Motherwell 3, Raith Rovers 1

Match Date: Wednesday, August 29 2007
Competition: CIS Cup 2nd Round
Attendance: 3,571.
Motherwell Team (4-3-3):

Graeme Smith, Kinniburgh, McLean, Reynolds, Corrigan, Lasley, Mensing, Paterson, Porter, McCormack (Clarkson 76), Darren Smith (McGarry 55). 
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Quinn, Fitzpatrick.

Motherwell scorers: McLean (45), McCormack (74), Porter (90).

Booked: None.

CIS CUP OF CHEER FOR WELL

Motherwell  3     Raith Rovers  1

MOTHERWELL Progressed to the third round of the CIS Insurance Cup after a hard-fought win over a useful 2nd Division Raith Rovers side at Fir Park. Seemingly destined for extra-time, it took a superb goal from Ross McCormack to edge Motherwell towards victory.

There were more than ten times more in attendance than the previous night’s match when tenants Gretna were playing, but with just 3500 in the ground it was somewhat sparse. Fahey of Raith was the first of the keepers having to work, cutting out a good Porter ball across in the direction of Smith. Andrews was then forced to concede a corner as McCormack swung in a cross. Cleared as far as Lasley his ball along the edge of the box was gathered by Mensing but he was dispossessed and ended up conceding a foul Weir and Hislop combined for the visitors to open up a space in the Motherwell box though Mensing was there to clear. Hislop then made the by-line and his speculative cross hit the bar on its way over. Winter took down McCormack to give Motherwell a free kick and as it fell to Reynolds he swiped at the ball and skewed it wide. Borris made his way down the by line only to be halted by a foul from Mensing. Any high ball was already being played predictably in the direction of Andrews, and this was no different. However, the Motherwell defence failed to pick the defender up and his header was cleared by the alert Paterson. Not long afterwards Hislop won a corner for Raith. Once more the Motherwell defence allowed Andrews room and he was only denied the opening goal by goal line block from Lasley, turning the ball round for another corner. On this occasion Hislop was guilty of a foul on Smith. Borris was away down the wing again unchallenged and his deep cross was cleared by Kinniburgh after Campbell had nodded the ball across. Motherwell broke forward with Paterson finding Porter with a superb defence-splitting pass, though a rather dubious off-side flag halted play. Smith’s mazy run had the visiting defence in trouble and the final ball almost had McCormack clear, Campbell doing the necessary and clearing. Kinniburgh looked to have fairly won a header with Hislop but Referee Collum gave a free kick 25 yards out. McLean conceded the corner which was duly cleared allowing Motherwell to counter. McCormack found Smith but his cross was too near Fahey. Terrific play from McCormack took him away from his marker and combining with Corrigan the ball came back only for the striker to head unchallenged well wide. Campbell of Raith was on hand to deny Smith going clear as Motherwell looked to make home advantage pay. Paterson fed Porter but his low cross was held. Willie Kinniburgh was again unfairly penalised for what looked like a fair challenge on Wilson. Raith were giving as good as they got, Smith having to palm a cross away under severe pressure with Borris sending the return wide. Keith Lasley was lucky not to be booked when he palmed a through ball down with both the Referee and the Linesman unable to spot. Motherwell had a scare when Hislop went clear though a fantastic interception from Reynolds denied a shot on goals. Seconds later Borris supplied the impressive Carcary but a poor first touch allowed Smith to gather. Hand ball was given against Campbell allowing McCormack the chance to deliver a ball into the box. McLean rose to head in but the ball was cleared, and as Lasley gathered he was clearly body-checked by Silvestro but play continued. Smith was caught in open space as he came to attempt to gather a through ball allowing Weir to find Hislop. However, the Raith man was unable to direct the ball in. Good work from McCormack gained a corner. McLean rose high to head and it took a superb tip round from Fahey to deny the opener. The visiting keeper was unable to deny McLean a minute later when, following a corner, the Motherwell man leapt to power home the opening goal. In time added on, Smith got down to hold a shot from Borris after McLean had slipped.

Half-Time     Motherwell  1     Raith Rovers  0

Seconds after the restart Motherwell almost made it two. Corrigan fed in McCormack with Andrews having to concede a corner. Smith crossed in towards Mensing and his shot was blocked by the desperate Pelosi and cleared. Raith raced away on the break with Carcary and, with only Smith to beat, was denied by a fine save from the Motherwell keeper. The Fir Parkers failed to head the warning, and Raith were back on level terms shortly afterwards. Paterson was beaten on the wing by Carcary and, with all expecting a cross, he chose to shoot low and the ball beat Smith down low. The visitors pressed to take the lead, Smith having to do well to hold a low shot from Carcary. Motherwell appealed for a penalty when Pelosi looked to have handled a Smith effort on the line. From the corner Andrews cleared as far as Smith but he cracked a volley over the top from 20 yards. Motherwell made a change, Smith making way for McGarry. Mensing almost sent Paterson away clear with a superb tackle from Silvestro denying him a chance on goal. Raith broke with speed; Borris firing past the left-hand post after Carcary was allowed to advance. Motherwell tore the visiting defence apart when Corrigan sent a superb pass through to McCormack. His chip found McGarry but the cross was too strong for Porter. The Motherwell defence again backed off as Carcary raced up field but his shot was fortunately deflected behind for a corner, cleared from the foot of McGarry. McCormack was sent crashing to the ground after a hefty Wilson challenge. There was no booking but a free kick given, though the Raith defence stood firm. McCormack did well to find Lasley soon after but the drive was wide of the mark. Indecisive defending from Motherwell almost allowed Carcary and Weir to combine, eventually Reynolds making a no-nonsense clearance. Ross McCormack burst forward but chose to shoot with McGarry clear to his right, Fahey comfortably saving. Raith made a change, Borris making way for Sloan. He was immediately involved, though his ball was cleared by McLean to the waiting McCormack. The striker made good progress but was weak with his pass and Porter was unable to connect. A further change from the visitors saw Carcary make way for Davidson. Within seconds Motherwell had the ball in the net, Porter finishing superbly after a Corrigan through ball though the off-side flag, again dubious, kept the score line level. Motherwell had the upper hand, and also the lead within two minutes of the disallowed goal. Paterson and Lasley combined to set up McCormack and, from the angle, unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard drive which left Fahey helpless. It was McCormack’s last touch, substituted soon after for Clarkson. Motherwell were on top, and McGarry’s cross was bulleted off the cross-bar by Mensing. The ball came back in and Clarkson saw his effort blocked well by Fahey. Good chasing from Clarkson saw him gain a corner for Motherwell a minute later. Mensing rose but saw the header drift wide. Chris Porter was adjudged to have fouled Pelosi out wide to concede a free kick. The ball broke to Weir and his shot was charged down by McLean, though the whistle had already gone for an infringement. Porter as then the victim of a foul from Campbell. From the free kick into the box McLean almost repeated his earlier feat, though this time Fahey saved. There should have been a free kick against Andrews as, and not for the first time in the match, he quite literally went right through a player. Kinniburgh was the target, but there was no free kick with Paterson forced to clear. The next to suffer from Andrews was Porter, but again there was no free kick, though when play did stop Fahey was booked for talking out of turn. On the 90, Motherwell passed up a superb chance to completely finish the game. Porter latched onto a loose ball and played McGarry wide. Crossing with pace, the ball landed right in front of Porter and Clarkson but, with the goal gaping, the got in each other’s road and the chance was gone. However, Motherwell did make sure of things two minutes into injury time. Pelosi was dispossessed by Porter, and he finished with style from the edge of the box.

Full time     Motherwell  3     Raith Rovers  1

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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