan but a combination of Partridge and Woods cleared the danger. Superb play involving Hammel and Lehmann fed Pearson but his final ball to Adams found the Motherwell man only just offside. McLaren was again the subject of an off-the-ball incident, again on Leitch, but once more neither Freeland nor his Linesman spotted this, or a Dindeleux push on Lehmann near the box. The Fir Parkers had a valid penalty claim ignored when Lasley was flattened inside the box by Dindeleux. Kilmarnock swept forward and a one two involving Hessey and McLaren almost paid dividends until Partridge with a superb clearance stopped his progress. It was then the turn of Dindeleux to make an equally important clearance to prevent McFadden going clear on Pearsons' pass. There was uproar when McLaren's quite awful tackle on Hammel left the young fullback writhing in agony and he was stretchered off shortly afterwards. Amazingly Referee Freeland only booked McLaren who was indeed fortunate to stay on the park. Motherwell brought on Kinniburgh to replace Hammel who was taken straight for treatment. McLaren continued to walk the tightrope as he engaged in some unnecessary verbals with the visiting fans, this in full view of the watching Freeland. There was a booking for McFadden who, in being over-exuberant in kicking the ball back to a home player for a throw was deemed to have committed dissent. Right on half-time McLaren was late on Partridge but play continued.
Half-Time Kilmarnock 0 Motherwell 0
The Fir Parkers began the second half with a further change, Captain Scott Leitch being replaced by Sean Fagan. The first chance fell to Kilmarnock with Mahood's header from a cross by Locke being easily held by Woods. Motherwell responded with McFadden winning a corner. Lehmann headed in only for Dindeleux to clear. The game exploded a minute later when Locke, who had won possession from Adams, deliberately elbowed the Motherwell man in the face as he attempted to tackle back. There could be little in the way of complaints and things were to go from bad to worse for the Rugby Park outfit. Great play from McFadden and Ramsay almost created an opening only for Sanjuan to make the interception. Motherwell continued to press and seconds after McFadden had forced another corner Kilmarnock were reduced to nine men when McLaren, in an sheer act of folly, verbally abused the Referee and received a second yellow card for dissent, and was promptly sent from the field of play. Both he and his Manager could shoulder the blame for this one. From the corner Corrigan fired in a rasping 25-yarder which Marshall only just smothered at his near post. Motherwell then received another booking when Partridge was late with his tackle on McSwegan.
Kilmarnock made an immediate substitution with Hay replaced by Canero. The Fir Parkers continued to take the game to their nine-man opponents and had another shout for a penalty kick ignored when, from the corner, Lehmann appeared to have been fouled by Marshall as he scrambled to gather the ball. A further substitution by Kilmarnock saw the hobbling McSwegan, stricken by cramp, to off to be replaced by Dargo. Motherwell were continuing to press for the opener. Lehmann won a corner which Partridge miss-hit in front of goals allowing Hessey to sweep the ball away. The home fans were screaming for a red card when Fagan, in an attempt to get the ball, fell awkwardly bringing down Dargo in the process near the box. He was yellow-carded though even that was perhaps unfortunate. It took a vital saving tackle from Sanjuan to stop Ramsay from pulling the trigger 16 yards out but despite the pressure Kilmarnock almost took the lead a minute later. Woods had to produce a terrific one-handed save to deny Dargo at the expense of a corner. However, the opening goal did come shortly afterwards and it was well worth waiting for. The ball broke at the edge of the box and Ramsay met it on the edge of the box before drilling a fierce low shot beyond Marshall for the first Motherwell goal. An instinctive save from Stevie Woods then kept Motherwell ahead when he held Mahoods' close-range effort. It could've been two a minute later when Pearson superbly made the by line but his cross was headed wide by Lehmann. Then, following a Dindeleux foul on Lehmann, Fagan drove a shot not far over.
Again Kilmarnock, despite being reduced to nine men, came close. Once more it was Woods to the rescue as he brilliantly tipped Sanjuan's curling effort round the post. The home fans screamed for a penalty when Dargo fell in the box though it appeared there was no contact whatsoever from Kinniburgh. A further change saw Mahood replaced by Boyd for the homesters. Within seconds they had another opportunity when Dargo missed a cross when it looked easier to net, and as the ball returned shortly afterwards Woods got down well to hold a drive from Dargo. The Kilmarnock striker then should have been booked for a late, kick at Corrigan. Motherwell had ridden the Kilmarnock storm and began to re-assert themselves. Ramsay broke forward and his lay-off for Lehmann was blocked by Shields. Again Dargo was late with a challenge on Kinniburgh but the defender should good composure and seconds later did well to stop Dargo breaking through. A clever one-two put the game beyond the home side with four minutes to go. McFadden's free kick was gathered by Pearson. Playing a neat one-two with Lehmann some 30 yards you Pearson burst into the box and holding off the challenge of Dindeleux slotted past Marshall. A minute or so later Kilmarnock went down to eight men and there could be few complaints about this one either. Lehman's attempted lay-off for Ramsay was deflected into his path by Sanjuan and as the Motherwell man broke clear the Spaniard hauled him down and was sent off as last man. Up stepped James McFadden and his brilliant free kick gave Marshall no chance, three-nil to Motherwell. Near the end Referee Freeland bottled it when he only yellow-carded Boyd for a viscous tackle on Fagan, and he remained on the pitch. Referee Freeland ended the match slightly early seemingly to ensure it actually was completed.
Full-Time Kilmarnock 0 Motherwell 3
Match Report by Ricky Mullen