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Dundee Utd 0, Motherwell 2
Match date : Saturday, October 23 1999 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 6,213
Motherwell Team:
Goram, Doesburg, Teale, Kemble, McMillan, Twaddle (Townsley 58), Valakari, Brannan, Nevin (Harvey 66), McCulloch, Spencer (Goodman 55).Motherwell scorers: Spencer (45), Teale (69 pen).
'WELL BOUNCE BACK TO DOWN UNITED
Dundee United 0 Motherwell 2MOTHERWELL PUT THE DISAPPOINTMENT Of Wednesday night's reversal at the hands of Aberdeen to record a worthy victory on Tayside. With new signing Benito Kemble at centre-half and the defence looking much more composed there was never any doubt as to where the points were going to end up at the conclusion of this particular match.
The Fir Parkers pushed forward from the start and Lee McCulloch was harshly done by when, despite being hit by De Vos he had the foul given against him near the box. However, the ball was only partially played upfield and Ged Brannan was able to fire in a shot which went wide. Benito Kemble then showed great awareness to shut out Thompson as he ran in on goal, allowing Andy Goram to make a good take. However, in United's next attack Thompson got clear to supply Dodds only for a brilliant interception by Sean Teale prevented a shot on goals. Dodds got another chance but this time the ball deflected for a corner. Thompson and Dodds were combining well, and a clever 1-2 was only broken up by the alert Teale. Motherwell broke upfield, with McMillan sending in a dangerous cross which De Vos cleared ahead of McCulloch. There was more pressure on the home defence when Spencer and Doeburg combined to send Twaddle into the box, but his progress was checked by McCulloch at the expense of a corner to Motherwell. Ged Brannan swung the ball in and although Lee McCulloch connected well enough Combe was equal to the save. Kemble was quickly warming himself to the travelling support, and a brilliant long ball to Spencer almost sent the striker clear, Davidson recovering just to head for Combe to collect. It wasn't surprising that there was some lack of understanding at the back of the Motherwell team and some of that surfaced to almost present Dodds with a chance when Kemble and Goram got in a mix-up, though cool work by Goram sent the ball to Teale. Referee McCurry, to endear himself to the home support later, made some home friends when he awarded a free-kick against Simo Valakari despite the Finn being fouled by Dodds near the corner flag. Thompson sent the ball in for De Vos, but his header went out wide. The ball was returned, and Thompson this time sent a free header out of play. A poor cross by McMillan in Motherwell's next attack was scant reward for the brilliance of Nevin's through ball, though soon after Twaddle and Nevin combined to send the ball in for Spencer, with Combe collecting just in time. Telesnikov, quite so far, sparked to life in the 18th. Minute to give Dodds a shot on goal, and the ball wasn't far away as it zipped past the far post. Motherwell burst forward, Twaddle made way into the box, but his ball to Spencer was blocked out with Nevin at the back post in space. Stevie McMillan must have been quite disappointed with his crossing as in the 19th. Minute Nevin, having been, sent McMilan clear on the wing only for the cross to go past. Motherwell were creating more and McCulloch supplied Brannan in the box. However, a crucial delay allowed Hannah to clear for a corner which came to nothing. Kevin Twaddle, recovering well from a serious illness, improves with every game, and his persistence won Motherwell a corner when he chased Davidson back. Seconds later a great run by McMillan almost produced the first goal, Twaddle inches away as Combe gathered. United attacked, Thompson forced a corner off Teale, and as the ball came in De Vos thought he had scored with a free header only for Andy Goram to produce a trade-mark world-class save and tip the ball round the post. Hannah shot well over from the second corner. On the half-hour mark Motherwell thought they had gone ahead when John Spencer ran clear of the defence to net, but for reasons known only to the far-side linesman the flag was raised. Simo Valakari became the first booking of the afternoon for a softish challenge on Telesnikov, and given the challenges Hannah was producing, a touch unfair. The ever-improving Twaddle then went on a run which ended with a 20-yard shot which whizzed past Combe but also the post. The action switched to the other end with Kemble blocking Thompsons' goal-bound effort for a corner. McCulloch fired in a shot from the corner but McMillan cleared. Terrific play by Motherwell, with Valakari, Doesburg and Spencer deeply involved, almost carved open the United back line, but Nevin's final effort went narrowly past. John Spencer then saw his lay-off cracked in by McCulloch, De Vos desperately clearing under intense pressure. United claimed a penalty with five minutes to the break when Kemble won the ball from Thompson who dived to the turf inside the box. From the corner De Vos sent in a header which Teale headed as far as Doesburg who had to concede a second corner. De Vos, climbing all over Teale, had no complaints when Motherwell were given a free-kick and the pressure was off. Not for the first time John Spencer held his head in dis-belief when, sent clear by McCulloch, he was wrongly flagged off-side, and the hit-man had to pick himself up seconds later when he was brought down by Partridge with no foul given. Motherwell were looking lively around the box and a brilliant Nevin flick to Twaddle saw the latter lay off for Lee McCulloch, but instead of a first-time shot he worked room and the eventual shot lacked power to beat Combe. However, just as the interval was looking to begin goal-less, Motherwell went ahead. Some great wing play by Twaddle saw him send in a terrific pin-point cross which Spencer rose to beat Combe to, and nod home to open the scoring. United tried to level before the break, Patterson fired well over before Thompson, connecting with a McCulloch cross, had a header in space which flew over the bar.
