Livingston 3, Motherwell 2
| Match Date: Saturday, August 3 2002 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 7,124 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Team: Woods, Ramsay, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell, McDonald (Clarke 81),
Lasley, Leitch, Pearson, Lehmann, McFadden.
Subs not used: Dubourdeau, Kinniburgh, Black, Clarkson
Motherwell scorers: Leitch (50), Lehmann (64).
Yellow Cards: Pearson, Ramsay, Partridge, Leitch.
BRAVE 'WELL DOWNED BY INCOMPETENCE
Livingston 3 Motherwell 2
ANOTHER POOR PERFORMANCE FROM MR Incompetence, John Rowbotham, ensured that Motherwell went down to a narrow opening day defeat. After going three down, Motherwell almost pulled the game back despite the Referee's awful performance.
Roared on by a large travelling support Motherwell began brightly. McFadden set up Lasley and although his effort was blocked Leitch followed up but sent the ball over. Leitch then sent a great long ball in the direction of Lehmann who was only beaten by the wet pitch carrying the ball out of play. Livingston's first effort at goals came when Lovell passed to Camacho and his cross in drifted over the bar. Woods was called into action a minute later when he got down to hold a shot from Zarate who had gathered the ball from Dadi's flick. James McFadden then raced along the edge of the box and although fouled late he was able to lay the ball off for Pearson who shot narrowly over. However, it was the home side who went ahead amidst some controversy. Ramsay conceded the corner and as it was whipped in McDonald appeared to be pushed by Dadi, the ball falling for Rubio who sent an angled drive high into the net. Corrigan then did well to stop a long ball reaching the clear Dadi. The far side linesman then showed he was just as incompetent as the Referee when he allowed Camacho to chase a ball through despite being way off side, Woods having to scurry from his goal to gather.
A dive by Zarate was then completely ignored by Referee Rowbotham. Soon afterwards, however, he did book Camacho for an apparent dive as Leitch won the ball in midfield, though compared to the previous incident this was perhaps a ligitimate leap over a tackle. A quite shocking tackle from the back on Lehmann then saw the next yellow, this time for Andrews. The Fir Parkers continued to plug away for the equaliser and Pearson combined with Lehmann to set up Ramsay and his 20-yard angler wasn't too far past. Livingston were then awarded a free kick when Corrigan brought down Dadi and whilst it was a foul there was no need for the dramatic dive from the former Aberdeen man. Camacho curled the ball past with Woods covering. Dirk Lehmann and McFadden then produced an opening for Stevie Hammel who fired in a near thing. Motherwell were beginning to force things and as Lasley was blocked on the edge of the box McFadden forced a corner.
Livingston broke away and this time it was Ramsay who had to concede the corner-kick. Stevie Woods did well to hold the header from Zarate and there were unnecessary afters from Dadi who went in on the Motherwell keeper, Rowbotham ignoring the incident. Good build-up from Motherwell had Bollan scurrying to knock the ball behind and from the corner McFadden turned to shoot only for Broto to get down well to hold. Dadi did likewise in Livingston's next attack but Woods also saved. Motherwell looked to be coming more and more into things but were hit with another show of blundering from the Officials. Zarate was way offside as he gathered the ball from Dadi but was allowed to run on and shoot beyond Woods to double his side's advantage. Stephen Pearson was then unlucky to be booked when he appeared to win the ball fairly from Camacho. High feet by Rubio on McFadden went unpunished a moment later as the physical side of Livingston began to show. There was, however, a yellow card for Dadi and it perhaps should have been red for the disgraceful tackle on Stevie Hammel. Making his SPL debut for Motherwell was David Partridge and he did well to clear the cross from Zarate though it was returned by Brinquin and the eventual header from Andrews went wide. Dougie Ramsay then saw yellow for a tug on the jersey of Camacho though as the striker was well offside it shouldn't have gone that far. Just before the break McFadden was looking dangerous until Lovell sent him flying, a certain free kick right in front of goals though Referee Rowbotham failed to spot the obvious.
Half-Time Livingston 2 Motherwell 0
The second half couldn't have begun more disastrously for Motherwell as they almost immediately fell further behind. Slack defending allowed Quino to supply Zarate and he made no mistake despite the desperate effort soft Ramsay who suffered a knock in the process. Ramsay recovered and Motherwell began to get right back into things. Shortly after the home side scored Motherwell hit back themselves with a rarity. Latching onto a loose ball in the box Scott Leitch drove a shot beyond Broto and into the net giving the Fir Parkers hope. Livingston were looking shaky an McFadden set up Hammel for a shot which whizzed past. Pearson then sprinted down the wing and only the quick Broto stopped Leitch getting a second. McFadden then sent Perason into the box and only a last-ditch tackle from Brinquin stopped the youngster though Pearson suffered a knock as the Spaniard rather unnecessarily went through with his tackle. Motherwell were well on top and McFadden raced away only to be fouled by Rubio, not so thought Rowbotham who waved play on. Livingston managed to break upfield and Woods had to be sharp to clutch the header from Dadi.
Motherwell resumed on the attack with Lasley finding McFadden but his low shot found an equal in Broto. An error from Partridge then presented Camacho with a chance and it took a good block from Woods to stop him scoring. Dadi then fired way over from the edge of the box before Woods held a low Camacho effort. It was still Motherwell carrying the game to their hosts and a great run from McFadden took him into the box and only Andrews' terrific block sopped a goal. That second was not to be denied and it came two minutes later. More McFadden magic took him to the by-line and inch-perfect cross to the back post picked out Lehmann who made no mistake with his header. The Motherwell fans went wild and Livingston looked visibly shaken. Another late, late challenge by Brinquin had Lehmann writhing in agony a minute afterwards but incredibly Rowbotham ignored it. Rowbotham did book Partridge of Motherwell shortly afterwards when he fouled Dadi and it was a shade unfortunate, though Scott Leitch was then booked for complaining at the decsion. From the free kick Quino sent a shot way over the bar. The Fir Parkers should have drawn level when Lasley picked out Pearson inside the box but a crucial delay allowed the defence to recover and an eventual shot was easily saved.
Livingston then switched Camacho for Bingham, and just afterwards Woods held a dipping Zarate effort. Rowbotham further enraged the Motherwell fans when he failed to spot a deliberate handball from Andrews and instead gave a free kick against McFadden for something known only to the Referee. Livingston wasted a great chance to wrap the game up when Dadi went clear and crossed into Bingham but he blazed over. Another home change saw Lovell go off in place of the ridiculously numbered 91, Maman. Motherwell also made a change, the impressive MacDonald making way for David Clarke. There should have been a red card for Dadi when he was penalised for tugging the shirt of Ramsay, giving the earlier booking for Ramsay for a similar foul. A third home change came when Brinquin made way for Xausa. There were an incredible 5 minutes of injury time added on, a reflection of the time-wasting tactics Livingston had employed for the majority of the second half. With Motherwell pushing up they were almost caught out when an error by Hammel gave Zarate the chance to tee up Dadi but Woods made a superb block, the follow-up from Bingham going well over. There was then the ridiculous sight of Motherwell manager Terry Butcher being sent to the sand for aiming a kick at the ground in frustration. And frustration it was, with Referee Rowbotham rounding off a shocking day by blowing a full thirty seconds early as Motherwell attacked.
Full-Time Livingston 3 Motherwell 2
Match Report by Ricky Mullen