Motherwell 2, Hibernian 1

Match Date: Saturday, October 20 2007
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 7,071.
Motherwell Team (4-3-3):

Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Paterson, Hughes (O'Donnell 90), Lasley, McGarry, McCormack (Grabban 90), Porter, Clarkson. 
Subs not used: Meldrum, Mensing, Fitzpatrick, Kinniburgh, Jamie Murphy.

Motherwell scorer: McCormack (35, 37).

Booked: Hughes.

ROSCOE DOUBLES THE AGONY FOR HIBS

Motherwell  2     Hibernian  1

AFTER Scoring a fantastic goal in Motherwell’s 4-2 CIS Cup win at Easter Road recently, Ross McCormack was at it again with a superb double to give the visitors their first defeat of the season. 
Motherwell began in earnest, forcing a corner within the first couple of minutes, though the ball in from McCormack was too close to Makalamby. McCormack then pounced on a Lasley through ball to fire over the top from outside the area. The first real response from Hibs was a Morais shot which sailed well over on the angle after he had taken a Donaldson ball. Fletcher then appeared to foul Reynolds but play continued and, as the Motherwell man recovered, he did well to block the shot behind with the visiting support claiming a non-existent hand ball. Hibs had a further corner after this when Craigan knocked behind, but it was just as fruitless as it’s predecessor as a Jones foul on Hughes stopped play. Chisholm sent Donaldson wide soon after but his shot was well past the far post. The visitors were in attacking mode again shortly afterwards but a superb tackle from Paterson stopped Donaldson going through on Smith. A very short pass back from Hogg had Makalamby racing from goal to clear just as Porter was about to connect. The game exploded a minute later when Hibs were reduced to ten men. Morais went two-footed into a challenge on Paterson and Referee Richmond produced a red card. Paterson was extremely fortunate to be able to continue after treatment from what was a reckless tackle by Morais. Motherwell l had a shout for hand ball when McCormack struck a cross off then arm of Jones. Play on, and Makalamby eventually gathered. A terrific tackle from McGarry appeared to have gained possession but Referee Richmond deemed the fair challenge worthy of a foul on Chisholm. Murphy took the free kick but troubled only the advertising above the Cooper Stand. Motherwell went close when Porter connected with a Quinn cross and sent a header narrowly past with Jones in close attendance. McCormack then laid the ball off to Hughes but he saw his low effort gathered by the alert Makalamby. Hibs then went ahead through a controversial penalty kick. Fletcher had gathered a Donaldson ball and, hitting the ball forward, he nicked it to the right and away from goals before clattering into the on-rushing Smith. The striker clearly played for the penalty and Referee Richmond duly obliged. Following an immediate recovery, he dispatched the ball to the opposite site of Smith’s dive. The Fir Parkers almost hit back right away, Clarkson forcing Makalamby to parry the ball round the post after a good ball in from Porter. However, it wasn’t long before Motherwell were level, and it was another special from McCormack. Taking a pass from McGarry, the Scotland Under-21 International controlled the ball before unleashing a vicious dipping volley which deceived Makalamby and went in off the underside of the bar. And, just 90 seconds later, McCormack turned the game right on its head. Hogg brought Clarkson down as he threatened near the centre of goal some 20 yard out. McCormack needed no second initiation as he whipped the ball into the net before the Hibs keeper could react. Paterson was adjudged to have fouled Donaldson and a free kick gave Hibs a chance to get back into things. The ball fell for Fletcher who attempted an overhead kick, though Smith was alert to gather. Only a stroke of luck stopped Hibs going further behind shortly afterwards. Paterson crossed deep where Porter sent a goal-bound effort crashing off the body of Clarkson and the ball drifted wide. Hibs forced a late corner in time added on after an injury to Fletcher, but the half ended with Motherwell still ahead. 

Half Time     Motherwell  2     Hibernian  1

Fletcher failed to appear for the visitors after the break, replaced by Antonine-Curier, and he was immediately involved, sending a snapshot into the arms of the waiting Smith. The Motherwell keeper was alert to gather a dangerous ball in from Donaldson in a crowded box. Antoine-Curier then found Stevenson with a pass into the box but he fired his effort over the top without troubling Smith. Jones was guilty of a foul on McCormack giving Motherwell an opportunity some 25 yards out. Quickly taken, the ball was crashed over the top by Hughes. McCormack then found space out wide but drove his shot past the left-hand post. Stevenson nicked past Quinn out on the wing and sent in a dangerous cross, though Craigan was on hand to clear as Antoine-Curier threatened to pounce on the ball. A superb Motherwell move should have produced a third goal soon after. Porter and Paterson combined to supply Hughes and his cut back was sent goal-wards by McCormack, though he was denied his hat-trick by a superb Makalamby save. Jim Paterson won a corner off Murphy before which Hughes was booked following a tug on Kerr. Hibs also had made a change, Donaldson making way for Zemmama. Hughes supplied McCormack from the corner but sent his shot well over on the angle. Jones brought McCormack down as he went forward soon after, and from the free-kick again Makalamby produced a superb save to deny McCormack at the expense of a corner. It was all Motherwell at this point, and McCormack again forced another corner. The ball was cleared partially to Craigan and, belying his centre-half status, he swiftly turned his marker to send in a deft cross which McCormack knocked down to Paterson. Unfortunately the finish didn’t match the build up and the ball was sliced wide. The post then came to the rescue of the visitors a couple of minutes later. Clarkson set the ball up for McGarry and his side-footed shot beat the Hibs keeper but smacked off the right post and away to safety. Stevenson saw yellow when he was late on Lasley. Paterson made the by line soon after to cut the ball back but Clarkson was unable to find McGarry. Hibs came out of the storm and Zemmama connected with an Antoine-Curier cut-back but drove well over. Once again, Makalamby kept his side in with a chance of salvaging something when he produced a fantastic save to deny McGarry as the striker looked to direct a ball beyond the visiting keeper. The post again unbelievably prevented Motherwell putting the game beyond Hibs when McGarry curled a superb shot off the bar, the follow up from Porter being gratefully taken by Makalamby. Paterson was taken out by a clumsy challenge from Hogg which earned the Hibs player a yellow card. Hibs made their final change, Stevenson making way for O’Brien. Despite all the chances Motherwell had created and carried little luck with, Hibs almost levelled with six minutes left. From a corner, Jones sent a looping header off the top of the bar and away. McCormack raced away upfield on the break but, sniffing his hat-trick, dragged the ball wide with options to both sides. Quinn then cut a cross just behind Clarkson with Makalamby grateful to gather. Motherwell were catching Hibs on the break, with Hughes finding Clarkson but his shot was too high. O’Donnell then came on to replace Hughes. Shortly after Grabban had replaced McCormack, who left to a rousing reception from the home support, Hibs hit the bar again. From a free kick out wide, McCann headed against the bar in the final minute though it would have been unjust after a fine attacking Motherwell show.

Full Time     Motherwell  2     Hibernian  1

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

Home