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Inverness CT 0, Motherwell 1
Match date : Tuesday, October 12 1999 Competition : League Cup 3rd Round Attendance :
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Doesburg, Thomas, Teale, McMillan, Townsley (Goodman 76), Valakari, Brannan, Nevin, McCulloch, Spencer (Halliday 80).Motherwell scorer: McCulloch (48).
LEE STINGS THISTLE TO SEND 'WELL THROUGH
Inverness CT 0 Motherwell 1MOTHERWELL PROGRESSED TO THE Quarter-Finals of the CIS League Cup at a chilly Inverness despite a spirited display from the home side. Although Motherwell had the better of the play the home side were a shade unfortunate not to take the tie to at least extra-time, Andy Goram again proving his worth with some fine saves.
Within the first minute Derek Townsley almost sent John Spencer through on Fridge, Wilson covering well to clear downfield. Soon after Sheerin was lucky to escape a booking when he took Ged Brannan with a lunge, though the free-kick came to nothing. A good move in the fifth minute almost created the opening goal but a debatable off-side decision denied Townsley after McCulloch, Spencer and Brannan had all combined to dangerous effect. The home side came close themselves soon after when a Tony Thomas error almost allowed Golabek in, Doesburg clearing only partially to Sheerin who in turn supplied Goalbek again but his poor control allowed the ball to run out. A McCulloch snap-shot forced Fridge into a good save, and from the corner Nevin took it short for Brannan but his disappointing effort went well wide. Fridge then raced from his line to deny McCulloch who threatened to latch onto Valakari's through ball, with the keeper' poor clearance allowing Spencer to eventually cross deep with Wilson conceding the corner. As the kick broke McMillan shot from 20 yards but Fridge was equal. In Motherwell's next attack Lee McCulloch was clearly fouled by Hastings and as he was the last man it would have been red, however, Referee Dougall felt otherwise. Good covering by McMillan then prevented Sheerin from running clear on Golabek's pass otherwise it would have been one-on-one with Goram. McCulloch was being subjected to some rough treatment from the Inverness back four, with namesake McCulloch climbing all over the Motherwell striker with the decision in favour of the home player. Inverness were finding some space in the Motherwell box, and only a poor effort by Glancy saw the ball drift past after a deep cross by Tokely had put him in the clear. Motherwell attacked, Derek Townsely made the by-line, but his cross to McCulloch saw the latter head across the 6-yard-line only for there to be no follow-up by the Motherwell players. The pressure continued, McCulloch almost sent Spencer through but there was Hastings to boot downfield. A dangerous long-ball by Glancy then gave Tokely a chance only for Teale to rescue the day. Motherwell swept forward with Townsely again crossing deep, Fridge opting to punch clear from Spencer's pressure. Great skill by Lee McCulloch then fashioned a chance for the Motherwell striker but his effort went not too far past the post. A brilliant tackle by Thomas then made up for his earlier error when he prevented Golabek from shooting after the forward had made a great run into the area. Play was seesawing and next Motherwell attacked. Nevin's brilliant vision gave McMillan the chance to cross, Spencer received, turned and shot but Fridge produced a terrific save. Seconds later Doesburg's cross was flicked on by McCulloch for Spencer but the ball ran unkindly and went out of play. Ged Brannan was then guilty of slackness allowing Glancy to advance on goal but his drilled cross-cum-shot went out of play. A good combination involving Valakari and Nevin was then only broken up by a timely McCulloch interception preventing McMillan running clear on goal. On the half-hour Golabek created space for himself on the edge of the box to shoot from 20 yards though Goram saved easily. Motherwell were making things difficult for themselves by more slack play in defence, this time Nevin's slip giving Tokely the chance to advance, Sean Teale with a great clearance stopping him in his tracks. As Motherwell broke Teasdale fouled McCulloch 30 yards out to give the visitors a dangerous free-kick. However, Townsley's shot was blocked giving Inverness a chance to attack, a superb tackle by Doesburg preventing Christie's shot troubling Goram, with Glancy and Wyness having follow-up shots blocked in similar fashion. 10 Minutes from the interval Inverness came close when Sheerin ran clear of Thomas to shoot goalwards, but to Goram's relief the ball cleared the cross-bar. The home side were stepping up their efforts as half-time approached, with Golabek's mazy run into the box ending with a shot which Goram did brilliantly to tip round the post for a corner. Despite two more successive corners Motherwell survived. Motherwell raced upfield with McCulloch crossing for Townsley, but his disappointing header in a dangerous position was saved easily. Three minutes from the break Glancy fouled Goram as he reached for a cross, and to the Motherwell keeper's anger play was waved on. Teale headed out for a corner and Goram was booked for protesting. With the half-time interval Wilson came close for Inverness with a 25-yarder, then Motherwell forced three quick corners which ended with Fridge saving well from Brannan's header. In injury-time Golabek beat Teale to shoot inches over the bar, and Brannan had the last say of the half with a shot cleared almost off the line.
