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St Johnstone 1, Motherwell 1
Match date : Saturday, September 11 1999 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 5,467
Motherwell Team:
Woods, Doesburg, Thomas, Teale, McMillan, Townsley (Nicholas 81), Valakari, Brannan, Adams (Nevin 58), McCulloch (Halliday 63), Spencer.Motherwell scorer: Spencer (61).
WOODS AND SPENNY MAKE THE POINT
Saint Johnstone 1 Motherwell 1A FABULOUS PENALTY SAVE From Stevie Woods with five minutes remaining, coupled with a great strike from John Spencer, ensured Motherwell continued their good away form at McDairmid. Although Motherwell have now gone ten visits to Perth without a win on the balance of play a victory would not have flattered them on this occasion.
Early play was even, though in the eighth minute Simao's run into the box was halted only by a brilliant tackle from Captain Sean Teale, taking over in place of the injured Andy Goram. Motherwell broke forward, and it was a similarly well timed tackle from Preston which stopped Derek Townsley from latching on to Ged Brannan's through ball. Motherwell were stringing the ball about well, and almost made the breakthrough in 10 minutes, Spencer supplying Townsely but again a great interception from Dods stopped a shot on goals. Referee McCluskey was again in a lenient mood when it came to booking tackles, ignoring a blatant late chop by Kane on Valakari. From the resultant free-kick Townsley crossed for McCulloch but his header flew over the bar. Derek Townsely was creating problems for the home side, and he cut inside Bollan again to combine with Valakari, but the latter's ball to McCulloch was too strong. Townsley then leaped onto a loose ball on the edge of the box to fire goalwards but his effort was deflected for a corner, with McCulloch in space waiting for a pass. Motherwell were playing some really good football with the home side strangely subdued. It was fast becoming the Derek Townsely show and some trickery from the tall winger gained him ground in the box but his poor cross was mopped up. The former Postman was delivering most things with a Motherwell stamp on them but for once he got a despatch from McCulloch but a very late and inaccurate flag from the linesman stopped his progress. The home side were rarely being seen as an attacking force at this point, but on 22 minutes Simao ran onto a Griffin pass. Just as he was about to pull the trigger across came the dependable Sean Teale to smother the effort and shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick off the Portuguese striker. Bollan then was allowed to escape a yellow card when he hauled John Spencer to the ground soon after. More Motherwell pressure nearly produced a breakthrough on 24 minutes. Spencer's header for McCulloch was blocked, and the follow-up by Spencer was charged down by Thomas and cleared by Dods. The home side came close on 26 minutes when Dods got in a free header at the far post, the ball scraping the other upright on the way past. However, the Referee amazingly awarded a corner kick despite Stevie McMillan clearly not touching the ball on its way past. From the corner Thomas rose unchallenged to head past Woods and give his side a largely undeserved lead. Some more generous officiating allowed Thomas to gather the ball in an off-side position soon after and he won a corner off Sean Teale. Motherwell cleared this, but the ball was played back in again to Thomas who by now was realising he could not be found in an off-side position, and his header flew over the bar. The visitors at last broke forward after a short spell of home pressure and it was Dods to the rescue of his side to prevent Spencer from connecting with Townsley's flick. Kane then brought Brannan down with a late lunge but again McCluskey indicated he had forgotten his yellow card. McMillan saw his shot deflected for a corner which Dods cleared only as far as Lee McCulloch, but he could not turn the ball goalwards. John Spencer then embarked on a mazy run through the middle which ended with a fierce 22 yard shot, Main fumbling but collecting at the second attempt as McCulloch waited for any more slips. Home chances were few, but O'Neill managed to turn inside Doesburg and supply Simao. His shot slithered past but the space allowed to the home striker was alarming. Thomas then carried the ball out of play on the goal-line, but he was once more allowed to continue with his cut-back giving Griffin the chance to drive inches past. Play was halted three minutes from the interval when Dods went down with a shoulder injury in a challenge with Spencer, the defender being replaced by O'Halloran. A late challenge by Stevie McMillan saw Simao roll about and the Motherwell full-back was fortunate to get away without a card. Just before the interval Bollan knocked the ball out for a corner but Motherwell failed to take advantage.
