Motherwell 2, Dunfermline 0

Match Date: Saturday, March 31 2007
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 4,511
Motherwell Team (4-4-2):

Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Murphy, McBride (Darren Smith 69), Kerr, Vadocz, Paterson, Keegan, McDonald.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Clarkson, McGarry, Kinniburgh, Molloy, Fitzpatrick.

Motherwell scorer: McDonald (51 pen, 62)

Booked: Craigan, McDonald, Murphy.

WELL SKIP TO VICTORY 

Motherwell  2     Dunfermline Athletic  0

A DOUBLE From Parkhead-bound Scott McDonald saw Motherwell all but guarantee SPL football next season, and keep the visitors deep in the mire. It was a perfect response from McDonald after the week’s news.

Motherwell had an early free kick when Glass fouled Vadocz. As the free kick came in Muirhead went down in a heap. The ball was returned as play continued and McDonald slid in on the loose ball with De Vries, the latter also receiving a knock. Both visiting players soon recovered. Murphy sent a forward ball towards Keegan and his header struck Bamba before going behind. McBride gathered the loose ball as it was cleared and, cutting inside, unleashed a fierce drive, which was tipped round the post. Jim Paterson took a head knock at the corner but, once cleared, he was treated and resumed his place on the park. Glass found McIntyre as Dunfermline attacked though his shot was wide of the mark. Hammill returned the ball though McBride, back covering, cleared. Vadocz and O’Brien clashed and the latter was awarded a free kick. Hammill stepped up and sent the ball over the top with Smith covering. Dunfermline pushed forward again, though this time the shot from Glass was extremely high to say the least. Motherwell almost took the lead thanks to a piece of superb skill from McBride. Morrison conceded a corner and, played out to McBride, he superbly volleyed an effort from 20 yards inches past the upright. Superb defending from Marc Reynolds denied O’Brien breaking through with McIntyre conceding a free kick as he fouled the defender. Dunfermline came close when McIntyre got on the end of a move but directed his effort only at Smith who gathered. Good defending was required at the other end when Shields hooked clear as Kerr tried to reach a Keegan ball. Murphy clipped the ball back towards Paterson and, skipping inside, he unleashed an angled drive which beat De Vries but also the bar. O’Brien gathered a forward ball soon after for Dunfermline, and passing inside to McIntyre, only a vital Vadocz interception stopped his progress. McDonald turned on the by line and fired in a dangerous cross but Morrison cleared. A long free kick from Craigan then created problems for the visiting defence, though Keegan dragged his shot wide from inside the box. Hammill attacked for Dunfermline. He evaded Murphy before delivering a deep cross which O’Brien was only able to divert wide. Hammill returned the ball though Murphy was there to clear. O’Brien kept up the pressure by crossing in towards McIntyre; covering was Keegan, who hooked downfield. Motherwell gained a free kick when Morrison took out Corrigan, but the ball in from Paterson was too near to De Vries. There should have been a card for Mason; already guilty of a few late challenges, but his tackle on Murphy was missed somehow by the Referee. However, a free kick was given when Shields fouled Paterson moments later, but again De Vries held the ball in with little in the way of a challenge on him. Paterson sent a long ball forward to McDonald who was unable to control the ball but still forced a corner. Shortly after McDonald did well to turn and cross but Bamba cleared as Keegan threatened. Corrigan looked to have won fairly from Muirhead but Referee Finnie, who declared it a free kick, also warned Corrigan of his future conduct. Muirhead connected with the Hammill free kick but Smith comfortably held. In time added on Vadocz had a chance but sliced his shot wide. 

Half-Time     Motherwell  0     Dunfermline Athletic  0

Motherwell attacked from the off, and McDonald won a corner when his shot was blocked. This, however, came to nothing as De Vries gathered. After Kerr had conceded a free kick, Glass swung the ball in and it took a good piece of defending from Craigan to stop McIntyre getting more power on his header as Smith held. Moments afterwards Motherwell had the perfect opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty. McGuire rashly challenged McDonald as he burst into the box and there was little doubt about the award, or the yellow card given to the defender. McDonald himself clutched the ball and, despite some feeble attempts by De Vries at putting the striker off, he finished with style and opened the scoring for Motherwell. The visiting defence were opened up again when Paterson and Keegan played a one-two though the latter’s shot was wide. Reynolds conceded a free kick when he fouled McIntyre. However, Smith was equal to the shot in. Bamba escaped punishment when he took Keegan down, though seconds later there was a free kick when Morrison fouled Corrigan, and he received a yellow card for his troubles. Rising higher than everyone was Paul Keegan and he was very unfortunate to see De Vries pull of a superb parry at the expense of a corner. Next in the Referee’s book was Craigan, booked a tad harshly for a foul on McIntyre. Glass took the free kick and found McIntyre, whose header was no problem for Smith. McDonald continued to trouble the visiting defence, and only a vital block by McGuire stopped a shot on target. Mason again escaped a booking when he was very late on McBride, but as play continued, Shields was carded for a foul on Paterson who recovered somewhat gingerly. McDonald almost got past Bamba who had slipped near the box, and as the Motherwell man and McGuire clashed there were some afters but the Referee chose to wave play on. Dunfermline won a corner son after though the resultant header from Bamba was wide. The visitors made a change, Burchill replacing Muirhead, but the sub had hardly been on the park when Motherwell doubled their lead. Smith’s goal kick was flicked on by Keegan and McDonald gathered, raced forward, and coolly slotted beyond De Vries. The response from Dunfermline was a Hammill angled effort, which Smith held easily. Motherwell had another shout for a penalty when Hammill appeared to push McDonald over inside the box but play was waved on. Vadocz had a chance but couldn’t direct his 25-yard shot beyond De Vries, this moments before Motherwell replaced the impressive McBride with Darren Smith. A minute later McDonald saw yellow as Referee Finnie deemed something said to be worthy of a card. Again, Mason was clearly guilty of a very late challenge; the latest recipient being McDonald but this was ignored. Murphy was booked when he tripped O’Brien. Craigan cleared the free kick and it was Mason once more who cynically took out Keegan but there was only a free kick given. Good play involving Smith and McDonald had the Scotland Under-20 star racing towards De Vries but the visiting keeper got there to clear. Dunfermline brought on another striker, Crawford replacing McGuire. McDonald again combined with Smith, sending the youngster in again but De Vries once more got the better of the situation. The ball landed at Corrigan’s feet outside the box but his cross-cum-shot was held. The visitors had an opportunity to pull a goal back when a short header back from Kerr was pounced up on by Crawford. However, his lay-off fro McIntyre was knocked behind by Craigan off Smith. A chance fell the way of McIntyre soon after but he headed wide. Somehow Mason again escaped a card after he clearly fouled McDonald. Shields brought down McDonald to concede a free kick but headers from Keegan and McDonald ended with Shields clearing. Paul Keegan should have put the gloss on the scoreline when he fired over from 12 yards out after being set up by Vadocz. McDonald sent Smith again into the box but this time Shields cleared before he could trouble De Vries. With time running out the luck Mason had carried finally ran out, as he was booked. The card was long, long overdue, carded after flattening Smith. Hammill had a shot comfortably held by Smith, though the Dunfermline man limped off to be replaced by Ryan. Time soon ran out and Motherwell celebrated the points. 

Full Time     Motherwell  2     Dunfermline Athletic  0

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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