Partick Thistle 2, Motherwell 0
| Match Date: Saturday, November 2 2002 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 5,405 | |
| Motherwell Team (3-5-2): |
Woods, Kinniburgh (Lasley 76), Corrigan, Sengewald (Lehmann 55),
Cowan, Adams, Leitch, Pearson, Hammell, McFadden, Khaled (Ferguson 77).
Subs not used: Ewings, Ramsey.
Yellow Cards: Pearson, McFadden, Kinniburgh, Leitch.
Red Card: Leitch
THE ONLY WAY IS UP
Partick Thistle 2 Motherwell 0
MOTHERWELL WENT ROCK-BOTTOM Of The SPL after another shot-shy display. Despite retaining the bulk of possession they failed to record any goals and some inept defending cost them dear once again.
The Fir Parkers started positively enough and a Hammel pass wide found Pearson whose cross was headed on by Kemas only to be cleared. Britton of Thistle though he had gained an advantage to go in on Woods but the Linesman flagged for offside. Motherwell resumed on the attack with McFadden, freshly back form suspension, being crudely brought down by Chiarini. Unfortunately the free kick was fired right into the wall and cleared. A minute later a loose ball was pounced upon by Hammel but his shot cracked off Paterson and behind for a corner which Arthur took comfortably. Partick's response was a shot from Burns which sailed well wide. Shortly afterwards, despite fouling Sengewald, McLean was allowed to play on and his shot from the angle sailed over. A long deep free kick then saw Paterson get in a header though Woods held it. Motherwell were looking dangerous and Hammel sent McFadden wide though Arthur gathered his cross as Kemas came in. Corrigan then looked to go forward but he was hacked down by McLean who escaped a booking. Pearson gathered the free kick but his shot was well parried by Arthur who gathered at the second attempt. Former Fir Parker Burns almost made it through only for Corrigan to expertly stop him, win the ball, and take it upfield. A loose ball in the Motherwell area saw Britton and Woods chase and even though the Keeper won the ball Britton rather unnecessarily continued in with his studs, feigning injury though he was quickly on his feet. The ball then made it's way towards the line though Leitch cleared. McFadden then looked likely to burst into the box but despite being body-checked by Paterson play continued. Motherwell were awarded a free kick shortly afterwards when McFadden was again fouled by Paterson. The shot from Adams was parried and as Craigan took it clear Kemas did well to regain possession though Arthur gathered the cross. A shot from McLean was the home response which Woods saved easily; though a header from Hardie just a minute later had Woods having to work harder though he saved the effort. Motherwell should have taken the lead when a good build-up took them well upfield. Corrigan did the spadework, supplying Hammel but his cross was sent behind by Adams. The Fir Parkers threatened again and it took a vital clearance from Chiarini to stop Pearson slotting home the pass from Hammel. The Motherwell defender was then fouled by Craigain but as play continued the former Motherwell defender crossed for Burns who shot over. However, somewhat against the run of play, the home side took a relatively easy lead. After a slip from Sengewald conceded a corner Hardie was left unchallenged to nod his side ahead. A minute later Pearson was booked for a kick at Lilley though Referee Brown failed to note the Partick mans' part which should have seen him carded also. Partick attacked and although Corrigan was fouled by Whyte play was waved on and it took a good take from Woods to prevent the cross from Archibald reaching Hardie. Motherwell tried to hit back and good play from McFadden opened up an opportunity for Hammel but Arthur saved the shot. The Fir Parkers then forced successive corners but failed to take advantage, though Arthur did well to stop Kemas from the second. Just before the break McFadden got himself another yellow card for complaining, though Referee Brown failed to show any common sense and give the Motherwell man a stiff warning.
Half-Time Partick Thistle 1 Motherwell 0
Thistle attacked from the off and they thought they had doubled their advantage when McLean powered into the box but his shot hit the side net. A clever one-two involving Leitch and Kemas almost paid dividends but the latter's shot was blocked and hooked away by Whyte. Fellow Firhill defender Craigan should have been booked when he caught Leitch late, but Referee Brown waved play on. Motherwell retained advantage and Corrigan's cross was cleared by Archibald as McFadden lurked. A crucial headed clearance by Leitch kept the scoreline to one, but a minute later poor defending cost Motherwell dear as they slipped further behind. Burns sending a low, curling shot from the edge of the box beyond Woods. There was then a booking for Leitch though quite what for is known only to Referee Brown. This was to prove important soon afterwards. Partick were taking full advantage of the lack of organisation in the Fir Park defence and almost went further ahead, Sengewald clearing from almost on the line at the expense of a corner which Woods punched away. Woods was then the subject of another late challenge, this time from McLean, though again Referee Brown failed to stop play. Motherwell then made a change, Sengewald replaced by Lehmann in an attempt to be more potent up front. It was still the Firhill men who looked likelier, Woods doing well to hold an Archibald effort from Burns cross. Motherwell were awarded a free kick some 30 yards out after McFadden was again brought down though his shot was held by Arthur. Lehmann perhaps should have done better when he then headed McFadden's cross wide from 8 yards out. Motherwell had another man booked when Kinniburgh was carded for a high challenge on Hardie. Some cool defending from Hammel saw him deny McLean and chest the ball into Woods hands as the home side threatened again. There was a fair shout for a penalty when McFadden was sent sprawling by Craigan but again play was waved on. A clever run from Kemas then brought another corner. This caused mayhem in the home defence though Corrigan saw his shot desperately blocked and Pearson with a free header could only send his effort wide. More superb play from Kemas then opened up an opportunity for McFadden but his shot was deflected behind. A second and third quickly came but although Arthur dropped the ball it was Partick who broke upfield, though a poor cross from McLean ended the danger. With twenty minutes to go Motherwell were reduced to ten men when Leitch was dismissed following a second yellow card. Given that his first was questionable made it all the more difficult to take. And it was almost made worse when Partick went close. Corrigan, playing superbly well, cleared a McLean shot off the line after the ball had bounced off Woods. Then Hardie, looking well offside, crossed for Archibald who sent a header wide. However, Motherwell came desperately close to halving the advantage. Kemas weaved his way into the box and cracked in a shot which came off the post. The ball broke to Pearson and he crossed for Kemas but the header went over. The sides should have been evened up when a ridiculous challenge from Hardie on Lasley, just on in place of Kemas, carried only a yellow, Motherwell also replacing Kinniburgh with Ferguson. The Firhill side were denied a third when McLean, clear on Woods, could only shoot wide. As time ran out Thistle made three completely uncecessary substitutions and ran the clock down.
Full time Partick Thistle 2 Motherwell 0
Match Report by Ricky Mullen