Dundee Utd 1, Motherwell 2

Match Date: Saturday, May 13 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 5,908

Motherwell Team:

Goram, Corrigan (Nevin), Kemble, Strong, McMillan (Hammell 45), Twaddle, Harvey (Townsley 45), Brannan, Adams, Spencer, Goodman.
Subs not used: Woods, Nicholas.

Motherwell scorer: Goodman (31, 78)

GOOD MAN DON DOUBLES UP 

Dundee United  1     Motherwell  2

TWO GOALS FROM CULT-HERO DON Goodman ensured the chase for the remaining UEFA Cup place would go right down to the wire. With third-placed Hearts losing Motherwell pulled to just two points behind with the final weekend of the current SPL season up-and-coming.

Right in the first minute Motherwell pressed, with Stevie McMillan running from the half-way line to fire in a shot though he did drag it wide of the far post. Corrigan then required some treatment after he was caught by the arm of Hannah in an aerial duel. Returning from injury was Andy Goram, and he had to race from his line to gather as McConalogue ran clear onto De Vos's chip, though the United striker looked well offside. Hannah then fouled Harvey but escaped a booking for what was a second rash challenge in as many minutes. Brannan chipped the ball in but Combe was able to catch ahead of Spencer. A loose ball in midfield was eagerly snapped up by Kevin Twaddle who passed for Don Goodman, and he almost set Spencer in with a chance only for Combe to recover and clear for a throw. Hamilton had a chance at the visiting end but his shot was miss-hit and struck Venetis on the arm. Play was waved on and Motherwell broke forward. Goodman laid the ball off in the direction of Spencer and his drive from just inside the box fell just the wrong side of the near post. Twaddle then made the bye-line after gaining some ground but his back-post cross drifted beyond Goodman and out of play. McCracken was casual with a defensive pass allowing Spencer to block, Twaddle receiving who then ran to 25 yards out but saw his shot blocked and cleared by De Vos. A partial clearance by Kemble was pounced upon by McConalogue but his drive went way over the bar. The same two players were then in direct confrontation soon after but although Kemble appeared to cleanly win the ball the free-kick was given in United's favour. Strong cleared out to Hannah whose shot was easily dealt with by Goram. Motherwell resumed attacking with Spencer and Twaddle combining though the latter's cross for Adams was just too strong and drifted out at the far side. The home side swept upfield with Mathie, he played the ball in for McConalogue who fell over as Kemble attempted to get up after blocking, and although the home side were claiming penalty there was no chance of one being given. Kevin Twaddle then saw yellow for a trip on Smith, an award given Hannah's earlier exploits was at best unfair. United's Israeli midfielder Telesnikov tried a shot on the drop from 25 yards out but this failed to trouble Goram. Another Hannah free-kick. This time for a kick on Harvey, gave Motherwell a chance some 18 yards from goal on the right. Hannah was able to clear the ball as it came in and United then broke forward though McConalogue, running on to Mathie's pass, looked well off-side but was unable to gather anyway. Motherwell came close when Twaddle's cross was met by the head of Goodman hose header was cleared off the line by De Vos. A minute later United were reduced to ten men when McCracken was sent off for a back tackle from behind on John Spencer. Once the fuss had faded Harvey curled the ball over the bar. However, after 31 minutes Motherwell took the lead. Kevin Twaddle made great ground on the far left and his cross was met by the foot of Don Goodman who slotted home from inside the six-yard box. United then replaced McConalogue with Malpas. The home keeper was incensed when Motherwell were awarded a corner seconds later and he was lucky not to be sent off, instead receiving a yellow card for dissent. A low cross-com-shot by Corrigan was well held by Combe. Nine minutes from the break United drew level. An error by Corrigan allowed Hamilton a chance but Corrigan brought down the striker inside the box. Hamilton picked himself and sent Goram the wrong way form the spot. Harvey then was booked for a tackle on Hamilton and whilst there was contact Hamilton's spectacular dive almost fooled the referee into a red card. A crucial delay in a shot from Twaddle then gave the United defence the chance to block, and although the ball broke for Adams his pass was knocked behind by Hannah but to the disgust of the Motherwell players a goal-kick was awarded. A minute from the interval Andy Goram was called into action to make a great tip over from Telesnikov's shot. Seconds later Mathie beat Kemble to the ball but Corrigan was there to knock the ball out. United got a soft free-kick when Mathie fell under minimal Corrigan contact but Mathie fired well over.

Half-Time     Dundee United  1     Motherwell  1 

Motherwell made a double-substitution, removing McMillan and Harvey in place of Hammell and Townsley. The visitors began the second half the way they had the first with Great work by Goodman pushing the home side back. However a poor lay-off by Corrigan allowed United to break. A terrific tackle by Kemble on Venetis appeared to have prevented any danger but Referee Dougall thought otherwise and awarded a free-kick which was eventually headed over by Hamilton. A poor kick-out by Combe gave Motherwell a throw right down on the edge of the United area. As the ball came in De Vos appeared to climb all over Twaddle yet there was no free kick. A long-ball by Greg Strong then struck Venetis on the arm though this too was ignored. Motherwell were receiving little in the way of fouls and as if to illustrate this a clear foul by Telesnikov on Goodman inside the box was waved away. De Vos, not known for his attacking prowess, strode forward to drive in from 25 yards though the effort was easily cleared. Excellent work by Don Goodman saw him win a corner after he had forced Hannah to knock the ball behind. De Vos then headed behind for a second corner though this was cleared. United attacked and gained a free-kick when Kemble tripped Telesnikov, and also received a rather harsh yellow card. Hannah took the kick from 35 yards out and forced a good tip over from Goram. It was Motherwell who were still looking the most likely with Townsley almost setting Spencer up, Combe racing from his line to knock the ball out though Hannah was unable to prevent the corner. Goodman headed in but Combe gathered. A minute later Goodman again met a cross, this time from a free-kick awarded after Venetis had fouled Strong, though again Combe was able to save. A powerful run by Hammel saw him make ground to the 18 yard line and a desperate challenge from Smith saw a corner conceded. Adams had a shot deflected for a second corner as Motherwell maintained the pressure. Twaddle had a cross which Townsley stooped to head in only for Combe to make a great save, tipping over from close-range. United then swapped Thompson for Mathie, whilst Motherwell replaced Corrigan with Nevin. United had a rare chance when Kemble penalised though the resultant header by Hamilton was well past. Motherwell then forced another couple of corners in quick succession but the United defence held out. Combe then made a great take from United were given a chance when Kemble's error allowed Thompson the chance to race in but his rash shot went way wide of the far post. With eleven minutes to go Motherwell's pressure paid off. Brilliant work by John Spencer right on the touchline saw him drift past several United challenges and although his shot from 12 yards was beaten out by Combe the ball fell was deflected on by Townsley's mis-hit to Goodman and he reacted quickly to direct the ball beyond Maplas on the line and into the net. The goal sparked off some crazy celebrations amongst the large travelling support. A Kemble slice gave United a quick corner though Thompson shot well wide. With four minutes left United claimed penalty when De Vos and Strong tangled, play being waved on. Goram then made a great clearance from McQuillan's deep cross as United attempted to salvage the game, and a Venetis header was well held by Goram soon after. Great defensive work by Derek Townsley saw him block Hannah's shot inside the box, and in the final minute of play he again prevented Thompson getting in a shot on goals. The last chance fell to the home side, Hamilton heading just past, but it would have been an injustice had Motherwell not won.

Full-time     Dundee United  1     Motherwell  2

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