Dunfermline v Motherwell 29.10.05

Match Date: Saturday, October 29 2005
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 4,421.

Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh (Fagan 75), Paul Quinn, McLean, Kerr, O'Donnell (Fitzpatrick 81), Foran, Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Clarkson 84).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Steve McDonald, Connolly, Darren Lee Smith.

MOTHERWELL Recovered from a poor opening half to eventually record a convincing win at East End Park yesterday and banish the memory of the midweek defeat at Parkhead. After being out of the game for the opening 50 minutes or so it was only a question of how many once the first goal went in.

A Foran flick found Hamilton early on and, despite being under pressure, he was able to get a shot in on McGregor but couldn’t direct it beyond the home keeper. Thomson then blocked a Foran effort for a corner, and from Hamilton’s header Kinniburgh nodded over the top. Hunt made the by line for the home side and his cross was cleared by Kinniburgh as Donnelly looked to connect. Dunfermline gained a rather soft free kick when Corrigan was declared to have fouled Makel, the latter driving the ball into the wall with Smith taking the cross from Wilson. Campbell then picked out Donnelly but Makel carried out his flick. Hunt again made his way up field and the low cross was missed by everyone, the ball running out for a throw-in. A shot from Makel went well wide soon after, Kinniburgh having had made two superb blocking tackles on Wilson but the all running on for the home forward to shoot. Motherwell were having trouble creating anything, and as another attack broke down McLean had to make a superb stop on Hunt who was threatening. The offside flag did rescue the home side when O’Donnell had sent McDonald clear, the decision looking somewhat dubious. Much to the derision of the away support the Main Stand Side linesman allowed Wilson to carry the ball out over the line but still play on. Motherwell recovered the ball and broke forward, McDonald sending Hamilton away but again another very strange offside decision helping Dunfermline. McDonald then superbly dispossessed Hunt and looked set to race away until Referee McCurry decided he had mysteriously fouled the East Ender. McCurry turned a blind eye to Thomson as he clambered all over Kinniburgh as the ball came forward with Donnelly shooting wide. What looked like a simple case of shoulder-to-shoulder between McDonald and Tod saw the latter lose out on possession but win a free kick from the generous official. McGregor in the home goal had to clear in the nick of time after a Shields pass back almost found Hamilton. A chip from O’Donnell found the head of McDonald and his header went inches past with McGregor struggling to get across in time. McGregor was able to deny McDonald getting in an effort on goals a minute later. Referee McCurry then agreed that Thomson had dived near the box but instead of booking him simply told him to get up. Foran passed up an opportunity when Hamilton found him near the box, the delay allowing Tod to clear. Hunt nipped a ball through to Makel some 25 yards out though the attempted chip went over the far post. Scott McDonald saw a shot deflected behind for a corner and as this came in he headed wide. Making the by line was Young though the cross was dealt with in effective fashion by the boot of Foran. A run and cross from Makel was halted by a fine Kinniburgh challenge at the expense of a corner. That in everyone’s eyes but the Referee who bizarrely awarded a free kick to Dunfermline some 15 yards from the line just outside the box. Tod got in a header and it took a world-class save from Graeme Smith to prevent a goal, Thomson picking up a knock as he tried to send the ball in. Quinn sent a ball forward to Hamilton and he in turn found Foran, however, the ball onto Corrigan was just too strong.

Dunfermline had to make an early change when Labonte replaced Thomson. Foran flicked the ball forward for McDonald but an important Tod clearance denied him. Hunt raced to the by line and crossed low though Quinn cleared. Meeting a Wilson header was Hunt and Smith did well to parry the ball before Craigan hooked the ball behind for a corner kick. After Hunt had driven over from 20 yards a fierce Wilson cross was well taken by Smith. With Motherwell on the back foot it took a moment of pure genius to change the game. Makel lost out to Kerr in the challenge and the Motherwell man strode forward to release an unstoppable 30-yard drive beyond McGregor and into the top right-hand corner. It was a fantastic effort, and completely changed the game in Motherwell’s favour. Hamilton immediately broke forward and tried to find McDonald when a better ball would have been wide on his left to Foran. The home response was a Young header, which Smith held easily. McDonald then tried to connect with a forward ball only to find Tod clambering all over him, play continued unsurprisingly. However, a minute or so afterwards Motherwell all but made the game safe. Phil O’Donnell crossed towards Hamilton and his head-flick was nodded homewards by Martyn Corrigan. An exchange between McDonald and Hamilton almost had Foran clear but Shields was on hand to hammer the ball away. Shields again came to his side’s rescue when McDonald looked set to meet a Kerr ball. A cross from Makel then found Young and he headed just wide though Smith was certainly covering. A fantastic effort from Foran almost brought a third, almost right on the by line he met a Kerr cross and the shot flew across the goal line and out inches by the far post. Although Motherwell were doing virtually all the attacking, Dunfermline did win a corner, though Tod headed well over. They forced another couple of corner kicks but the Motherwell defence held firm. Only a fantastic block by McGregor stopped Motherwell scoring a third. O’Donnell superbly dispossessed Tod and crossed for McDonald whose header was somehow parried by McGregor and cleared. Motherwell then replaced Kinniburgh with Fagan. McDonald forced a corner, which Hamilton headed towards goal though McGregor held. However, the third Motherwell goal was merely delayed. O’Donnell broke forward and passed to Foran. His whipped low cross was partially blocked by Labonte and there was Hamilton to drive the ball low into the net beyond McGregor. It was O’Donnell’s last involvement, replaced by Fitzpatrick just afterwards. Hamilton also made way shortly afterwards, Clarkson coming on in his place. As Dunfermline tried to get something from the game Shields appeared to lead with an elbow on Quinn but this was ignored. A late home change had Hunt replaced by Dunn. Scott McDonald burst forward from midfield and was unlucky to see his 20-yard shot go over. The last chance fell to the home side, a Shields shot going well, well wide.