Motherwell 3, Falkirk 3

Match Date: Saturday, April 28 2007
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 3,640
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Danny Murphy (Quinn 8), Darren Smith, Kerr, Vadocz, Paterson, McDonald, Keegan (Clarkson 57).
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McCormack, McGarry, McBride, Fitzpatrick.

Motherwell scorers: Darren Smith 18, McDonald 37, Clarkson 58.

Booked: none.

WELL SCORE FOUR TIMES BUT FINISH LEVEL

Motherwell  3     Falkirk  3

DESPITE scoring four times, their first goals in this month, Motherwell gained only a point after an all-action game at Fir Park. Leading two-nil at the break the Fir Parkers found themselves behind just 10 minutes later, one of which was an own goal.

The visitors began brightly with Gow sending in a shot, which Smith held comfortably. Craig then tired a 25-yard shot, which deflected into the path of Cregg, but he was well marshalled by Reynolds. Motherwell had to make an all-too early change when Murphy went down injured and had to be replaced by Paul Quinn. It took Motherwell until 9 minutes before anything of note took place, McDonald turning and crossing towards Keegan but he was adjudged to have fouled Schmeichel. Gow and Cregg combined to find space in the box though Gow was crowded out. Falkirk attacked again with Kerr conceding a free kick some 20 yards out. Cregg picked out Finnegan. The visiting striker saw his header well blocked by Smith with the ball cleared. A long free kick from Paul Quinn picked out Reynolds though his knockdown was volleyed over as Smith latched on. However, the next contribution from the Motherwell winger was much more effective. Paterson played a superb ball into McDonald. Slipping the ball along the six-yard line Smith rushed in to give Schmeichel no chance and put Motherwell ahead. Shortly afterwards McDonald did well to fire in a cross which Paterson looked to head home but Keegan, going for the same ball, put him off to the extent the header was wide. Latapy and Scobbie combined to win a corner for Falkirk though Corrigan cleared. Paterson almost nicked a second when his fierce shot was deflected behind by Milne who knew little about it. Keegan rose to meet the corner but could only head behind. Latapy again found space and picked out Finnigan though Craigan came in and used Smith to clear. Cregg’s attempt from outside the box moments later was well over the top. A race to the ball between Schmeichel and Paterson saw the Falkirk keeper crucially win by a very short distance. Finnigan had a chance but he shot weakly and Smith had no trouble gathering the ball. McDonald looked to take play forward and was taken late by Cregg; play was waved on but there was little advantage to Motherwell and the chance was gone. Falkirk pushed up to win a corner, but within a minute were further behind. Quinn played a fantastic ball to send McDonald clear on Schmeichel and, rounding the keeper, he superbly finished to double Motherwell’s advantage. Kerr and Latapy clashed with the latter getting the benefit of the Referee’s whistle. A quick free kick failed to yield joy for visitors. Cregg picked out Gow though his low shot was wide. It was Motherwell who almost put the game to sleep when Smith cut inside on the right to drive a low shot which only needed a touch but evaded all as it ran narrowly past.

Half time     Motherwell  2     Falkirk  0

Few could have predicted the way the opening quarter-of-an hour of the second half would go, but it began with Motherwell on the attack. Cregg fouled Paterson to concede a free kick. Swung in by Paterson himself, Keegan rose to challenge and his header was held by the visiting keeper though only at the second attempt. Within tow minutes, however, Falkirk were level. Firstly, Gow sent Scobbie wide and he shot low under Smith. Next minute Ross sent a long ball forward which Craigan, attempting to head back to Smith, directed the ball instead inside the far post to concede an equaliser. However, it was to get much worse for Motherwell. Ross pushed forward to win a corner which, although Smith failed to gather, Reynolds cleared. But the lead for Falkirk was merely delayed. After Vadocz had a soft foul given against him for a challenge on Latapy, the latter slipped the ball in towards Cregg and he made no mistake. Motherwell made an immediate change, Keegan replaced by Clarkson, and he made quite an impact of his own. McDonald again did well to find his fellow striker and, with a quite stunning finish, gave Schmeichel no chance to equalise. It was quite a spell. Gow found himself in space outside the box but couldn’t keep his shot down. The visiting players were angered when Quinn made a hefty tackle on Cregg though the Referee deemed a free kick sufficient punishment when the Motherwell defender couldn’t have argued with a booking. Cregg recovered and pushed Smith over to give Motherwell a free kick near the box. Paterson drove the free kick in though it was cleared. Good linking between McDonald and Paterson almost gave Smith a further chance but he was beaten to the ball by an important Barr clearance. However, McDonald really should have put Motherwell ahead again when he was put clear by Paterson but, with only Schmeichel to beat, he clipped his shot wide. Falkirk replaced Cregg, who had failed to recover from the earlier incident with Quinn, the sub being McStay, Reynolds seemed to have avoided contact with Scobbie but he got the verdict of a free kick from the Referee. Scobbie put the ball in to Finnigan who headed over. Schmeichel then made a save which his famous father would have been proud of when he got down to parry away a fierce Clarkson shot soon afterwards. Barr pushed McDonald over out on the left. Vadocz took the free kick and was unlucky to see his net-bound shot deflected behind by Barr. Craig made a vital interception to stop Paterson gathering a ball in from Clarkson. Finnigan responded with an angled drive which was over on 16 yards. Only a goal-line clearance by Ross denied McDonald the winner when he got back to head off the line after the Motherwell striker had ran clear. A short pass back from Reynolds then almost had Gow in though Smith gathered. McDonald and Clarkson linked with the latter seeing his shot held by the visiting keeper. Gow, who had moments before shot well wide, fired over the top near the end.

Full Time     Motherwell  3     Falkirk  3

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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