Half-Time Dundee United 0 Motherwell 1Motherwell attacked again from the off, but their progress was halted when Valakari was punished far an alleged pull on Partridge who appeared to be doing the fouling. A long kick-out by Goram was flicked over McCulloch by Spencer for Nevin, but the ball fell just behind the Motherwell winger, though an error by Combe gave Motherwell a throw. Four minutes in only a terrific punch away by Goram from Thompson's cross stopped Dodds in his tracks. The play remained around the Motherwell box meantime when, despite no flag from the linesman, Referee McCurry gave Dodds the foul after Twaddle had won the ball. De Vos connected with the inswinger but headed wide. Soon after there was more free space in the Motherwell box, this time Thompson headed behind from McCulloch's cross, much to the annoyance of Boss Billy Davies. The Fir Parkers swept upfield, Brannan to Doesburg on the wing, and his cross was flicked on by Lee McCulloch for Spencer who attempted a spectacular overhead kick which went narrowly past the post with Combe struggling. Lee McCulloch was then penalised despite being held by Dodds near the Motherwell box. Telesnikov gave Dodds the opportunity to cross and the ball, met by Thompson, was then fired in on goal, though Goram made a comfortable snatch. United were seeing enough of the ball, though only a good block by Teale prevented Dodds shooting on target. Thompson knocked the ball down but Brannan cleared. It was a spell of pressure on the Motherwell defence, Dodds crossed again, Patterson got in an effort, but Brannan near the goal-line headed away, with Valakari completing the clearance. Motherwell at last broke forward, Spencer sent a long-ball in the direction of McCulloch, but De Vos was on hand to clear upfield. Thompson almost got the ball, but Kemble cleared out of play as Twaddle lay injured, the result of a late Dodds tackle. With 56 minutes gone Motherwell replaced Spencer with Goodman. The home side continued their attempts to draw level, a dangerous Dodds cross was met by Doesburg who had to concede the corner. Motherwell then replaced Twaddle who had not fully recovered from the earlier Dodds challenge, Townsley taking his place. Great skill by Townsley saw him enter the box but Combe made a great take from his cross. Pascual then had to look sharp to deny Townsley as he ran on to Goodman's through ball. Motherwell were beginning to regain the upper-hand and a Townsley run was checked by a bad foul from Pascual who was fortunate only to receive a yellow card. Teale knocked the ball in for Goodman who had De Vos climbing all over him to clear, with no foul given. Townsely again made a great run into the box, but he unselfishly passed inside instead of shoting and the ball was blocked for a corner. The home side then sent on Ferraz in an attempt to get more height up front, whilst Motherwell replaced Nevin with new signing Harvey. Seconds later Motherwell were awarded a penalty kick. McCulloch and De Vos jostled for the ball on the edge of the box and although De Vos won the ball he allowed it to strike his arm, giving Referee McCurry little option but to award a penalty. Sean Teale strode up, but his shot was saved by Combe. However, much to the anger of the United players and Supporters a re-take was awarded after Partridge had encroached the area to such an extent he was almost level with Teale as he struck the ball. Partridge was booked, and Teale made no mistake with his second effort to all but seal the win. Ferraz had an early opportunity soon after but his header went well wide. With 19 minutes left United made a further substitution, Venetis replacing Davidson. Motherwell were comfortably on top now, Harvey and Townsely combined to give Goodman the opportunity to cross, though Combe beat McCulloch to punch away. A poor Partridge pass in midfield then gave Lee McCulloch a chance to shoot from long range, though his shot went wide. Dodds then escaped any punishment when he was very late from behind on Lee McCulloch. Play was waved on and Valakari's pass to Harvey saw the latter delay and the chance was gone. Andy Goram was having trouble with his kick-outs all game and one with 14 minutes left came off Ferraz but Teale was able to recover to clear. The ball sailed into the United box where Combe just cleared ahead of McCulloch. United tried to get back, Dodds set up Telesnikov for the shot, but Goram saved easily. It was Motherwell who looked more likely to score again, Townsley curling narrowly past the far post. Simo Valakari would have been forgiven for complaining bitterly about another late challenge, this time by Hannah, as once again it went unpunished yet Valakari had been yellow-carded much earlier for a first tackle. Ferraz then crumpled to the turf as Teale headed clear, though the muted claims for a penalty were instantly dismissed. Sean Teale was then booked for a tackle from behind on Telesnikov, though he was perhaps unfortunate as well given what Dodds had escaped with. Right on 90 minutes Valakari and Goodman gave Townsley the chance for his first competitive Motherwell goal, but his effort went just past. Another late Hannah challenge, this time on Kemble, only carried a free-kick, and with the last kick of the ball Harvey almost set up McCulloch but De Vos was able to clear.
Full-Time Dundee United 0 Motherwell 2