Motherwell 2, Hibernian 0

 

Match Date: Saturday, May 6 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 5,426

Motherwell Team:

Woods, Corrigan, Strong, Kemble, McMillan, Townsley (Twaddle 65), Harvey, Brannan, Adams (Ramsay 88), Spencer (Nicholas 85), Goodman.
Subs not used: Brown, Hammell.

Motherwell scorer: Twaddle (70, 73)

DOUBLE TWADS KEEPS WELL IN THE HUNT

Motherwell  2     Hibernian  0

MOTHERWELL GAINED A PRECIOUS VICTORY WHICH Just may make European footie next season a possibility. Two goals from Super Sub Kevin Twaddle saw off Hibs who, to be honest, deserved nothing out of a game completely dominated by the Fir Parkers.

Motherwell began positively with Stevie McMillan, back from injury, chipping in for Goodman though Hughes was able to recover and clear out of play. A foul by McIntosh on Corrigan then gave Motherwell a free-kick out on the right though a poor take by Ged Brannan failed to trouble Colgan. A long kick-out by the visiting Keeper almost caught out the home defence but not Woods who made the catch ahead of Miller. Trying to make amends for the weak free-kick Brannan blasted in a 35-yarder but it was well over the bar. At the other end McGinlay tried likewise though he was even further away from goal. Hibs tried to claim a penalty when Mcginlay saw his cross hit McMillan on the upper arm though there was no way it was intentional. Paul Harvey, revelling in his second successive start, chipped into the Hibs box for Adams whose flick found Goodman, but a poor first-touch from the Fir Park Cult Hero allowed Colgan to gather. Stevie McMillan's long ball then caught McIntosh flat-footed and he was forced to bring Goodman down 20 yards out. No card was produced and McIntosh surely would have thought himself lucky at that being last man. McMillan and Harvey both saw shots blocked by flailing visiting arms but the only decision forthcoming was an off-side. Lehman of Hibs then attempted to break and he was brought down by Corrigan. The ball was curled in but it was well beyond McGinlay and ran out of play. Motherwell resumed attacking with Adams intelligent knock-down hit on the drop by Harvey but it bounced off Smith and was cleared. Referee Clyde blundered seconds later when McMillan and Strong collided on the half-way line. Despite the obvious head knock to McMillan, Clyde waved play-on and only stopped play once the Hibs attack had petered out. A great long pass by Corrigan sent Goodman to the bye-line though the cut-back was well cleared by Hughes. Play swept to the other end where Hartley's dangerous cross was deflected by Strong's header into the hands of Woods. Motherwell then forced a corner which very nearly gave the home side the lead. Harvey's ball was cleared out to Brannan who touched the ball to the side for Harvey. He cut inside the box and unleashed a terrific shot which cracked off the cross-bar with Colgan beaten all ends up. John Spencer gathered the ball and crossed in but Townsley mis-timed his jump and headed away from goals. More good play from Goodman then set Adams up but instead of a return to Goodman in the clear Adams chose to shoot and was blocked out. Colgan then had to be sharp to gather from Goldman's excellent cushioned header for Spencer. Stevie Woods had little to do but he almost set up the opener on 22 minutes. His kick-out after Hartley had been caught well off-side gave Spencer a chance but the weak shot was easily saved. Smith made a great recovery to stop Townsley making the most of Spencer's ball in, and he in turn then set up an attack where Adams had to make some excellent ground to prevent Lovell going clear on the edge of the box. Martyn Corrigan then sent a long ball in the direction of Townsley who was beaten to the ball by McIntosh, though the ball went for a corner. Colgan gathered ahead of Goodman, and setting the ball away upfield almost gave Miller the chance to test Woods, Corrigan making a great preventative tackle. McGinlay then strode forward but his 30-yard shot again troubled on the seagulls on the roof of the Cooper Stand. Clever skill by Harvey allowed him to make space on the wing and passing inside McMillan and then Adams saw shots blocked away on the edge of the D. McGinlay set up a break but the pass to Miller was well read by the Motherwell defence catching the striker well off-side. A poor pass out of defence by Hartley was pounced upon by Spencer He made way to 20 yards out and fired in a shot which was a yard the wrong side of Colgan's right-hand post. Smith should have seen yellow for a bad tackle from behind on Goodman though the free-kick was the only thing given by Referee Clyde. Spencer was then brought down by Hughes 20 yards out but play was waved on. Two minutes later Hughes again brought down Spencer in an identical motion and this time the free-kick was awarded. Harvey picked out Goodman whose header was met by Townsley, though the shot on the volley was well over with the winger falling backwards as he went to hit. It was all Motherwell, Townsley's chip for Goodman saw the latter stretch for a header which Colgan managed to beat Spencer to. Harvey's great pass allowed Adams to make the bye-line and his cut-back fell to Townsley but the poor effort was cleared. Spencer, Harvey and Goodman combined and it took a timely interception by Hughes to partially clear for a corner. Greg Strong knocked in a header which Adams looked set to strike and it took Miller and Hughes to combine to foul. No penalty was given and Colgan caught the ball. Right on the interval Motherwell went agonisingly close. Spencer got the break of the ball and brilliantly back-heeled for Goodman. Taking at ouch he was blocked by Colgan, the ball broke to Harvey but his mis-hit shot was cleared from just 12 yards out. 

