Motherwell 1, St Johnstone 2

Match Date: Wednesday, February 28 2007
Competition: Scottish Cup Quarter Final
Attendance: 5,788.
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Murphy (Clarkson 73), McGarry (Molloy 58), Kerr, Fitzpatrick (Keegan 82), Paterson, McCormack, McDonald.
Subs Not Used: Martin, Quinn.

Motherwell scorer: McCormack (85).

Booked: none.

WELL MEEKLY CRASH OUT OF SCOTTISH CUP

Motherwell  1     Saint Johnstone  2

A VERY Poor display by Motherwell saw them dominated by their First Division visitors, and ultimately slip out of the Scottish Cup at the Quarter Final stage. Indeed, had the visitors taken their chances, it could and perhaps should have been more than the one-goal deficit at the end of the match.

The scene was virtually set from the off, an early Kerr slip allowed MacDonald through but Corrigan did well to cut the ball off. Paterson sent the ball forward and a McCormack lay-off to Kerr saw a 25-yard shot held. McLaren was then allowed time to shoot though Craigan deflected behind. Cleared, the visitors were soon on the attack again and Craigan conceded a free kick, bringing down Scotland as he went forward. Scotland had a shot blocked out to McLaren and only a good parry from Smith prevented the opener. Scotland was soon pushing forward again and he saw his progress blocked by good Corrigan defending, the Motherwell man then clearing under intense pressure. It was all Saint Johnstone, Scotland in particular creating problems, and he had an angled drive blocked by the feet of Smith. Motherwell broke up field where McDonald gained a foul as Mensing came in. Kerr crossed deeply form McGarry soon after though Cuthbert gathered the neat header. A good long ball from Craigan saw McManus forced to concede a corner. McCormack whipped in a dangerous ball but there were no takers. Hardie was lucky to escape a card when he sent McDonald crashing with a cynical trod on the striker’s foot. The free kick was partially cleared to McCormack but his return saw McDonald flagged off when it looked level at least. Kerr was then adjudged to have fouled Hardie to concede a free kick. Hardie flicked the ball on and Smith did well to parry to the right. The ball was returned and flicked on by James, falling kindly to Hardie but Craigan blocked his effort. Saint Johnstone continued to attack, and as Hardie turned Murphy his low cross was stabbed goal wards by MacDonald. The ball looped over Smith and into the net off the bar to give the visitors the goal their play merited. Hardie, who had escaped a booking earlier, was then carded for a late tackle on Murphy. The visiting midfielder was in the thick of things, seeing his mis-hit fall kindly in the direction of Cuthbert moments later. Still looking the likelier to score were the visitors, with Sheerin seeing an angled drive well held by Smith. Good linking between McDonald and McCormack opened up a chance for Kerr but he crossed wide, with McCormack then seeing a pull back fall between Fitzpatrick and McDonald. Motherwell tried to level, McCormack seeing a 25-yard shot blocked before McDonald having a good cross held as Cuthbert came out. On the half-hour Saint Johnstone passed up a good opportunity to double their advantage. Slack defending allowed Sheerin to cross into the unmarked Scotland who should have done better than to head over. Soon afterwards, only a fantastic save from Smith denied McLaren’s free header from entering the net. Upfield only smart work from Cuthbert then prevented Paterson closing in on a Stanic slip. Motherwell were being opened up too easily at the back, a cross-field ball from McLaren finding Scotland but his return in was too strong. Scotland then enjoyed progress to 20 yards out before seeing a shot deflected behind. Motherwell cleared, and McDonald did well to win possession and find McCormack though the shot was high. Superb defending from Reynolds prevented MacDonald going clear on Smith a minute or so later. As Motherwell broke, they were inches away from an equaliser. Good play from McGarry gave McDonald the chance to turn and shoot with the ball taking a deflection of Stanic and falling just inches wide of the far post. The corner was cleared, but Motherwell regained the ball and McCormack saw his race towards the box ended as Stanic and Lawrie sandwiched him down. The free kick was in a promising position on the edge of the box, but the take from McCormack struck the wall and the chance was gone. As the half ended Motherwell attacked, McDonald having a shot go wide on the angle.

