Dunfermline 3, Motherwell 0

Match Date: Saturday, April 24 2004
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 4,290
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Corr, Quinn, Corrigan, Craigan, Hammell, Lasley, Dair (Fagan 55), Adams, Craig (Clarkson 78), Wright, Burns.
Subs not used: Marshall, Kevin McDonald, Kinniburgh.

Booked: none.

WELL COME UNSTUCK ON THE PLASTIC 

Dunfermline Athletic  3     Motherwell  0 

MOTHERWELL FAILED To follow up the impressive performance at Aberdeen as they  Slumped to a three-goal defeat at East End Park. There wasn't a huge amount between the teams, but the home side made the most of their chances whilst Motherwell will rue what they missed. 

Some hesitance in the home rearguard almost let in Burns but his cross fell behind Lasley. Dunfermline forced a corner next when Bullen reacted to Crawford's header and saw his effort deflected behind by Corrigan. Skerla rose to head it wide. A late tackle from Byrne then went unpunished as he left Burns in pain. A long ball from Corr almost caught out Skerla though he recovered as Burns lay in wait. Craig gathered and set up Wright but his effort only found Stillie. Bullen made ground down the wing to cross for Dempsey but was intercepted by Quinn. Wright broke forward to find Burns though the cross was clipped away by the boot of Bullen. Motherwell again attacked; Craig racing down the wing but after breaking into the box his low cross was plucked out of the air by the home keeper. Motherwell had to defend a corner next when Crawford attacked, the resultant Bullen header held easily by Corr. The Fir Parkers were playing some neat stuff and a clever one-two involving Burns and Wright had the home defence in trouble until Skerla just managed to use Stillie to clear. Handball against Bullen gave Motherwell a free kick 30 yards out but they couldn't take advantage, Craigan heading wide. Young burst through the middle for the home side but he was stopped by a superb Lasley tackle.  Brilliant play from Kenny Wright saw him twist his way into the box but it took a vital interception from Skerla to stop the ball reaching Burns. A second corner was conceded by Dempsey and as it came in Stillie dropped under pressure from Wright but the ball was hooked away. Another punt through the middle had Young bearing down on Corr though again a great tackle denied him progress, this time Craigan the victor. A lay-off by Crawford opened up a chance for Nicholson though he volleyed way over the bar. Quinn gathered the ball and found Burns. A great cross-field pass sent Wright towards the box but under heavy Skerla pressure his weak shot couldn't beat Stillie. Burns then made the by-line but could only find Stillie. The home side almost took the lead when Dempsey cracked a snapshot from outside the box off the post, the ball rolling out at the far post. Corrigan did well a moment or two later to stop Young connecting with his brother's lay-off, but within a minute the home side were ahead.  Crawford made the by-line and with the defence hesitating he slipped it across for Nicholson to score, though he rather unnecessarily taunted the away support whilst celebrating his goal. Corr was on hand shortly afterwards to gather a corner from the left. A couple of quick free kicks saw Dunfermline go forward though both were of the distinctly soft variety. Young took the ball from the second and fired over. A push by Byrne on Wright gave Motherwell a free kick 30 yards out. A nudge by Nicholson on Craig inside the box went unnoticed by Referee Underhill and play continued. Just before the interval a great Lasley ball had Burns out wide but with time and space his cross was way beyond the in rushing Craig. 

Half Time     Dunfermline Athletic  1     Motherwell  0 

A minute or so into the half Corrigan was adjudged to have fouled Young. From the free kick Crawford found Young in space though he sent his shot high and wide. Kenny Wright did very well to force a corner off Skerla but then saw the ball cleared by Young. Motherwell should have drawn level when Burns raced onto a great Lasley pass. His cross could only find Bullen who skewed a ball high which Stillie took. It proved crucial as the home side raced away to double their lead. More slack defending allowed Crawford to pick out Dempsey to connect with the pass and slot home. And it almost got worse for Motherwell.  Corr spilled a shot from Dempsey but fortunately gathered at the second attempt.  Motherwell made a change, Jason Dair replaced by Sean Fagan. Mason was then lucky to escape a booking for his rash challenge on Adams in midfield. A foul by Byrne on Wright went without a whistle and as Wright managed to regain possession his cross was skilfully played by Fagan over Young. As he looked set to pull the trigger Skerla smacked the ball away. Despite being clearly fouled by Bullen inside the box Craig managed to get a shot in but it could only find the side netting. A mistake from Skerla had Craig then running through the middle but with options to either side he failed to find either. Crawford was then guilty of a late tackle on Craigan but as it was taken Quinn was adjudged to have taken out Nicholson late though it looked soft. Motherwell continued to try and hit back and it was Burns who managed to hold off Byrne out on the left.  Nicking into the box his cross was only just an inch above the head of Craig who looked set to pull one back. A home change had Byrne replaced by Labonte.  Within three minutes his team had put the game beyond Motherwell, and again it was slack defensive play. Bullen was able to find Young in space and he beat Corr with the defence posted missing. Kenny Wright was having an impressive game and his run to the bye line ended with a cross which only just evaded Burns. The Fir Parkers won a free kick when Skerla fouled Craig. It was the last involvement from Craig who was replaced by Clarkson. Dunfermline broke away with Crawford going clear on Corr only for the keeper to make an impressive stop. Just on the park, Clarkson made a terrific run into the box but was denied by Skerla. The home side then took Nicholson off to be replaced by Mehmet. A neat one-two involving Clarkson and Wright opened up the home defence but Stillie rescued his defenders. Wright then beat Skerla but couldn't get a cross beyond Stillie. A late home change saw Young make way for Grondin.  Motherwell almost pulled a goal back in the final moments when Burns found Clarkson and his superb shot beat Stillie but also the near post. 

Full Time     Dunfermline Athletic  3     Motherwell  0

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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