Aberdeen v Motherwell 01.10.05

Match Date: Saturday, October 1 2005
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 11,448.

Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Graeme Smith, McLean, Kinniburgh (Paul Quinn 21), Craigan, Hammell, Kerr, Fagan, O'Donnell, Foran (Paterson 80), Scott McDonald, Clarkson.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Steve McDonald, Keogh, Connolly, Darren Lee Smith.

TWO LATE GOALS SAW MOTHERWELL Leave Pittodrie with a point when in truth it should have been all three. Coasting at two-nil up and with the hosts down to ten men the team switched off long enough to allow Aberdeen to level.

The home side attacked early, and from a foul given after Foran was adjudged to have fouled Severin the ball was played in by Nicholson though Kerr cleared. Aberdeen went a bit closer shortly afterwards when, following a corner conceded by Kinniburgh, Crawford pounced on the loose ball but drove into the side netting. The first meaningful Motherwell attack arrived, McDonald sent to the ground by a late Diamond challenge, and it was the Fir Park striker who then forced a corner. Diamond cleared to McLean and as he returned the ball Esson, looking unsure, was able to eventually take. Another clearance from Diamond then fell to McDonald and his attempted overhead effort was again held by the home keeper. The Fir Parkers kept up the attacking mode; Fagan passing to McDonald though the cross was shepherded by Diamond to Esson. Foran then made a foray down the wing and crossed towards Clarkson. The ball broke off McNaughton to O’Donnell though he failed to keep his shot down. A neat one-two involving Foran and McDonald saw the latter seemingly beat the off-side trap, but a poor decision by the linesman saw the flag raised. It was Aberdeen’s turn to attack and from a dangerous Smith cross Craigan headed clear. Kerr was the subject of a nasty Lovell challenge but play continued. Soon after the ball ran loose inside the home box with McDonald only beaten to it by a desperate Diamond clearance. Lucky to stay on the park was Lovell, his next poor challenge leaving Kinniburgh in a heap. Kinniburgh returned, but it soon became apparent damage had been done by the cynical tackle earlier and he was soon replaced by Quinn. A terrific piece of defending from McLean then prevented McNaughton making his way into the box with space ahead of him. Nicholson then crossed deep for Lovell and it took a superb Smith block to keep the effort out. Quinn was forced to concede a corner as the home side kept the pressure up. Kerr cleared as far as Winter though his effort cleared the bar by a fair degree. Kerr then played a neat ball forward for Clarkson though an important run from goal saw Esson just win the race. Aberdeen gained a soft free kick when Crawford fell dramatically out on the wing. Craigan, however, was on hand to clear. From a Nicholson knockdown Severin then drove wide of the right-hand post with Smith covering. Motherwell rode the storm and attacked, McLean’s long ball seeing McDonald lay off for Clarkson. The ball then ran for O’Donnell but a subtle push by Anderson saw the Motherwell man knocked off his stride and the chance was gone. Already on a yellow, Lovell then should have seen red for a further late challenge, Craigan the recipient. Crossing the ball was Byrne for the home side though Severin sent the ball well over. A minute later Severin came closer, nodding a Nicholson cross towards goal only for Smith to catch right on the line. Quinn won a corner just afterwards though Severin cleared, and the Motherwell fullback then forced another with Kerr. McLean headed on but Esson cleared. As half-time approached Crawford swung a cross in and as the ball came down to Severin it was gathered by Smith, though somehow both the Referee and Linesman failed to spot a swipe by Crawford on McLean. Both sides had opportunities during the three minutes injury time, McDonald seeing a shot blocked before Clarkson having a 25-yarder held, whilst Nicholson headed a Byrne cross over.

Within seconds of the restart the home side almost snatched the lead. Crawford made a run out on the right and crossed for Lovell but he missed the ball as it raced across. Taking a chance was Smith who knocked a short pass back to Esson, the goalkeeper just able to clear as McDonald hovered. Quinn gathered the clearance and crossed to McDonald but Esson was on hand to hold. A Quinn cross bounced awkwardly in front of Esson and he did well to gather with Clarkson close by. Byrne pushed through a ball for Lovell next and McLean forced him wide with the shot ultimately going over the top. A cross from Nicholson was taken by Smith but the Referee failed to act upon a very late Severin challenge on Hammel. Severin the showed dissent to the Linesman but there was no action taken on the home player. Stevie Craigan then took a blow to the head, requiring treatment and after the game sported a swollen right eye, though the home support booed him as he returned to the field convinced he had been cheating. Good work from Clarkson forced a corner, and as Diamond attempted to clear he swiped the ball over the bar for another. This corner broke to Foran and his volley from 12 yards was superbly parried by Esson and cleared. A push by Diamond on McDonald gave Motherwell a free kick on the halfway line. Diamond himself seemed to knock the ball behind but a corner was not given. A minute later, however, Motherwell took the lead. A clever Fagan header forward saw Clarkson beat Anderson to the ball, and a brilliant turn took the striker away from his marker to tuck the ball under Esson to score. Motherwell attacked again; Nicholson blocked Quinn then as the ball returned it was Diamond just in time to deny McDonald. O’Donnell won another corner, and although cleared by Anderson again the ball came back. Anderson this time clambered all over McDonald but play went on. After a McDonald effort flashed wide, the homes die made a change, Mackie replacing Winter. Just as he arrived Motherwell doubled their advantage. Fagan headed forward, McDonald tucked the ball inside and Clarkson raced past the static Diamond and neatly finished beyond Esson. Anderson then went off injured to be replaced by Muirhead. Mackie saw yellow, and it could easily have been red, when he followed through on Smith after the keeper had gathered a through ball. The game should have been put out of sight when Clarkson put McDonald clear Esson but the home keeper parried. The home side’s chances seemed to diminish further when Byrne was sent off after a tussle with Clarkson. Aberdeen snuck back into the game when Foran’s tug on McNaughton inside the box saw the latter dramatically dive to the turf. Despite Smith’s best efforts the ball was netted by Mackie. Foran made way for Paterson whilst Lovell departed for Stewart. Motherwell then gifted an equaliser to Aberdeen. Following a corner, Crawford crossed deep to the unmarked Mackie who headed in. Deep into injury time, however, Motherwell had two opportunities to take the points. Firstly, after a mix up between Diamond and Esson, Clarkson went clear but with a tight angle drove across the six-yard box with McDonald waiting. Then McDonald turned inside the box but saw his curling effort go an inch wide.