Half Time     Motherwell  0     Saint Johnstone  1

No doubt the ears of the Motherwell players were still ringing as the second half began, and they pushed upfield immediately. McCormack was taken out by a late James foul, the defender lucky not to be booked. The free kick was in a superb position, some 22 yards out, but McCormack, normally extremely effective at this range, was just too high as the ball went over the bar. Fitzpatrick then played McGarry down the wing but the cross was well defended as James booted clear. Saint Johnstone rode the early pressure to force a corner. James inadvertently set Motherwell on the attack with Kerr and McGarry breaking, though the final ball was too near Cuthbert as McCormack chased in. A cross from Fitzpatrick then appeared to strike the arm of Stanic but Referee McCurry turned a blind eye. Moments after a McLaren cross had been headed wide by McDonald his team-mate, Scotland, made room for himself before sending a 20-yard shot so wide it went for a throw-in. Motherwell decided a change was necessary, McGarry making way for Molloy. The latter was immediately involved, setting up Corrigan but rather than an angled drive the Motherwell defender opted to cross low and saw the ball deflected behind for a corner. Cuthbert dropped the initial ball in but gathered at the second attempt. A one-two between Scotland and MacDonald gave the latter a chance though his low shot was well held as Smith gathered. Motherwell pushed forward and only some last-ditch defending kept the score advantageous for the visitors. Paterson had a shot blocked by the back of Lawrie before McCormack had his angled drive charged away by McManus, with a cry of handball again ignored as the defender did indeed have the ball strike his arm. Referee McCurry then made a decision which effectively ended the tie. Stanic, who had continually taken an age at throw-ins, was merely warned for his latest delay when the throw should have been reversed and a yellow card shown. McLaren fired in a shot which Smith parried but the ball broke for Stanic. He jinked his way to the by line before picking out Scotland, and his free header was in the back of the net. Terrific play from Molloy almost pulled a goal back, his low cross hooked away after he’d worked his way into the box. Motherwell changed again, Clarkson on in place of Murphy. Saint Johnstone went after a third, Craigan’s clearance fired wide by Mensing. Scotland and McLaren then worked the ball into the box with Smith doing well to deflect the ball behind. The Motherwell goalie then gathered an 8-yard header from James. Stanic go the benefit of some choice Refereeing when he went down rather easily under McCormack pressure inside his own box. Almost ending the tie was MacDonald, cutting inside 20 yards out before firing wide of the far post. Motherwell team-mates Craigan and Smith then argued as the latter’s attempted clearance struck the backside of the defender presenting the chance MacDonald, the keeper making an excellent recovery to block and clear. A third Motherwell change saw Keegan bolster the attack in favour of Fitzpatrick, with the visitors taking off McLaren to bring on Morais. Motherwell did indeed get back into the match with a relatively simple goal moments later. MacDonald played in a good cross to the penalty spot where McCormack stuck out a leg to divert the ball in off Cuthbert. And within a further minute or so the Fir Parkers should have had the chance to level from the spot. Clarkson was clearly pushed by Morais inside the box with Referee McCurry initially appearing to point to the spot then, incredibly, decide to wave play on. The ball ran to Kerr who chipped over the top from outside the box. It was the turn of Motherwell to turn the screw and a superb save from Cuthbert, from a fierce angled drive from McCormack, kept them ahead, the ball only just missing out on Clarkson’s head. A further visiting change had Scotland make way for Jackson. The sides traded corners, before the visitors had the perfect opportunity to put the tie beyond any doubt. Sheerin broke upfield and supplied Jackson who was clear. His heavy touch around Smith took him wide and as he got in a shot Corrigan blocked near the line to clear. A third visiting change had MacDonald replaced by Milne. Despite many warnings throughout the game by Referee McCurry, and six substitutions, only three additional minutes were played. However, as the final whistle went, it was the visitors who progressed and few could complain over the piece.

Full Time     Motherwell  1     Saint Johnstone  2

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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