Half Time Saint Johnstone 1 Motherwell 0Motherwell began the second-half on the offensive though Spencer should have done better than to fire over from McCulloch's accurate pass. Stevie McMillan then made a good run on the wing to give Brannan an opportunity. He cut inside to slip the ball for Spencer, though his shot was well saved by Main. The home side burst forward and O'Halloran should have done better then to shoot well over from distance. Bollan must have begun to realise he could foul at will, and although penalised for bringing down Townsely once again he did not enter the Referee's book. Minutes later Townsley managed to evade Bollan's desperate lunge but could only throw his hands up in the air when the free-kick was awarded to the Saint Johnstone player as he tumbled to the ground. The ball was played forward to Simao, and his knock-down to Dasovic was met with a wild shot over the bar. Motherwell replaced Derek Adams with Pat Nevin just before the hour mark. A shocking two-footed challenge by Kane on Brannan went without punishment and as play continued Kane slipped the ball for Simao but Woods collected bravely. Some great skill from Townsely saw him beat Bollan again, but his poor cross was cleared. Seconds later Townsely again left Bollan chasing shadows, and this time his cut-back found Spencer who took one step to the side and fired beyond Main to level the scores and send the Motherwell support wild with delight. Soon after it could have been two, McMillan crossing for McCulloch to head into the path of Spencer, only for Main to nip in. McCulloch then made way for Halliday as Motherwell freshened things up front. It was all Motherwell now and Spencer's flick almost gave Townsely the perfect opportunity, Main again sharp to deny the chance. Saint Johnstone then made a change of their own, replacing Thomas with Parker. A rare break by the home side saw Simao fire in a 20-yarder which Woods saved comfortably. Derek Townsley then burst into the box but was crowded out, and as he chased after Dasovic he brought the Canadian down with his first tackle of the match. However, Referee McCluskey decided to book the Motherwell striker which was harsh to say the least. Kane almost broke through with 19 minutes to go only to be denied by a brilliant tackle from Brannan who cleared the danger. Stevie McMillan then followed Townsley into the book for an innocuous challenge on Parker, and given the rash tackles Kane and Bollan had been allowed to administer it was no wonder Billy Davies emerged from his dug-out complaining bitterly. Alan Main then came rushing out of his box just ahead of Steven Halliday, but the clearance fell to Lee McCulloch and his attempted lob was clutched gratefully by Main as he made the ground back to gather in the six-yard box. A free-kick some 30 yards from goal for Saint Johnstone was the initial effort blocked but the return ball evading everyone as it raced across the penalty spot. With 11 minutes to go the home side took of Simao to replace him with O'Boyle, and seconds later Derek Townsley left to a rapturous round of applause by the Motherwell support as he made way for Nicholas. Both Nicholas and Halliday then delayed in the box soon after and a clear chance was gone. Griffin then had to be alert to deny Halliday, and as the home side broke forward Teale was forced to concede a corner. Dasovic headed wide but another corner was given. O'Boyle, given space in the box, got in a free header which was deflected wide for a further flag-kick. O'Neill gathered the ball at the main stand-side of the box, and as he entered the box he was caught by Thomas and a penalty was awarded. To complete a miserable afternoon for Bollan his spot-kick was well parried by Woods and cleared. Motherwell attacked and Kane gave away a dangerous free-kick 30 yards out with a hand-ball. Brannan lined up the shot but drove wide. The home side claimed another penalty as Parker took a clear dive in the box, but as Referee McCluskey waved play-on he really should have booked the youngster. With time running out John Spencer shot wide with others in support. Play swung to the other end and a great Teale tackle stopped Parker, with Woods tipping the corner as far as Dasovic who shot over the stand.
Full Time Saint Johnstone 1 Motherwell 1