Motherwell v Everton 16.07.05

Match Date: Saturday, July 16 2005
Competition: Pre-season Friendly
Attendance:

Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Marshall, Keogh (Fitzpatrick), Craigan, Kinniburgh, Quinn, Foran, Leitch, O'Donnell, Paterson, Hamilton (Clarkson), McDonald.
Subs not used: G. Smith, Hammell, Donnelly, D. Smith, Wright, Fagan.

JAMES MCFADDEN’S RETURN To Fir Park saw both teams serve up a slightly tepid affair which ran out a no-scoring draw. The visitors had the better of the play and chances, but to be fair, neither side deserved the win in a disappointing match.

Visiting keeper Martyn had to look sharp early on as he raced to clear from Paterson who looked to connect with a McDonald ball. A foul by Hibert on Paterson then saw Motherwell gain a free kick, which was hooked downfield. Paterson was seeing plenty of action early on, but his next involvement was to concede a free kick for a foul on Bent. McFadden took the free kick but failed to trouble Marshall. The former Fir Parker’s next participation was more direct and dangerous, taking a pass before curling a delightful shot narrowly past. O’Donnell for Motherwell found McDonald but he was tackled successfully by Yobo. For Everton, Bent broke forward soon afterwards into space but his cross was probably nearer the outer limits. Motherwell applied a little pressure at the visiting goal; firstly Osman did well to clear a ball towards McDonald before Hamilton sent a header across the six-yard box. Paterson returned the ball where Li Tie conceded a corner though this saw Hamilton adjudged to have fouled Yobo. Hamilton then connected with a Leitch pass but the ball ran through the crowded box. A run from McFadden took him to the by line with the cross for Bent seeing the striker foul Kinniburgh. Bent made himself some room before shooting but had to be content with a corner. Marshall then did well to clutch a driven cross from Cahill shortly afterwards. Everton were creating opportunities and from a Li Tie cutback Bent drove well over the top. Motherwell relieved the pressure and had a chance to exert some of their own when McFadden fouled Foran, but the free kick was cleared. Kilbane and Bent combined to set up McFadden and his drive found the waiting arms of Marshall. Li Tie was guilty of a foul on McDonald but again the free kick went to waste. Again Martyn had to race from his goal to deny McDonald who sought to connect with Paterson’s well timed through ball. Vaughan’s long ball saw Li Tie cut inside and shoot though Craigan blocked this. Vaughan tried then to find Osman but instead the Linesman flagged for offside. Osman came close when firing in a shot from a McFadden pass which saw the ball crash off the top of the bar and run to safety. Motherwell broke with McDonald beating Yobo but unable to sneak the ball beyond the alert Kroldrup. Another bent effort went well over the top soon afterwards. The Fir Parkers weren’t creating much but Foran tried to test Martyn, the ball deflecting behind. With the interval fast approaching Kilbane crossed to McFadden and his lay-off had Li Tie shooting well wide of the target.

The visitors made three changes at the break, Martyn, Hibbert and Li Tie making way for Wright, Weir and Arteta respectively. Motherwell remained as they were. McDonald pushed forward and found Foran but the low cross saw Weir clear. Marsha then had to get down to clutch a driven Kilbane cross. Seconds later again Marshall was in action, this time taking a cross from McFadden. The Fir Parkers pushed upfield with Leitch and O’Donnell combining to give Foran an opportunity but his drive was charged down by Kroldrup. Good defending from Craigan saw Bent’s run soon ended, with O’Donnell gathering a pass from Hamilton though the forward ball to McDonald proved just too strong. A handball against Yobo on the edge of the box went unnoticed by the Referee, with Hamilton then passing to Paterson but the cross was cleared by Weir. Just before leaving the field Vaughan had a header go over the top, he was then replaced by Ferguson. A through ball from Keogh had McDonald scurrying but he was unable to gather. The Fir Parkers came close when Paterson’s superb cross was headed along the six-yard box by McDonald but there were no takers, Kilbane completing the clearance. Ferguson then appeared to use an arm on Craigan but the Referee decided to ignore. The ball broke for Bent who fed the offending Ferguson and he saw his shot deflected towards Marshall. Motherwell made their first change, Fitzpatrick replacing Keogh. Everton won a corner after a run from Arteta. As the corner came in Ferguson rose unchallenged and headed the past the post from a good position. McDonald looked set to burst away after dispossessing Kroldrup but a rather dramatic fall by the Goodison man saw a free kick given his way. Following a foul by Weir on Fitzpatrick, Foran laid the ball off to Hamilton and his drive was held by Wright in the opposing goal. Somehow the Referee failed to spot another elbow by Ferguson, this time on Foran, with the well-positioned linesman also deciding to turn a blind eye. A good break from O’Donnell took him to the edge of the box though he was unable to keep his shot down. Another change from the visitors had Sergeant replacing Cahill, with Motherwell taking off an ineffective Hamilton to bring on Clarkson. A good move involving McDonald and O’Donnell almost created a breakthrough but the latter was agonisingly unable to gather the ball. The visitors then took off Kroldrup for Wynne. A lay off from Sergeant then gave McFadden another opportunity and he was inches away with a low drive. McFadden turned provider, though Arteta was well over with the shot. Arteta forced a corner as Everton tried to snatch a winner, Ferguson heading this one wide. Arteta himself then came close with an angled drive. Motherwell had a free kick awarded after a late Wynne tackle on Foran. However, the visitors broke with Marshall getting down to hold a Sergeant effort, the substitute also sending a shot over from close in. McDonald had the last say, a 25-yard shot curling over.