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Motherwell 1, St Johnstone 0
Match date : Saturday, October 30 1999 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 6,172
Motherwell Team:
Goram (Woods), Doesburg, Denham, Kemble, McGowan, Goodman (Townsley), Valakari, Brannan, Twaddle (Nevin), McCulloch, Spencer.Motherwell scorer: Twaddle (9).
IT'S A DAWDDLE FOR TWADDLE
Motherwell 1 Saint Johnstone 0A SUPERB STRIKE BY On-form Kevin Twaddle secured all three points for Motherwell, but more importantly for the home support gave them their first home league success since Boxing Day 1998. Despite an early injury to Andy Goram, Motherwell deservedly carried off all three points.
Right from the off Motherwell took the game to their visitors, and it was Twaddle who crossed early only for O'Halloran to knock out for a throw ahead of Spencer. Seconds later Lee McCulloch was guilty of a mis-kick in front of goals as Doesburg made ground to send in a low cross. Saint Johnstone hit on the break, and it took a great interception from Greg Denham, starting his first match since a serious injury 14 months ago, to stop Lowndes. A poor kick-out then gave the Perth men another chance, but Michel Doesburg was alert to knock the ball back to Goram ahead of Thomas. However, as Goram collected he appeared to catch his studs on the recently-laid turf and went down in agony clutching his calf. The stretcher-bearers were summoned, and he went off to a rapturous round of applause from the Home support to be replaced by Stevie Woods. The visitors were the awarded a dubious free-kick when Lowndes fouled Denham only for Referee Clyde to give a foul against Denham for reasons known only to the man in black. Lowndes wriggled free in the box to head over the bar once the free-kick was taken. A brilliant long ball by Ged Brannan sent Lee McCulloch in on goals but a good take by Main stopped the striker, the keeper taking at the second attempt. Woods, still taking time to adjust to only his third appearance of the year, hit an attempted clearance against Lowndes but thankfully for him rebounded back into the Motherwell keeper's arms. Right from the kick-out Woods found Spencer in the opposition box. He in turn crossed to the back post where Kevin Twaddle, in space, rifled terrific shot beyond Main to open the scoring. A great pass from Jamie McGowan then sent the on-side Spencer rushing clear only for the East Standside Linesman to wrongly flag him off. A late, late Bollan tackle gave Motherwell a free-kick 30 yards, Thomas rising to knock the ball wide for a home throw. Saint Johnstone broke forward, and as McAnespie threatened Kemble strode forward to intercept and clear. An error by Bollan then gave Twaddle the chance to cross, but the ball fell just behind McCulloch and as he turned to try a shot he dragged the ball way wide. Motherwell were pressing, and Griffin was forced to concede a corner. Kernaghan headed away just as Goodman looked to head home McCulloch's flick. As the visitors attacked Jamie McGowan escaped a yellow when he was late on O'Halloran. From the corner which Goodman gave Bollan headed but Woods saved easily. Lowndes then found himself in space and forced a good save from Woods, though the linesman, with a late flag, eventually gave off-side. McCulloch and Valakari then combined to send a great ball to Spencer, but the ball bounced unkindly and deflected to McLuskey who was able to clear his lines. Lowndes was thwarted by a great Kemble challenge, though as the ball came back Griffin fired in a 20-yarder which Woods got down to hold. Lowndes was the main threat for the visitors, and he got on the end of an inswinger to head behind after Referee Clyde had awarded a corner despite the ball striking the Saint Johstone forward on the way out. Game by game Kevin Twaddle improves, and he showed great control to cross into the danger area where Griffin almost knocked the ball into his own net. A brilliant ball by Kemble to Twaddle saw a first-time cross to Spencer lobbed goalwards. Main gathered though Spencer did have time to control and shoot. A studs-in challenge by McAnespie on Goodman then went unpunished, though Goodman did well to pick himself up and win the ball back fairly. Twaddle went on a mazy run towards the box which ended with a wayward shot. On the half-hour McAnespie found space to fire in a 26-yard shot which scraped the outside of the far post on it's way past. Motherwell pushed forward, McCulloch supplied Doesburg, and his attempted cross struck Griffin for a corner which the linesman failed to give. Bollan then was guilty of another challenge from the back but again Clyde gave only a free-kick. Taking note of Bollan's tackling, McQullian decided to try his luck on Twaddle and was successful in only being penalised with a free-kick. McCulloch got on the end of Brannan's ball but Main punched the effort away as far as Doesburg, but the returning header was gathered safely. The busy Spencer sent Twaddle clear on the wing but the attempted chip was easily saved. Twaddle and Spencer were linking well, with Twaddle this time crossing for McCulloch who laid off for Spencer, the shot blocked by Bollan for a throw. Four minutes from the break a Motherwell counter-attack saw Twaddle's cross headed behind by Bollan. The corner was cleared as far as Valakari who returned for McCulloch, though his header was held by Main. The Fir Parkers were attempting to finish the game off prior to the break, though efforts from Goodman which Main saved well, then a terrific shot by McCulloch which again was well held were as close as they came.
