Motherwell
2, Kilmarnock 0
Match Date: Sunday, April 16 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 5,429
Motherwell Team:
Woods, Corrigan, Kemble, Strong, McMillan, Townsley (Curcic 76), Valakari, Brannan,
Twaddle (Adams 82), Goodman (Spencer 72), McCulloch.
Subs not used: Brown, Nicholas.
Motherwell scorers: Brannan (21), McCulloch (56)
WELL TO THE DOUBLE TO SEE OFF KILLIE
Motherwell 2 Kilmarnock 0
TWO GREAT STRIKES BY GED BRANNAN AND Lee McCulloch helped Motherwell to put their European ambitions back on course at Fir Park. Indeed, had it not been for some fine goalkeeping by Marshall in the away goal it could have been a more emphatic win for the home side.
Motherwell were the first to show, and returned from a spell out injured Greg Strong sent a long ball forward with Don Goodman and Reilly chasing to the by-line. Goodman won the race but was beaten in the end by Holt who had come back to cover. A minute later Goodman hit a cross of Lauchlan to win a corner though there was a suspicion of hand-ball against the visiting defender. McMillan's effort was cleared and Kilmarnock broke forward though in the end Smith's header was a tame one and Woods gathered easily. Another returning from injury was Derek Townsley and he showed some great skills to ghost by McKinlay on the right but the end cross was out of play. After some 9 minutes play was temporarily halted with the appearance of a semi-naked man emerging from the Cooper stand. He managed to stagger onto the field of play near the corner flag by the main stand but was quickly apprehended much to the disgust of the support inside the ground. Seconds later Kilmarnock were awarded a free-kick some 22 yards out when Holt flung himself forward as Kemble cleared with a header. There was no contact but Referee Rowbotham decided on a free-kick which, after Durrant had stopped complaining about the positioning of the wall, McKinlay curled well wide. Durrant then played a one-two with Holt with the latter receiving a return pass which he sent out of play well beyond Smith. A great run by Twaddle on the left saw him run on to McMillan's pass and gain some 60 yards before Lauchlan came across to knock the ball out of play. Smith was then lucky to escape a card when he led with the elbow in an Ariel challenge with Kemble, Motherwell receiving the free-kick inside their own box. Motherwell then lost an unnecessary corner when Corrigan was forced to knock the ball out as Kilmarnock surged forward, Greg Strong there in the end to head well clear. Some fine play by Motherwell then saw them take the lead on 21 minutes with as good a goal as will be seen all season. Kemble began the move by cutting out a cross in his own area and knocking it to Goodman. He slipped the ball back for Corrigan, who passed forward to Valakari. Townsley then made forward progress before playing a neat move with Goodman and Valakari in midfield. The Fin passed inside to Brannan who strode forward and unleashed a powerful shot from fully 30 yards which dipped beyond Marshall and into the net. Soon after it could have been two as Dindelux's pass-back was short falling almost into McCulloch's path, Marshall able to recover the situation and clear just in time. Kilmarnock weren't seen as an attacking force much so far but when Smith beat Kemble to the ball his lay-off to McPherson saw a shot which Strong did well to block and clear. Motherwell broke forward with Corrigan whose pass for McCulloch was cut out by the alert Dindelux otherwise the striker was clear. Motherwell were then awarded a free-kick when Lauchlan was late on Goodman with a card perhaps also merited. Brannan took the kick but his shot went wide. Some great play by Lee McCulloch and Goodman sent Townsley into the box but his first-touch was poor and the ball ran out of play. As the ball came back in Lauchlan climbed all over McCulloch but play was waved on as the Kilmarnock defender cleared. A free-kick by McKinlay into the box was unnecessarily knocked behind for a corner by McMillan who received no shout from Woods. The ball came in and Dindelux' header was goal-bound until Woods and McMillan combined to clear of the line, woods gathering at the second attempt. Play swept to the other end with Twaddle showing great skill to make the bye-line. His deep cross found Townsley in space but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Marshall and cleared by McKinlay. Dindelux then had to be sharp to cut-out Valakari's pass for Goodman otherwise the striker was clear on goals. Smith received a stern talking to by Rowbotham for leading again with the elbow on Kemble, though this time surely a card should have been the minimum award. Durrant sent Cocard scurrying down the wing but a great tackle by Strong temporarily cleared. Strong again had to look sharp when Holt headed into the path of Smith and as Woods hesitated Strong came across to clear. A quite brilliant tackle by Corrigan on Cocard stopped the Frenchman going clear on woods as Kilmarnock enjoyed a brief spell of pressure, Dindelux heading past the post as the move petered out. A long-ball forward Townsley saw McCulloch and Marshall clash outside the box. Both had every right to challenge for the ball with Marshall preventing his side losing a second goal. McCulloch picked himself up and soon after helped win a corner as McPherson knocked behind, though Marshall took the ball well. The visitors broke with Smith and Wright playing a clever one-two though Strong was there to head into Woods' hands. Don Goodman headed a ball back into the path of McCulloch but his shot along the ground failed to trouble Marshall much who made a comfortable save. With five minutes to the interval it should have been two. Twaddle's cross-field pass to Townsley put the winger one-on-one with Marshal but again the keeper made a good block to deny Motherwell. The Visitors held the ball up well and some good passing ended with a weak header by Holt which Woods gathered easily. Good play by Goodman saw him enter the box though Holt was there for the throw. As the ball came in from Corrigan McCulloch showed terrific skill to shoot for goal but Lauchlan deflected for a corner. McPherson headed to the back post and as the ball was returned it evaded everyone except McMillan but his shot was gathered by Marshall at the second try.
