Livingston 1, Motherwell 0
| Match Date: Sunday, December 29 2002 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 7,216 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Kinniburgh (Clarkson 90), Partridge, Hammell, Adams,
Cowan (Ferguson 67), Leitch, Pearson, McFadden, Lehmann.
Subs not used: Woods, Ramsey, Fagan.
Yellow Cards: Hammell, Adams, Pearson, McFadden.
LATE AGONY FOR WELL AT ALMO-COURIER-CITY STADIUM
Livingston 1 Motherwell 0
A LATE, LATE AND SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL Goal sent Motherwell to defeat and saw the good work done in the win over Rangers undone. It was a performance far from the one which downed the league leaders and although improved after a poor first half Motherwell came away with nothing.
Motherwell had an early chance when Brinquin body-checked Lehmann to concede the free kick. Pearson's effort was deflected to McFadden whose shot was deflected behind. Minutes later Adams was then hauled to the ground by Camacho who escaped a card despite the tackle from behind. Adams curled the ball in and Broto produced a good save. A deliberate push by Andrews on McFadden gave the Fir Parkers a further chance but this was cleared, Bingham and Corrigan clashing and although the Livingston man reacted furiously to the Corrigan challenge Referee Thomson failed to produce any cards. The first real chance for the home side was well prevented when Corrigan did superbly to deny Camacho. They went even closer soon after when the Motherwell defence failed to clear a Zarate ball. It fell for Xausa and his angled drive hit the side netting though the home support were already celebrating the non-existent goal. Good work from McFadden then opened things up for Adams but he saw his head-flick held by Broto. The home side then gained a soft free kick when Corrigan was adjudged to have downed Zarate. Quickly recovering, he got up to curl an effort well past. There was another nasty clash when Hammel and Quino tangled and again, although the Livingston player raised his hands, there was still no sign of a card. Dubordeau in the Motherwell goal had to look sharp when a one-two involving Xausa and Zarate had the latter shooting towards goal though the French keeper saved well. Motherwell were then denied a clear corner when a McFadden effort struck Brinquin and although the Linesman pointed to the flag Referee Thomson, in a poor position, decided otherwise. And moments later he was at it again, Hammel playing the ball off Quino for a throw, though Livingston were the ones to benefit.
Xausa then made a dramatic recovery when, after seemingly badly injured, he sprung to his feet and forced a save from Dubordeau. There were a couple of quick efforts from Zarate as Livingston pressed, Dubordeau on hand to deal easily with both. Kinniburgh then produced a superb clearing header, as Bingham looked set to connect with the pass from Zarate before Dubordeau raced from his line to expertly deny Camacho. Motherwell rode the pressure and gained a free kick when McFadden was brought crashing down by Camacho, still no sign of a card. And a minute later Broto made an outstanding save to keep the scores level. Leitch, Pearson and Hammel all contributed to the move which ended with Hammel supplying Adams and the home keeper superbly tipping over. A slip by Zarate somehow won him a free kick near the Motherwell box which Dubordeau punched clear before Camacho sent well over. Motherwell got a free kick in a similar position up the park moments later. The ball was played to the far post but the speed of Hammel's delivery surprised Pearson and despite being in space he could only head wide. There should have been a free kick for a body check on McFadden by Bingham but play continued and Livingston forced successive corners. From one of them Dubordeau had to brilliantly tip round before slumping to the ground injured. He recovered and Motherwell broke upfield, though McFadden was crowded out. Just on the break Hammel had a shot which was deflected into the arms of Broto.
Half-time Livingston 0 Motherwell 0
There was an immediate change for Livingston, Brinquin making way for Rubio. The latter was immediately involved when his attempted clearance from 50 yards out turned into a shot and Dubordeau was called into action to hold. Motherwell had a good opportunity to test Broto when they were awarded a free kick 30 yards out but the poor take from Hammel was easily cleared. Andrews then sent a header wide before he came even closer to scoring. Corrigan was adjudged to have fouled Makel though it looked soft to say the least. Lehmann partially cleared but as Broto booted the ball back downfield it took an awkward bounce and Andrews got in a header which crashed off the junction of post and cross bar. The ball fell to Zarate but Dubordeau brilliantly blocked at the expense of a corner. McFadden took the ball downfield but his ball to Adams was poor and easily cut out. A foul on Adams by Quino was then ignored allowing the latter to run towards the box and shoot inches past the far post. Then, just as Xausa was about to pull the trigger, Kinniburgh made a terrific stop to deny him. Livingston fans then celebrated what they though was a goal but were cut short somewhat when Referee Thomson correctly blew for a foul on Dubordeau who, and not for the first time during the match, required treatment. From the kick out there was a quite deliberate handball by Andrews which went unnoticed by the Referee and Linesman. The game's first yellow came Bingham made the most of a challenge by Adams. The free kick was met by Rubio but Dubordeau saved. Cowan was then barged to the ground by Rubio but there was no free kick.
Play continued and it was Dubordeau to the rescue as he plucked the ball just ahead of Zarate. The kick from goal was met by McFadden and he looked threatening but with no support was sandwiched by both Bingham and Rubio with only a free kick being the outcome. Both Bingham and Rubio then committed fouls seconds afterwards on Lehmann and Adams respectively and again there were to be no sign of a card for either. However, Pearson's first rash challenge saw him booked and however it may have looked given Rubio's escapades he should have escaped a booking also. There was no surprise when a minute later Rubio hacked down Adams and went unpunished. Next up was Andrews who went clean through McFadden. The Motherwell man recovered and his next action was to send a superb ball to Pearson but the cross was cleared. As Livingston attacked the ball fell to Bingham in a good position but he managed to clear the stand with his effort. Motherwell made a change, Cowan replaced by Ferguson. The sub almost made an immediate impact when he looked well on side when sent clear by Corrigan but the Linesman wrongly flagged. Xausa was lucky to stay on the park when he made no attempt at the ball and took Partridge completely out of play, his yellow somewhat minimal punishment. Livingston then took off Camacho and brought on O'Brien. Motherwell pressed and Ferguson forced a corner. Pearson sent the ball in but McFadden's poor touch took the ball away. Livingston broke but a superb block by Leitch stopped their progress. Adams then looked to have been brought down by Rubio inside the box but unsurprisingly play continued. Bingham was then booked when he clattered into Corrigan, Livingston making a further change during the stoppage with Xausa replaced by McMenamin. Motherwell went very close indeed when Corrigan's shot was deflected up and almost over Broto who recovered just in time to knock the ball away from McFadden. Livingston attacked and Zarate forced a good save from Dubordeau. The home fans howled for a penalty when Kinniburgh rose above Zarate to header clear. Then Quino made a dramatic dive which failed to con Referee Thomson. Lehmann had a header which looped into the arms of Broto before the home side took the points. Hammel, under pressure from Hart near the touchline, lost possession and fouls have been given for less. However, Hart ran clear to set up Zarate for a tap in. Motherwell pushed as time ran out, with McFadden seeing yellow for dissent.
Full-time Livingston 1 Motherwell 0
Match Report by Ricky Mullen