Half-Time Motherwell 1 Saint Johnstone 0An early opportunity for the visitors saw Thomas shoot as the ball broke to him but the effort sailed wide. Kemble then blocked a Lowndes effort with the break giving Sub O'Boyle an opportunity which was easily saved by Woods. The visitors were keen to get back on level terms, and it took a timely Doesburg interception to deny McLuskey. Motherwell broke forward and as Twaddle ran onto Goodman's pass McMahon raced across to close down with the shot going wide. Bollan fired wide from a free-kick awarded after O'Boyle went down near the box, and seconds later McMahon screamed for a penalty as he was tackled by Valakari who cleared. It was mainly the visitors who were creating at this point with Doesburg forced to knock behind ahead of Thomas. Woods made a great save from Dasovic and as the second corner came in Lowndes shot wide. Motherwell broke out of defence with McGowan' clever flick for Twaddle giving the winger the chance to send a cross in. The ball fell just beyond Goodman or a certain goal would have resulted. Eleven minutes into the second half Motherwell replaced Twaddle with Nevin. The Motherwell defence, altered dramatically from that of the previous two matches, were still looking a bit uncertain, with Bollan allowed space to head over from a corner. Although Motherwell were defending more they were dangerous on the break, and it was Spencer who shot narrowly past from Brannan's throw. Lowndes was waved play-on despite being blantantly off-side, Denham having to rush across to block O'Boyle's effort. The move broke down, Nevin sent Lee McCulloch through, but as McLuskey and McCulloch tangled the free-kick went in favour of the villain of the piece and Saint Johstone were relieved. Don Goodman then made way for Derek Townsely just after the hour mark. As the ball was played forward McMahon collected in space at the far side of the box, and his cross to O'Boyle was inches too high with McGowan completing the clearance. Brannan used great vision to pick out Spencer but as the striker tried to chest down the alert Kernahgan was on hand to clear. Former Man City player Brannan was again at the heart of a clever Motherwell move and he combined with Townsley to set up Spencer but his weak shot was no trouble. Greg Denham was then yellow-carded for a handball as he and O'Boyle clashed. Given the petty nature of the caution it was no surprise when Dasovic, late on McCulloch, went away unpunished seconds later. Stevie Woods was called upon to make a great take ahead of Lowndes, and from his kick-out the ball bounced through to Main who succeeded in striking the ball off Spencer but out for a throw. Brannan passed to McCulloch, and his ball for Spencer was nicked away by Main. Slack play by Townsely then gave Thomas a chance but his shot went just past. With 17 minutes left the visitors brought on Simao for McMahon in an attempt to get level, though it was Motherwell who almost increased their lead. Valakari linked well with Townsely to cross, Nevin knocked the ball into the path of McCulloch and his 20-yarder raced inches past the post. Nevin himself then saw a shot from Spencer's flick well saved. Ged Brannan was lucky to escape a booking for a late challenge on Lowndes. From the free-kick Thomas headed past as again he found space in the box. It was to be the last contribution by Thomas as he was then replaced by Kane. Motherwell had another player cautioned when Jamie McGowan was booked for an innocuous tackle on O'Boyle, whilst Bollan again escaped soon after when he was very late on Townsley. The free-kick gave Spencer the chance to flick for McCulloch but there was Griffin to clear. A rare error by Kemble gave the visitors a corner which broke for Bollan to shoot. His effort was deflected by Nevin but Woods got down to hold. Motherwell broke forward but a poor pass by Spencer saw the move break down. The inconsistency of Referee Clyde was so blatantly apparent when he awarded a free-kick for a dive by O'Boyle to Motherwell but failed to book the Perth player. A great tackle by Kernaghan stopped Spencer as he threatend to run in on goals, then Spencer let himself down with poor control when he was in the clear soon after. Kane combined with McQuillan to give the latter a shot which whistled narrowly past. With four minutes left Pat Nevin saw a great shot tipped round by Main after good work by McCulloch. The corner was headed out and allowed Simao to break, but terrific defending by Kemble ended any danger. With time fast disappearing Saint Johnstone forced two late corners and whilst Woods turned Lowndes' effort round, the header by Griffin went over. Lee McCulloch was booked for a tackle on McQuillan which was no worse than any other, especially when soon after McLuskey kicked out at Valakari in the final minute but only conceded a free-kick. However, time ran out on the visitors, and Motherwell secured their first home win of the year.
Full-Time Motherwell 1 Saint Johnstone 0