Match Date : Saturday 2nd August 1997 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 5,746
Motherwell Team
1 Steve Woods 2 Eddie May 3 Franz Resch 4 Simo Valikari 5 Brian Martin 6 Greig Denham 7 Mickey Weir 8 Steve McMillan 9 Tommy Coyne 10 Willie Falconer 11 Owen Coyle 12 Billy Davies 14 Iain Ross 15 Mario Doerner
Motherwell scorer : Tommy Coyne (36pen, 85)
PAR-FECT COYNE HEELS ‘WELL FEARS
Dunfermline Athletic 0 Motherwell 2
AGELESS Tommy Coyne scored a magnificent brace to sink Dunfermline and power Motherwell to a top-of-the-tree spot on the opening day of the new season. Even at 34, he showed the younger players on the pitch how to score with style as the Irish International again proved his undoubted worth.
Motherwell raced into attack within the opening seconds when Dunfermline centre-half Barnett was caught in possession by the ever-alert Coyne. He raced to the 18-yard line, cut the ball back along to Owen Coyle, but the ball ran on as Coyle failed to connect for what would have been the quickest goal of the new season. Early exchanges were fairly even, with Dunfermline perhaps shading it possession-wise, though chances were few and far between to begin with. The home side had the next opening, but Smith’s turn-n-shoot went over the bar when he was in a good position. Motherwell pushed forward, and following a brilliant piece of interchanging between Weir and Coyle, the former Hibs man sent Coyne clear but his curling effort fromt the edge of the box only just cleared the top left of the crossbar much to Westwater’s relief. The Fir Park men were coming more and more into things, and a Coyne flick on found Coyle, whose turn beat two defenders to allow him space to cross for Weir six yards out. Weir crashed in a diving header, but Westwater saved brilliantly, diving away to his right. The home side had an appeal for a penalty waved away when Smith went down rather easily chasing a chip into the box. Although Denham was late in his attempt to clear the ball, Smith’s reputation possibly went before him thus denying his side the chance to take the lead. Just after this Tod saw his header graze the post after Woods had failed to cut out an Ireland throw, but this was as close as Dunfermline were to get for the remainder of the match. Motherwell began to step up a gear as half-time approached. Eddie May crossed to the far post for Falconer to return for Coyne. He acrobatically sent in an overhead kick which Westwater did well to smother at the second attempt. Just prior to half-time Dunfermline almost took the lead, but Smiths’ shot was deflected over the bar.
Half-Time Dunfermline Athletic 0 Motherwell 0
If the first half was slightly edged by Dunfermline, Motherwell completely dominated proceedings in the second. Almost immediately the Fir Parkers swept into attack, Falconer playing a terrific ball out to Mickey Weir. HIs chip forward found Eddie May, who in turn fed Stevie McMillan and the Under-21 International was unfortunate to see his shot tipped over the bar by the impressive Westwater. The Pars keeper was having a terrific match keeping the Motherwell attackers out, though his next save was from full-back Resch who sent in a raging free-kick which the folically-challenged custodian palmed over the top of his cross-bar. Stevie McMillan then enraged the Dunfermline players and fans alike with a late challenge on Shields, though it has to be said the ex-Ranger had been handing out some late tackles of his own. McMillan was booked, but Shiels continued to tackle late and remain unpunished. Motherwell then got the opening goal their play deserved. Austrian Franz Resch sent in a long free-kick which Mickey Weir tapped to the side for the inrushing Eddie May. His progress was unceremoniously stopped by a rash tackle from Sharp, and a penalty was given. Despite Sharp’s protests, there was no doubt about the validity of the penalty, and the ever-dependable Tommy Coyne strode up to send the ball high into Westwater’s right hand side and put Motherwell one-ahead. It was one-way traffic at this point, Coyne crossed for Falconer to send in a clever looping header which crashed off the top of the cross-bar, Coyne’s follow-up effort landing just on top of the net. Seconds later Weir’s cross was met with a flying header from Coyne which again crashed off the bar. Dunfermline were nowhere to be seen as an attacking threat, with every move breaking down as they approached the Motherwell box. The Fir Park team made the points safe with five minutes to go, and a goal of genious which will probably remain unsurpassed throughout the coming season. Mickey Weir took a free-kick wide left, curled a low ball into the penalty spot, and there was Tommy Coyne to back heel the ball on the volley into the net. Class is too poor a word to describe the Irish Internationalist. Motherwell appeared content with that, and allowed Dunfermline a couple of near things towards the end, most notably Smiths’ header which Stevie Woods, who had a composed match in his first game since January, saved very well down at his far post. In the end Motherwell ran out comfortable winners to sit proudly at the top of the Premier League.
FINAL SCORE Dunfermline Athelitc 0 Motherwell 2