Half-time Motherwell 1 Kilmarnock
0
Right from the resumption of play Motherwell could have been further ahead. Twaddle cut inside McPherson and his low cross was missed by Dindelux. Townsley, clearly not expecting the ball, also failed to connect and as the ball ran on McCulloch, way off balance, headed inches past. A great long-ball by Brannan sent Townsley scurrying to the bye-line but the ball ran just too much and the cross was behind. McMillan then had to be alert to cut out a dangerous forward ball by McKinlay which Smith had nodded on for Holt. A weak header out of defence by Holt was pounced upon by Goodman who set up McCulloch but his weak shot went wide. Martyn Corrigan again made a terrific saving tackle as Cocard played a one-two with Wright on the edge of the box. Running clear on Woods Corrigan came across to make a great tackle to concede a corner. As that was sung in Townsley headed to the back post where Wright was unmarked and his header appeared to be knocked behind by Woods for a second corner though none was given. Wright connected with McPherson's cross as Motherwell dithered though Woods was there to make a comfortable save. Simo Valakari appeared to make a good tackle on Holt to win the ball in midfield but he was adjudged the offender. McKinlay swung the ball in but once more Strong was there to clear. Motherwell broke forward with McCulloch who sent Goodman wide. The striker was upended by Lauchlan who was promptly shown a yellow card. Motherwell took the free-kick quickly but Referee Rowbotham pulled play back. When the kick was retaken Brannan sent the ball to the back post where McCulloch rose high above Lauchlan to loop a header beyond Marshall and double Motherwell's advantage. Some sublime passing by Motherwell then left Kilmarnock chasing shadows. McMillan McMillan played a great one-two with Goodman on the edge of the box with the defender going clear on Marshall, though the keeper again made a great block to clear. Seconds later Valakari played wide for Twaddle. He cut inside to drive towards goal but Marshall again made a good save. Kilmarnock relieved the pressure somewhat when Twaddle conceded a corner, though Woods took the effort comfortable. Lacuhlan then almost put his side into further trouble when his short pass-back was pounced upon by Goodman who raced in but Marshall was able to block and clear. Good play by Brannan saw him send a dangerous cross into the box which McPherson was forced to knock behind for a corner. Lauchlan cleared giving Durrant the chance to break, though his pass for Cocard caught the visitor well off-side. Kilmarnock then made a change, Smith being replaced by McCutcheon. Four minutes later There was a huge cheer from the home crowd when John Spencer made his return from injury to replace Don Goodman. Some more last-ditch defending by Kilmarnock stopped another goal when Dindelux came across to cut-out Townsley's ball for Spencer. Cocard burst forward to the bye-line but it was Corrigan who came across to concede a throw. Cocard was then main threat for the visitors and he crossed into the box. Strong headed out to McPherson whose shot fell to McCutcheon but with time he hurried a shot and Woods saved comfortably enough. Cocard then had two opportunities but his first was headed out by Strong and the second drifted well wide. Derek Townsley Motherwell should have been awarded a free-kick some 30 yards out when Holt body-checked Spencer after the striker had flicked the ball over the visiting midfielder. Kilmarnock made a double-substitution with 12 minutes to go, Wright and Cocard making way for Mahood and Abou. A break forward by Durrant showed some promise for Kilmarnock but his shot was well wide in the end. Abou showed some good skill to beat Strong near the right corner-flag and as Strong blocked Abou's progress the free-kick was awarded though Abou was less than happy about it, Referee Rowbotham speaking to both players. The free-kick was easily cleared, however. Motherwell then replaced Kevin Twaddle with Derek Adams. Kilmarnock won a corner when Strong was forced to nip in ahead of Holt but Motherwell broke upfield from the clearance. Spencer slipped a pass through to Curcic but he was narrowly off-side as he sped towards goal. Abou then set up Durrant with a chance 20 yards out though the effort was wide to say the least. As time ran out Motherwell burst forward with Curcic. Sending the ball wide to McCulloch the striker had time but his cross was poor with Spencer clear inside. In the final minute McMillan conceded a corner though Man-of-the-Match Greg Strong headed well clear to ensure a clear-cut victory.
Full-Time Motherwell 2
Kilmarnock 0
Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk
