St Mirren v Motherwell 07.01.06

Match Date: Saturday, January 7 2006
Competition: Tennents Scottish Cup, 3rd Round
Attendance: 6,507.

Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Graeme Smith, McCormack, Corrigan, McLean, Hammell, McBride, Kerr (Clarkson 75), O'Donnell, Foran (Kinniburgh 45), McDonald, Hamilton.
Subs not used: Meldrum, Fitzpatrick, Darren Lee Smith

ONE OF THE WORST Performances in recent memory from a Motherwell side saw them meekly bow out of the Scottish Cup at a busy Love Street. A large travelling support went to cheer on Motherwell but in the end were hugely disappointed by a very poor show with the home team thoroughly deserving to progress.

The game was delayed by ten minutes as the large Motherwell support entered the ground but they would have wished the game had never begun. Early on Richie Foran had to be sharp to stop Corcoran and Kean working the ball into the box. As Motherwell attacked McDonald was bundled over by a push from Millen but the Referee waved play on. Kean for Saint Mirren then burst into the box in space but completely mis-hit his effort much to the delight of the away fans. McLean played a ball forward for McBride to cross but the ball was cleared by McGowne. Bursting forward was Corcoran though an interception from McLean saw the ball run through to Smith. Gathering a loose ball was Hamilton and he was unfortunate with a pass to Corrigan, the ball cleared downfield from the foot of McGowne. McDonald was taken out by McGowne soon after giving Motherwell a free kick some 28 yards on the right. Hammell swung the ball in, the ball deflected to Foran and he crossed. As Hamilton and Smith jumped the ball came off the Motherwell man and drifted just past the post. Corrigan was adjudged to have fouled Corcoran giving the home side a free kick soon afterwards. Although Corrigan himself partially cleared the ball was soon back in from the foot of Lappin. Only a timely tackle from Hamilton prevented McGowne connecting near the line. Saint Mirren gained a rather soft free kick when Corcoran appeared to fall over the foot of McBride. Hamilton conceded the corner but this was hooked away by McLean. The first real warning for Motherwell came when Corcoran ran onto a forward ball and entered the penalty area alone. Smith did superbly to force him wide but the home strike still got a shot in which struck the foot of the post before being cleared as far as Reid. Clashing with McCormack a free kick was awarded to the Love Street side. The ball broke to Kean who fired over. Shortly after that a slip from Corrigan allowed Corcoran to feed Kean but Smith held the shot. The earlier warning was not heeded and the home side took full advantage two minutes later. Corcoran ran unchallenged to the by line and his cut back was met by the unmarked Adam who slotted in despite Smith getting a touch. Another dramatic dive from Corcoran, this time as Hammell challenged, gave another free kick to the home side. O’Donnell could only clear as far as Adam who shot wide of the mark. Motherwell at last put together a decent move but the end cross from Hammell was way too strong. Saint Mirren resumed on the attack with Van Zanten crossing towards Adam who headed past the upright. After a full half-hour Motherwell at last got something on target, though it failed to trouble Smith much. Kerr played Foran wide and the cross was headed towards goal by McDonald but without a great deal of power. Foran then appeared to win fairly from Potter and geared to set Motherwell forward before Referee McCurry bizarrely blew for a foul to Saint Mirren. From the free kick Maxwell headed past. A push on McDonald from Van Zanten saw the home side concede a free kick. McCormack found McDonald but Smith was there to gather. Saint Mirren then forced a series of corners as Motherwell struggled to get out of their own area. However, despite the pressure, Motherwell managed to keep the home side out and almost drew level. After a foul by Adam on Kerr, the ball was headed towards goal by McLean. Out came Smith to gather with Foran sliding in attempting to make contact with the loose ball. Unfortunately he failed and only managed to pick up a yellow card with Referee McCurry deeming the challenge foul.

The Fir Parkers made a change at the break, the concussed Foran replaced by Kinniburgh. Motherwell came out with much more purpose at the beginning of the second half and should have had a free kick well upfield when Van Zanten handled, despite being well positioned the Referee ignored the obvious. Despite having most of the play Motherwell were almost hit by a second home goal when Reid picked up possession but fired well wide of the goals. Hammell made space out wide before finding McCormack as Motherwell attempted to make the possession count. He in turn found O’Donnell but the headed effort cleared the cross bar. Corrigan took control of the ball to supply McDonald wide on the left. Potter cleared his cross but again it was McDonald who was in possession. Playing a quick pass to Corrigan the striker received the ball in return but was deemed offside in a close call. McBride then burst forward and was taken out by a late Millen tackle but play failed to halt. Still Motherwell attempted to draw level, McDonald and McBride combined to find Kerr but with McCormack clear to his left he chose instead to shoot and the weak effort trundled through to Smith. Attempting to relieve the pressure, Maxwell took play upfield but fell under minimal McBride pressure. In came the free kick but the Motherwell defence cleared. A clever chip forward from Kerr very nearly gave McDonald the perfect chance to level, the ball just clearing the striker’s foot by an inch of two. It was still mainly Motherwell at this point though Saint Mirren did force a corner which was comfortably dealt with. The home side then made a change, Sutton replacing Kean. A Van Zanten foul on McDonald gave Motherwell a free kick some 30 yards from goal as the Fir Parkers attempted to make the possession at last count. McDonald laid the ball off to Kerr but he fired well over the bar. Saint Mirren attacked with Reid firing in a dangerous cross which Smith did very well to pluck out of the air. Motherwell then fell asleep and victory for the home side was assured a minute later. Corrigan was deemed to have fouled Adam though it looked somewhat soft. However, there could be no mistaking the lack of marking that took place when the free kick came in to find Potter easily heading beyond Smith. Motherwell had planned to make a substitution before the goal, and duly on came Clarkson in place of Kerr. Potter sent Clarkson crashing to the ground in his first involvement but the free kick was easily cleared. McGowne then knocked a cross behind for a corner but under no pressure Smith gathered. A slip at the back by Motherwell allowed Sutton in but his shot was charged away by Corrigan. The response from Motherwell was a Hamilton knockdown for Clarkson but the shot cleared the bar. With four minutes left Anderson replaced Corcoran for Saint Mirren. A minute later a foul by McGowne flattened Clarkson. From 20 yards McBride curled the ball over the bar. After a late corner from Motherwell, the home side put the gloss on their result. A through pass from Lappin found Sutton and his pass to the isolated Adam saw him score completely unopposed.