Motherwell 2, St Johnstone 1

Match Date: Saturday, April 1 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 5,900

Motherwell Team:

Woods, Corrigan, Brannan, Strong, McMillan, Curcic (McGowan 65), Davies (Twaddle 65), Valakari, Adams (Nicholas 65), Goodman, McCulloch.
Subs not used: Brown, Harvey.

Motherwell scorers: Brannan (76 pen), Corrigan (89).

MARVELLOUS MARTYN GIVES WELL THE EDGE

Motherwell 2     Saint Johnstone 1

A last minute strike by Martyn Corrigan gave Motherwell three deserved points in this vital game at Fir Park. Trailing to an early second half strike Motherwell struck back to gain ground on third-placed Hearts in the chase for a UEFA Cup place.

The visitors were first to show when Jones and O'Neill combined to cross for O'Halloran in space, but his header was well held by Stevie Woods. The Fir Park defence were caught napping again a minute later when McBride ran forward unchallenged from the middle to chip over Woods but also over the bar. Motherwell at last began to wake up with Curcic making a useful midfield run. Passing to McCulloch the alert Weir checked the striker's run to allow the ball to run out of play. Seconds later McBride deliberately body-checked McCulloch and was lucky to escape a card. Curcic curled the ball in where Goodman made space but he headed behind Robertson. A terrific pass by Derek Adams looked set to send Corrigan into the box but a good challenge by McAnespie cleared the danger. Kernaghan was the next fortunate visitor when he was very late on McMillan and to compound matters Referee Simpson waved play on. Saint Johnstone broke upfield and Strong was forced to turn McAnespie's cross behind for a corner. The Ref then had a word with Adams for a late tackle on O'Halloran, though McAnespie's curler was held by Woods. Don Goodman rose high in the box to get onto the end of Corrigan's cross and his header back to Valakari saw the Finnish International, now Motherwell's most-capped player, drive towards goals only for Weir to desperately block away. A partial clearance by Weir then fell to Adams, and his run along the 18 drew players towards him but the cross into space ran out at the far side. The Perth side then broke forward when Curcic lost possession near the box. McBride was the final recipient and his drive was well turned behind by Woods, and as the corner came in Goodman headed clear. A dangerous cross by Curcic was partially cleared by Kernaghan as far as Valakari and as he ran towards goal his shot was poor. The ball fell to Adams and he was fouled 25 yards out. Curcic strode up to curl a shot which went agonisingly close to the left post. Saint Johnstone attacked with O'Neill and he was brought down by Corrigan 25 yards out. Davies made a great block to deny O'Neill nipping through on goals allowing Motherwell to break themselves. Martyn Corrigan slid in a low ball along the six-yard box but there were no takers. McMillan and McAnespie then challenged for the ball and although McMillan won the possession a foul was given the way of the visitors despite McAnespie's tug on McMillan's shirt. Seconds later Motherwell came close to opening the scoring. Good work by cult-hero Don Goodman and Valakari gave Adams a chance and he nicked the ball inches past the far post. The crowd then gave a huge cheer when Sasa Curcic showed supreme skill in midfield leaving Kane watching the grass grow. Curcic's forward pass, however, fell just the wrong side of Goodman, Curcic was commanding in midfield though another run was ended by Kane's seemingly illegal tug, though not in the eyes of the Referee. Stevie McMillan then sent a long-ball in the direction of Goodman and though it struck the striker on the back Lee McCulloch was alert enough to snap a curling shot in which Robertson did well to hold. Curcic was on the receiving end of some rough treatment and another tackle, this time by Griffin, saw Motherwell gain a free-kick close to the bye-line. McMillan's take was well turned behind by Robertson under severe pressure. Derek Adams saw a shot blocked to Greg Strong but his cross was poor and cleared. Saint Johnstone cleared downfield though Woods was on hand to knock a clearance against Russell with play being halted due to Russell's deliberate use of the hands. After Ged Brannan had cut out O'Neill's cross for a corner a crucial delay by Davies allowed Kane to supply McAnespie but his shot failed to trouble Woods. A good move involving Curcic and McCulloch gave Goodman the chance to send Adams clear but the pass was short and Weir was able to clear. Some slack marking by Motherwell gave Kane the chance to cross deep where O'Halloran rose unchallenged but his header went wide. A rash tackle by Kane on Curcic gave Motherwell a free-kick 30 yards out. McMillan and Strong combined to give Goodman a headed chance though Robertson was able to save low to his left. Just before the interval the visitors were screaming penalty when O'Neil was challenged by Valakari, and whilst contact may have been made O'Neil's spectacular dive made the Referee's mind up and he waved play on. Simpson then continued the match despite a head-knock to Brannan who recovered after treatment. 