Half-Time     Motherwell  0     Hibernian  0

The Fir Parkers began where they had left off forcing Hibs back almost immediately from the re-start. A poor defensive pass by Hughes allowed Goodman to gather the ball. Passing to Brannan he in turn gave Townsley, via Corrigan, the chance to make way into the box but was denied by McGinlay. Harvey played the ball in but Colgan came to his team's rescue. McGinlay then brought down Harvey 35 yards out, but Brannan's free-kick was met by Hughes at the expense of a corner. Paatelainen met Harvey-s corner to knock out for a throw which Goodman knocked over from just inside the box. A rare attack by Hibs saw McIntosh make a foray forwards though Kemble was able to make a great block and clear. Spencer picked up the ball and combined with Goodman to send Townsley clear though a questionable off-side stopped him. Hibs then attacked again with McGinlay whose ball in was intercepted by Kemble, play being stopped with high-feet against Paatelainen. Motherwell then forced a corner when Renwick beat Townsley to the ball. The corner fell to Brannan but he shot way over. Brannan then had to make a great recovery after being beaten to the ball by Miller, the Hibs striker looking set to bear down on Woods until Brannan got back to win the ball. Miller then caught Brannan late with a tackle from the back but again Referee Clyde failed to apply the letter of the law. He then further enraged the home support by giving a foul against Goodman who was clearly fouled by McIntosh on the edge of the box. With 25 minutes to go Billy Davies subbed Townsley for Kevin Twaddle in what was to prove to be an inspired move. Good passing by Motherwell carved open the Hibs defence with Miller forced to trip Harvey and conceded a free-kick 20 yards out, though Brannan, clearly missing his shooting boots, shot way over. However, four minutes later Motherwell deservedly took the lead with a fine goal Kemble's long free-kick from inside the Motherwell half was headed down by Goodman to Twaddle, and he side-stepped Smith to drive into the bottom far corner of the net. Goodman then won possession inside the Motherwell half and set twaddle off on a run down the wing. Sending in a low cross the ball fell just beyond Spencer and Colgan gathered. Harvey then made a great run into the box making the bye-line and his cut-back was met by Goodman though the contact was not quite perfect and Murray was able to boot clear ahead of Adams. However, a minute later Motherwell doubled their advantage. Receiving the ball from Harvey twaddle sliced a cross from just inside the box over Colgan and the ball lopped into the back of the net. Soon after play restarted Miller was booked for dissent. Hibs then took him off and replaced him with Jean. A push by McIntosh on Goodman gave Motherwell a free-kick 20 yards out on the right. Harey played the ball to the back post where Goodman was able to chest the ball down but his shot went wide. Mcginlay should have seen yellow when, losing the ball to Kemble, he carried through and caught the Motherwell defender. Hughes and renwick had to combine to block Goodman from getting in a shot on the edge of the box, and seconds afterwards Spencer and Twaddle played a brilliant one-two inside the box with twaddle's shot going niches over the bar. With 11 minutes to go Hibs had their first effort on target when McGinlay got on to a cross from Hughes to header goal-wards from 10 yards, Woods making a brilliant tip over. Twaddle made good space on the wing but his cross was just too long for the inrushing Goodman. Hibs brought on Lovering for Smith and no sooner had play restarted when Mcginlay caught Brannan again though no card was given. Spencer then made way for Nicholas . A well-timed tackle from twaddle prevented Lovering going clear on Woods as Hibs attempted to gain a consolation. Murray then sent the ball wide for hartley who beat McMillan to the ball but fired way wide of goals. Motherwell were playing some pretty good football with Hibs chasing shadows. Motherwell made another change with Adams going off to be replaced by Ramsay. Still Hibs tried to gain a late goal with Hartley's chip falling just beyond Jean and running out. However, Motherwell comfortably held out for an important win.

Full Time    Motherwell  2     Hibs  0

Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)