Motherwell v Falkirk 11.03.06

Match Date: Saturday, March 11 2006
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 8,179

Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Meldrum, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell, McBride (Kerr 60), McCormack, O'Donnell (Paterson 90), Foran, Scott McDonald (Clarkson 87), Hamilton.
Subs Not Used: Martin, McGarry, Kinniburgh, Reynolds.

MOTHERWELL Continued their push for a top six finish when they saw off Falkirk for a third time this season. It wasn’t the best of performances, but clinical finishing proved decisive on a day when charity was also the winner.

The Fir Parkers were first to show, Ross conceding a corner after O’Donnell had attempted to play Hamilton in. McLean met the ball but saw his header deflected behind. This corner was punched by Ferguson to O’Donnell and his chip in saw a turn and shot from McDonald held by the visiting keeper. Motherwell then forced another quick corner but this one was dealt with by Milne. After the promising start from Motherwell, it was almost Falkirk who nicked the lead. McBreen got on the ball and drove an angled shot from 16 yards which Meldrum did very well to palm over the top. Indeed, a minute later they went even closer. Twaddle made the by line and cutting the ball across the box it somehow evaded Gow almost on the line and ran wide. And just two minutes later, with Motherwell failing to react, a Gow lay-off for McBreen saw another angled drive going over the top. Motherwell at last reacted, and McDonald’s chip almost found Foran though Ross conceded the corner. Alan McCormack then took an elbow from Thomson though the Referee, and the well-positioned linesman, failed to spot this. Cregg for reasons known only to himself took exception to something and had to be warned by the Referee who chose not to card him. A long ball from Meldrum saw Hamilton flick on to the alert McDonald who in turn fired in a shot which deflected behind. The corner was deflected to O’Donnell but his low cross was held by Ferguson. Milne then had to look sharp to nick the ball away from McDonald after Hamilton had flicked on. McBride slipped allowing Latapy to race away but Craigan got in to concede a corner. Play swung upfield with Craigan’s free kick falling to Hamilton who forced a save from Ferguson. Motherwell gained a free kick when Craig fouled McDonald. Corrigan swung the ball in but it was too close to the visiting keeper. Craig gathered a pass from McBreen but despite pressure from the latter Meldrum held the cross. Superb defending from McCormack denied Thomson getting a shot in on goals following a ball in from Craig. O’Donnell took play forward but his pass to McDonald was just too strong. Cregg rather needlessly took McCormack out, also appearing to put a boot onto the head of the Motherwell midfielder. McCormack got up and angrily reacted to this, but Referee Dougall chose to merely warn both. Just past the half-hour Motherwell took the lead with a long-awaited end to the recent Scott McDonald drought. Foran crossed to Hamilton and although his terrific volley was parried by Ferguson, there was McDonald to coolly nick past the keeper to slot home. Falkirk had an opportunity to hit back when Latapy lined up a free kick but drove it into the wall. Both Craigan and Foran attempted shots but both were blocked before a free kick given to the visitors ended the danger. Martyn Corrigan conceded a corner after Thomson beat Meldrum to a cross but he forced the Falkirk man wide and the cross back was knocked behind by Corrigan. The ball fell to McBreen who shot into Craigan with the loose ball cleared. Just before the break Cregg raced into the box but McLean did well to clear.

The visitors made an immediate change, Ross making way for Rodrigues. Motherwell signalled their intentions when a McCormack forward ball was flicked on by McDonald but fell just beyond Hamilton. However, seconds later Motherwell did indeed double their advantage. Thomson was dispossessed by Hamilton who then supplied McDonald. Dipping inside his marker the Aussie curled a superb shot past the despairing Ferguson for his, and Motherwell’s, second goal of the day. After play had restarted Kevin McBride was booked when he took a late swipe at Cregg without making any contact. Phil O’Donnell conceded a corner which, when swung in, saw McBreen foul Meldrum but play continued with Corrigan clearing. Falkirk pushed forward again and Foran had to concede a corner. McBreen was then booked for dissent after complaining bitterly after seeing a decision go against him inside the Motherwell box. A slack pass from Craigan fell to McBreen but good recovering from the Northern Ireland International saw the ball go to his fellow International centre-half McLean who cleared long. With Motherwell’s next attack they put the game beyond Falkirk. Foran, who has been in fine goalscoring form of late, gathered a slack ball and curled a delightful shot beyond Ferguson and into the far corner of the net. Shortly afterwards the visiting fans and players alike were yelling for a penalty, but it appeared that Latapy’s shot had struck the shoulder of Foran. However, they did have a goal to celebrate a minute later and there was a touch of controversy about it. Gow and Latapy combined to find Cregg and his low drive hit the back post before trickling over the line with Gow standing in an offside position near the goal line. The linesman spotted this and raised a flag, but Referee Dougall decided the goal should stand. Motherwell’s response was a shot from McCormack which went wide of the upright. Foran then connected with a Hamilton chip but sent the effort similarly past. Fine skill from McDonald saw him take the ball beyond Twaddle but his shot struck Milne before being cleared. Motherwell then made a change, McBride making way for Kerr. A Craigan slip allowed Craig to attack but he shot wide. As tempers began to fray McCormack, who had been constantly wound up by Craig and Cregg, saw yellow for a late tackle on Thomson. The free kick fell to Craig who sent a shot beyond the far post. There should also have been a yellow card for Twaddle when he was late on Meldrum but play continued. Thomson was carded after two rather reckless challenges on firstly O’Donnell and then McCormack. The latter was then the subject of another late effort from Craig who again escaped a booking. As McDonald challenged Craig in the box his rather dramatic fall ended the danger as Falkirk gained a free kick. Hamilton was adjudged to foul Latapy to concede a free kick 30 yards out, though Meldrum gathered the low drive. Some loose defending from Motherwell gave Craig the chance to pull another goal back but he drilled his low shot wide of the target. Milne then flattened McDonald but play continued. Good defending from Craigan saw him clear a ball near the goal line with McLean completing the clearance as Motherwell sat deep. A long cross from Kerr almost had McDonald clear as he looked to gain a first hat trick in Motherwell colours. Hamilton pounced on a loose ball to find McDonald shortly afterwards but his progress was halted by a rash Milne challenge. Falkirk made a change, Moutinho replacing Cregg. Milne had been booked for his earlier foul, one of many, on McDonald, and after the latest hefty challenge the Motherwell man was replaced by Clarkson. With time running out Jim Hamilton almost repeated his fantastic goal against Celtic, meeting a Hammel cross perfectly on the volley but the ball this time falling the wrong side of the post. Motherwell then changed O’Donnell in favour of Paterson. Just before time there was the bizarre sight of Referee Dougall indicating a Motherwell throw. That in itself wasn’t bizarre, but when a Falkirk player took the throw he allowed play to continue, much to the disgust of all in claret and amber.