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Arbroath 1, Motherwell 1
Match date : Wednesday, February 1 2000 Competition : Scottish Cup Attendance : 2,509
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Doesburg, Craigan, Denham, McMillan, Townsley (Nevin 67), Brannan, Valakari, Twaddle, Goodman, McCulloch.Motherwell scorer: Goodman (23).
WELL HELD AS ARBROATH HIT BACK TO DRAW
Arbroath 1 Motherwell 1WITH THE WIND HAVING AT LAST ABATED Motherwell and Abroath completed the Scottish Cup Tie at Gayfield. However, it was the Second Division team who came out with most credit as their more illustrious visitors failed to keep the advantage the initially gained.
Arbuckle was in action early as he had to look sharp to stop Twaddle's run on the wing. Greg Denham was then under pressure as the home side broke forward, though he was able to stop McGlashan running in. The tight park was causing trouble for Motherwell's wingers, with Townsley unable to collect Brannan's pass. Arbuckle should have seen an early yellow when he was very late on Twaddle, but from the free-kick Bryce and Peters were able to complete the clearance. Don Goodman looked to have beaten the off-side trap and on to Brannan's ball only for the stand-side linesman to wrongly call the move off. Arbroath broke forward but a legitimate off-side decision stopped McGlashan. A poor pass-back by Doesburg almost caused problems though Goram was able to clear. Motherwell attacked, Goodman and Valakari combined, with Brannan's resultant header well saved by Wight. Denham then was lucky not to be booked when his late tackle injured Arbuckle who recovered after treatment. Arbuckle then fouled Lee McCulloch though incredibly Referee McCurry gave the foul to the home side. A deliberate trip by Cooper on McMillan gave Motherwell a free kick though this came to nothing. Ged Brannan then fairly won the ball from McGlashan and was set to run on into the area but his progress was halted once again as McCurry felt the free-kick had to go to Arbroath. Kevin Twaddle then forced Wight into a great tip over with a fierce shot. Twaddle then almost scored direct from the corner as he whipped it in with pace. Arbroath then put together an attack though this ended when Bryce shot well over from 30 yards out. McAulay brought down McCulloch some 25 yards out though to everyone's amazement play was waved on. A great run by Simo Valakari then sent Doesburg to the bye-line but his cross was knocked out by McAulay for a throw. Peters then made a great tackle to prevent Goodman testing Wight. The home side were being seen in much more of an attacking mode than on Saturday with Mercer seeing his shot blocked by Craigan following a good run by Peters, Goram collecting the loose ball easily. The game's first booking came when Florence saw yellow for a wild tackle on Twaddle on the half-way line. Goodman was then penalised despite Thomson's push on the striker. A well-timed pass by Arbuckle looked to have set Cooper clear though McMillan came across to stop the midfielder causing trouble. The well-shackled McCulloch broke free to run onto McMillan's pass but his shot was blocked by Wight. The ball was played back in and although Peters appeared to handle no penalty was given. Motherwell did take the lead on 23 minutes when Brannan's accurate pass was met by Goodman. He raced clear and whilst his initial chip hit the far post Goodman followed up to knock the ball home. Abroath tried to hit back but Arbuckle shot wildly over. Denham lost possession in his own half allowing Arbroath to break. Arbuckle ran forward to the 18-yard-line but a great tackle by Brannan stopped his progress forward. Motherwell were trying to double the advantage and a terrific run by McMillan was halted only by McMillan's delay in shooting and a good tackle from Peters. Townsley then crossed for Goodman but Wight claimed well. A powerful shot by Valakari then tested Wight but again he held the ball. Doesburg was then forced to concede a corner, which Townsley knocked behind for a second, Goodman clearing that one. However, 11 minutes from the interval Arbroath equalised. Arbuckle's run saw Peters win a corner off Denham. As the ball came in Bryce rose unmarked to head to wards the back post and although McMillan rose his attempted clearance merely helped the ball further into the net. The home side gained immeasurable confidence from this and seconds later Bryce crossed deep though Craigan did well to clear. The visitors came close when McCulloch did well to weave his way past three defenders though the shot hit the side netting. Twaddle then crossed but McMillan's shot was well past. Just before the break Bryce almost set up Cooper who wasn't far off connecting. Simo Valakari then shot over, but the half-time whistle came soon after.