Half Time Inverness CT 0 Motherwell 0It was the home team who came close seconds into the second half when an error from Tony Thomas presented Golabek with a chance, Sheerin setting him up, but he pulled his shot wide from 18 yards. However, more tremendous vision from Nevin sent McMillan clear down the wing and his cross saw Fridge miss the ball completely with McCulloch knocking it behind for a corner. Although it was initially cleared, Nevin crossed in for Lee McCulloch to rise and loop a header beyond Fridge and into the back of the net to put Motherwell ahead. Soon after Doesburg put in another difficult cross which McCulloch again had to concede for a corner, though this time the kick was cleared, though only as far as McMillan. As he wrestled for the ball with Christie the Inverness player clearly pulled McMillan back, yet amazingly the free-kick went the way of the home team. Stevie McMillan then found himself in space as Motherwell continued to attack, though his miss-hit allowed him a second chance to cross, and he was fouled near the corner flag. Lee McCulloch had a chance for the second but his terrible effort was cleared. Townsley picked the ball up and burst into the box, though despite being fouled by Teasdale Referee Dougall waved play on. Eleven minutes into the second half Inverness had a tremendous chance to level. Wilson saw his shot deflected across the box into the path of Christie, but he sliced his shot wide when in acres of space. John Spencer and McCulloch got into a tangle near the home box and as the ball broke Lee McCulloch looked set to run on goal, only for Fridge to clear just in time. Thistle broke forward and only a brilliant tip round the post by Goram denied Golabek the leveller. Just prior to the hour mark the home fans and players yelled for a penalty when the ball appeared to strike McMillan's hand, though the award would have been harsh given McCulloch playing the ball off the defender. As Motherwell burst upfield Townsely produced a brilliant run which took him into the box. He delayed his shot and instead chose to pass to McCulloch whose shot was blocked for a corner. Ged Brannan knocked the ball on for Townsley to fire in a shot which Fridge gathered at the second attempt after fumbling the ball. Spencer then was fouled by Hastings as he chased a Nevin pass, though Dougall refused to award a free-kick. Inverness then replaced the on-loan Wyness with Bavidge. Townsley then burst into the box but again in delaying his shot was crowded out. Tokely for the home team had a chance soon after but he fired over from 20 yards out. With 20 minutes left Nevin sent Spencer clear but he was wrongly flagged off-side much to his annoyance, and that of the large travelling support. Inverness came close when McCulloch beat Tony Thomas to a cross and headed inches past, though the same Inverness player seconds later had to desperately clear a Spencer low cross with Lee McCulloch looking set to pounce. On 76 Minutes Motherwell replaced Townsley with Goodman, and whilst he was adjusting Inverness almost levelled when another free header whistled past, this time from Bavidge. Two minutes later Spencer made way for Halliday. The former Hartlepool player almost made an immediate impact when he latched onto a Brannan pass but by delaying allowed the Inverness defence to re-group. Halliday slipped the ball wide to Goodman, but a poor cross troubled no-one. Goodman then made a great run which took him to the bye-line but his cross was too high for Nevin and went out of play. Seconds later Goodman, in the thick of things, set up McCulloch but a poor first-touch allowed the Inverness defence to clear. With six minutes left Tokely was booked for a trip on Pat Nevin after the Motherwell player had tied him in rings. With four minutes left McCulloch was lucky to escape a booking for a deliberate pull on his Motherwell namesake as the striker bore down on goal. As time began to run out Sheerin shot well over from 18 yards, an in the last minute Pat Nevin passed up a great opportunity to finish the match in style when Stephen Halliday slipped the ball to him after a break upfield. Nevin, with only Fridge to beat, also managed to beat the far post. However, the Ref blew for time soon after, and Motherwell progressed.
Full Time Inverness CT 0 Motherwell 1