Motherwell 2, Dundee Utd 2
| Match Date: Saturday, May 3 2003 |
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| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 9,056 | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Woods, Corrigan, Partridge, Vaughan, Hammell, McFadden, Leitch, Adams, Pearson, Craig (Offiong 69), Clarkson (Lehmann 90). Subs Not Used: Vaughan, Adams
Yellow Cards: Craig, Partridge, Lehmann
BASEMENT BATTLE ENDS ALL SQUARE
Motherwell 2 Dundee United 2
TONY VAUGHAN WAS ON HAND TO Drag Motherwell level at Fir Park after the visitors had come from behind to lead late on. Vaughan's first goal in Motherwell colours ensured the race to avoid the drop went on.
It was the Fir Parkers who started better and they came close within the first minute. A shot-cum-cross from James McFadden was only just missed by Clarkson at the far post. Clarkson was then taken late by Tod and from the free kick Clarkson found Adams but his shot was charged down by Bollan and cleared. United keepers have recently had their problems and they continued. After Bollan had knocked a clearance off Tod and fortunately into the arms of Combe the goalkeeper then made a complete hash of his kick-out. Clarkson pounced on it but the cross was very poor allowing Combe to recover. The visitors came very close at the other end when Duff beat Hammel to cross in and it was McFadden, back helping out, who saw his clearing header crack off the cross bar and over for a corner. This was hooked away but as the ball came back in McIntyre looked way off side but play continued it took a great Vaughan block to prevent the danger at the expense of a corner. Motherwell broke away with McFadden running from his own box all the way to the visitors where he saw his cross blocked behind. Motherwell kept up the pressure and took the lead. Tod fouled McFadden and from the free kick the ball fell for Pearson who slammed the ball home from close range. A minute later Adams pounced onto a poor Griffin header out and his snap shot from the edge of the box wasn't far away. The visitors won a corner next though the header from Tod, in space, was weak and saved. Miller should have seen a yellow when he was very late on McFadden but the only card was for Craig. Referee Dallas had seen an earlier incident when Craig and Miller had collided with the Motherwell man deemed to have fouled. Easton joined Craig in the book a minute or so later for a late effort on Adams. Motherwell then failed to clear their lines allowing Miller to find McIntyre and he saw a 12-yard shot well held by Woods. The Fir Parkers had a free kick 30 yards out when Clarkson went down under another heavy Tod challenge. Vaughan headed across but Miller hooked away. McFadden then made a superb run which looked like taking him all the way until McCracken cynically took him out. It earned the United man a booking though from the free kick McFadden could only strike the ball off the wall. A deliberate handball from Miller then gave Motherwell another opportunity but this was also wasted. Motherwell were making the running and it was Corrigan who made a forceful run taking him to the by-line. The cross looked set to be met by Clarkson but McCracken made an important clearance. Easton then made a run to the opposing by line and his cross was met by Miller whose free header wasn't far away. From Woods kick-out Tod brought down Craig but Hammel saw his free kick cleared by McCracken. There was a nasty incident when Tod clearly elbowed Craig and although Referee Dallas saw it he chose only to book Tod with a card also for Vaughan for a show of dissent. Motherwell were pushing for a second and Craig saw his angled drive go narrowly past. Just before the break a clearance from Partridge fell to Griffin and his shot went inches past. Motherwell broke upfield and although Tod knocked the ball behind there was no corner.
Half-Time Motherwell 1 Dundee Untied 0
The visitors made a change at the interval, Lauchlan replacing McCracken. Motherwell resumed on the attack with Clarkson seeing his run halted by Griffin. From the free kick Adams intelligently attempted to catch out Combe but the visiting keeper was alert enough to save. And it counted a minute later when the visitors drew level. Miller went unchallenged into the box and slammed the ball beyond Woods, the Motherwell defence unable to prevent his progress. They almost made it two when Woods got down well to hold an Easton shot after McIntyre saw his effort blocked near the line. A run from Steven Craig took him away from the United defence and with only Combe to beat from the edge of the box his shot was weak and into his arms. Tod, having already been booked, was still persistently fouling and he brought down Craig 30 yards out. However, the take from Hammel was hooked away. Woods then did superbly well to deny a shot from McIntyre and in response McFadden showed superb skill to set up Adams but his effort was held by Combe. Miller of United at last saw yellow when he was shockingly late on Clarkson out wide. The visiting defence cleared long to Lilley and it took a superb piece of defending from Corrigan to deny him a clear run on Woods. Motherwell returned upfield with Pearson sending in a deep cross though Bollan hooked away. McFadden then laid the ball off into the patch of Leitch but his 20-yard effort went over the bar. Referee Dallas then deemed a Hammel challenge on Duff, where the Motherwell man looked to have taken the ball cleanly, a free kick and from this Tod again had a free header though woods got down to hold. Motherwell made a change, Offiong replacing Craig. Two minutes later Adams was booked when Dallas brought play back after the Motherwell midfielder had caught Easton. A neat turn by McFadden had him in space but with options to the back post he chose to shoot and this went well over.
Lilley then burst into the box but great work from woods, charging off his line to gather, ended the danger. Motherwell failed to head earlier warnings from Tod and from another free header he was inches away with Vaughan static nearby. The visitors made a change of their own, Dodds replacing Lilley. The United defence conceded a corner which was cleared to McFadden but he shot over. A minute later Clarkson did well to make the by line and his cross was met by a looping Offiong header. Combe tipped the ball over but a goal kick was awarded. A powerful run from Offiong saw him tear away from the United defence but he crucially delayed a shot and was crowded out. Motherwell were made to pay with some slack defending, which allowed Untied to go ahead. McIntyre was in space inside the box but as Vaughan came across he failed to cut out the striker who turned and slammed the ball high beyond Woods into the net. It was a hammer blow to Motherwell but Vaughan, who perhaps could have done better, did so just three minutes later. After Pearson had forced a corner Vaughan scored his first goal for Motherwell when he bundled the ball over the line. Motherwell went for the third and a terrific run from Corrigan saw his shot desperately blocked by Bollan. Offiong then directed the ball to Clarkson but his shot hit the side netting. Both teams then made a change, Griffin replaced by Wilson. Clarkson making way for Lehmann. A snapshot from Duff then went well over before the last action saw Offiong skin the United defence but his cross was only inches above Lehmann.
Full Time Motherwell 2 Dundee United 2
Match Report by Ricky Mullen