Half-Time     Motherwell 0     Saint Johnstone 0 

Motherwell began the second half as slackly as the had the first, and this time weren't so fortunate when Saint Johstone attacked from the off. A route-one ball from Robertson was knocked on by Jones to Russell who turned Strong to shoot home from 20 yards. The home side tried to strike back immediately though a poor shot from Brannan didn't help. Greg Strong then had to be sharp to cut out Griffin's ball for O'Neill, who in turn was fouled by Davies who received a yellow card for his trouble. Kane turned and gave Russell a chance but his poor touch allowed Woods to gather. Martyn Corrigan was making some good runs on the right and he connected with Valakari's pass to send a dangerous low cross which only needed a touch, though none were forthcoming. O'Neill received a yellow card for a tackle from behind on Goodman. The kick from Curcic was blocked and cleared. Good play by Corrigan set up Curcic with a chance but his shot was saved by Robertson with McAnespie lucky to escape a booking with a late challenge on the midfielder. Saint Johnstone broke forward with McAnespie and he saw a low shot well saved by Stevie Woods. Great vision by Valakari then allowed Curcic to make the bye-line and whip in a low cross though Griffin was there to cut the danger out and set up his own team in attack. Brannan however was on hand to block the shot from Russell. Goodman then went close for Motherwell when he ran on to Curcic's pass but the drive was blocked by Griffin. Motherwell were beginning to create more and more with Brannan's great long-ball picking out Goodman. His cross to Adams saw a header flash towards goal where Robertson was on hand to save. Just on the hour mark the visitors subbed Russell, who had damaged his hamstring, with McMahon. Saint Johnstone almost made it two when Brannan was outpaced by McAnespie who raced goal-wards to shoot just past. Soon after it took a great save from Stevie Woods to deny Jones with Strong completing the clearance. Motherwell then made a triple substitution when McGowan, Twaddle and Nicholas replaced Davies, Adams and Curcic respectively, much to the displeasure of many of the home supporters. However, as things turned out, it was a stroke of genius on the part of Manager Davies. Motherwell almost drew level when Nicholas's header fell to McCulloch who turned brilliantly to flash a shot on the drop inches over the bar. A poor kick-out by Robertson allowed Nicholas to turn the ball wide to Twaddle. In came the cross but Weir was able to turn it away. Valakari then gave Goodman an opportunity but his 16-yard shot was well saved. More good play by the Fir Parkers gave Goodman an chance to sent Nicholas clear but his pass was just too strong. Although Motherwell were the better side now Saint Johnstone were dangerous on the break and it took a great block from Woods to stop Jones scoring. Hand-ball against Dods gave Motherwell a free-kick 25 yards out but McMillan saw his curling kick cleared by Jones. However, two minutes later another hand-ball, this time against O'Neil inside the six-yard box, gave Motherwell a penalty. Brannan strode up and expertly converted to draw Motherwell level. Not long after Saint Johnstone kicked-off they were reduced to ten men. McCulloch brought down Jones and as the visiting striker fell he kicked McCulloch in the groin. After the resultant melee was cleared Jones received his marching orders, whilst McCulloch was incredibly yellow carded for no more than a trip. The visitors then replaced McBride with Miller. The visitors again claimed penalty when O'Neill fell dramatically when challenged by McMillan though there was little doubt this was no spot-kick. Corrigan then sent a great longball for Nicholas and his drive across the box was only just beyond Goodman. Motherwell sensed victory, McMillan raced to the bye-line and his cut-back was met by McCulloch though the connection was not enough to beat Robertson. With five minutes to go Ged Brannan could only hold his head in disappointment when, after great work by Corrigan and Nicholas, he managed to shoot over an open goal from just 10 yards out. However, in the final minute of normal play Martyn Corrigan drove home a partially-cleared ball from 18 yards on the angle to give Motherwell all three points.

Full-Time     Motherwell 2     Saint Johnstone 1

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