Half-Time Arbroath 1 Motherwell 1Motherwell did begin the second-half in more a determined mood and it took a good take from Wight to prevent McCulloch connecting with Twaddle's deep cross. Wight's kick-out was gathered by McMillan and as he passed to Goodman the full-back was caught late by McGlashan. Play was waved on and Goodman's cross was cleared by McAulay with McGlashan escaping a card. Motherwell should have gained a corner five minutes in when McAulay played the ball out, however the linesman claimed McCulloch's touch was the last one and wrongly gave a goal-kick. Soon after McCulloch did win a corner which fell to the feet of Valakari. The Finnish International fired in a shot which was deflected onto the post, but had it gone in it wouldn't have counted as Referee McCurry blew for a free-kick as Goodman challenged Wight. A minute later Twaddle fired in a shot from 18 yards which flew inches past. Some hesitation by Greg Denham then almost gave a chance to Arbroath but the pass from Arbuckle failed to set McGlashan clear. Although he was not having one of his better games Lee McCulloch was still creating problems for the Arbroath back-line, and the Under-21 International won another corner off the legs of Peters. The inswinger was flicked on by Goodman and fell just the wrong side of the post. A deliberate hand-ball by Bryce then went unpunished, the offence preventing a run into the box by McMillan. Motherwell were attacking at every opportunity but the final ball was lacking, though Brannan's accurate pass found McCulloch but his control evaded him. On the hour mark another late tackle on McMillan, this time by Cooper, went without a card, though as the ball broke Twaddle raced to the line but his cross was poor. A Mercer handling incident on the half-way line then gave Motherwell an opportunity to make a substitution, and the 66th. Minute change introduced Pat Nevin in place of the ineffective Derek Townsley. The visitors had a fair shout for a penalty denied a minute later as McCulloch was pushed in the back by Peters. A clever exchange involving Bryce and Cooper almost gave Arbroath an opportunity, though it was great recovery by McMillan which partially cleared the danger. From the throw Arbuckle fired well over the bar. Motherwell broke forward with Nevin, and his clever ball gave McMillan the chance to cross. The ball was met by Thomson whose attempted clearance was met by Twaddle. Looking up, he picked out Brannan who in turn made a terrific pass long to McCulloch, but his touch again was lacking and the ball was booted downfield. It wasn't long before the ball came back from Doesburg and this time McCulloch turned his marker, but shot well over. Seconds later Ged Brannan, getting back on to form, whipped in cross which Goodman headed goalwards only for Wight to make a great save. Twaddle then hit the bye-line but again Wight was there to collect. Arbroath were visibly tiring as Motherwell attacked at every opportunity. Goodman's cut-back was held at the second attempt by Wight as spaces began to appear at the back. The home side could not be discounted with 40-year-old Tommy Bryce at the heart of most of their moves. He supplied Cooper on the wing but the cross was too deep and drifted out of play. Pat Nevin then almost got on the end of Twaddle's cross, the winger being denied by Florence's desperate clearance. Denham collected but he was caught by Arbuckle who collected a booking for himself. Lack of movement up front then saw Denham himself have a go from 30 yards though the ball went well over. Bryce then made way for Devine with 10 minutes left. Although Motherwell were enjoying the lion's share of the ball Arbroath still carried a threat, and as if to emphasise this Cooper raced to the 18-yard-line and shot only inches over. From Goram's kick-out Peters was booked for a rash tackle on McCulloch, and from the award Brannan rushed his effort and curl the ball well wide. Twaddle then cut-in from the left to give Nevin an opportunity but his curling shot went only just past the far post. Motherwell then had to defend an Abroath corner as Craigan was forced to concede a corner, but as the ball came in the Fir Parkers initially raced forward, though a poor ball wide by Valakari saw the move break down. With a minute to go Craigan then made the Motherwell support look away as he carelessly passed across his own area. In the melee a foul by McGlashan on Brannan ended the danger. Time soon ran out and to a disgruntled chorus of boos the Motherwell team left the field, whilst the home support applauded their team off the pitch.
Full-Time Arbroath 1 Motherwell 1