Motherwell 2, Dunfermline 1
| Match Date: Wednesday, February 19 2003 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 3,741 | |
| Motherwell Team (3-5-2): |
Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Vaughan, Partridge, Cowan (Ramsay 67), Fagan, Adams, Pearson,
Hammell, Clarkson (Lasley 89), Craig.
Subs not used: Woods, Khemas, Kinniburgh.
Motherwell scorers: Pearson (19), Craig (50).
Booked: Adams.
WELL THAT'S JUST PARFECT
Motherwell 2 Dunfermline Athletic 1
A HARD-EARNED VICTORY FOR Motherwell saw them put daylight between themselves and Dundee United at the foot of the table. It completed a clean sweep for the Fir Parkers as this victory meant they have now beaten all of the top-six teams in the SPL.
On a hard pitch which had survived two earlier inspections both teams had to begin with key players missing though for Motherwell the absentees were more noticeable. The Fir Parkers pushed forward and Pearson almost sent Craig clear only for Wilson to clear. Soon after Pearson almost made it through but more crucial defending from Dempsey stopped his progress. The two crossed paths again soon afterwards and whilst it looked like Pearson had fairly dispossessed Dempsey the visitor got the free kick, which Corrigan hooked away. Play then continued for several seconds despite Sean Fagan lying injured after he took an elbow from Mason. The first show from the visitors was a run from Grondin who picked out Dempsey. His cross blocked by Vaughan with Hammel clearing up. A poor clearance from Stillie in the away goal then almost gave Adams a clear shot though a desperate block meant a corner. Vaughan got on the end of it but his header was held. Motherwell kept up the pressure forcing more errors in the visiting rearguard. Stillie could only find Fagan and his shot was blocked behind. Dunfermline eventually broke forward with Crawford turning onto a Brewster pass but firing wildly over. Good work by Fagan seemed to have won the ball but Referee Somers decided Dempsey had been fouled. Dubordeau was called into action as Nicholson got a shot in but it failed to seriously trouble the Frenchman. There was anger amongst the home fans when, after a foul on Partridge had been ignored, a shot from Nicholson went past but a corner was awarded. Cleared, Corrigan sent Craig racing upfield and holding off the attentions of Grondin he was able to shoot but sent the ball over on the angle. Adams was then sent flying by a late Dempsey challenge and from the free kick Adams himself forced a superb save from Stillie. However, the opening goal was merely delayed as from the corner Pearson jumped high to nod the ball into the net. Fagan was then again fouled by Wilson and the free kick was played long towards the corner flag where Pearson forced a corner. Hammel whipped it in but Skerla was able to clear.
The visiting response was a shot from Dempsey which was way wide. A superb run from Tony Vaughan took him way upfield and he almost found Craig. The ball broke for Pearson and his fierce shot sped behind off an outstretched defending leg. Dunfermline came close in somewhat controversial circumstances when Vaughan appeared to be fouled by Brewster. Play continued and it was Dubordeau to the rescue as he blocked Brewster's flick. Vaughan was then the subject of a flying elbow from Brewster though this was ignored by the officials. It should have been two-nil just on the half-hour when Hammel's corner found Pearson but his free header went over. Clarkson then dispossessed Wilson but with Fagan racing away the poor pass was blocked. Fagan then beat Dempsey to the ball but a free kick when Dunfermline's way. Dubordeau, however, had no difficulty saving the effort. Fagan then almost scored when his shot struck Skerla. His long clearance looked to have found Crawford but Duobordeau was on hand to clear. Grondin almost levelled out with a cross-cum-shot which cracked off the post then Dubordeau, the ball rebounding to Vaughan who conceded a corner. Swept away downfield Craig gathered and raced towards the box only for Nicholson to crudely bring him down conceding a free kick and being booked for his trouble. Dunfermline cleared and forced a corner soon after. A combination of Corrigan and Fagan ensured there was no danger. Fagan was then again the subject of a late challenge as Dempsey clattered into him after he sent Clarkson wide. No stoppage in play and Clarkson fired in a shot which wasn't far past.
Half-Time Motherwell 1 Dunfermline Athletic 0
The visitors made a change, Dempsey being replaced by Hampshire. Shortly after the re-start the bookings were evened up when Adams was booked for a tug on Dairy's jersey. Dair himself took the short pass from the free kick and fired in a shot which Dubordeau comfortably watched drift narrowly past. The home fans and players alike were incensed when Craig jumped with Stillie as a cross from Pearson looped high inside the box. It looked a fair challenge but as Stillie dropped the ball Referee Somers gave a free kick. Two minutes later, however, Stillie could do nothing as he was beaten for a second time. Clarkson skilfully dodged the attentions of Wilson to slip the ball through to Craig some 30 yards out. He advanced and slotted the ball under the former Aberdeen man to score his first goal for Motherwell. Unfortunately Motherwell couldn't retain the two-goal advantage for long. Crawford, near the post, first-timed a deflection which broke to him just a couple of yards out at the far post and he gave Dubordeau no chance to bring his side back into things. Pearson then conceded a free kick wide on the right and as this came in Dubordeau was clearly fouled by Wilson. Play was waved on and Vaughan knocked the ball behind. Dubordeau was again the subject of rough treatment from the corner but again there was no foul and Skerla hooked the ball past the far post. Motherwell came close when, from a free kick, Partridge was only beaten to the ball by a desperate clearance from Skerla with Corrigan heading over. Craig was then knocked off the ball by Skerla inside the box but play continued. The visitors carved out a chance when Crawford found Grondin but his angled effort was wildly past. Soon after they came closer when Brewster held the ball up for Mason who fired over the bar. Motherwell then made a change with Ramsay replacing Cowan. Two minutes later Hampshire saw his shot deflected behind. The corner was deflected into the path of Brewster but his swipe sent it on for Grondin. He looked well offside but there was no flag and he lobbed the ball over. Another visiting change saw Hunt replace Dair.
Motherwell looked to have ridden the Dunfermline fight back and Clarkson latched onto the pass from Corrigan and was brought down by MacPherson but there was no foul. Not for the first time Fagan was fouled by Mason but Referee Somers wasn't interested. And shortly afterwards a high arm from Wilson had Craig holding his face but once more the Referee, and his Linesman, failed to spot the offence. They did at last award a foul when Grondin pulled the jersey of Ramsay and given the fact Adams had been booked for a similar offence it showed Somers inconsistency when Grondin escaped a caution. Partridge headed for goal but Stillie gathered at the second attempt. Terrific play from Craig set up Fagan a minute later but Stillie again was equal to the effort. Motherwell thought they had put the game beyond any doubt when Clarkson netted after a good old-fashioned stramash but he was wrongly flagged off side when it looked very similar to the Crawford goal earlier. The visitors took off MacPherson and brought McGarty in his place seconds later. Brewster then held up play for Mason but his hooked shot was wide. Skerla then escaped a caution when he flattened Craig. The visiting defender then conceded a corner but this was cleared. Clarkson and Wilson then clashed and although the Motherwell man looked to have been fouled the free kick went to Dunfermline. It was Clarkson's last involvement as Lasley soon replaced him. The visitors tried to level and after Brewster headed wide a 25-yard shot from Crawford forced a brilliant save from Dubordeau. That was that, and Motherwell gained the crucial win.
Full-Time Motherwell 2 Dunfermline Athletic 1
Match Report by Ricky Mullen