Stenhousemuir v Motherwell 16.07.02
Stenhousemuir 0, Motherwell 3
| Match Date: Tuesday, July 16 2002 | |
| Competition: Pre-season Friendly | |
| Attendance: 400 approx | |
| Motherwell Team (4-4-2): |
Team: Woods, Ramsay, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Hammell, Lasley, Leitch, Adams, Pearson, Lehmann (Trialist – Jack), McFadden (Clarke).
Subs not used: Dubordeau, Dempsie, McDonald and Fagan.
Motherwell scorers: Adams(2), Lehman
Yellow Cards:
NEW SEASON KICKS OFF ON A POSITIVE NOTE
Stenhousemuir 0 Motherwell 3
MOTHERWELL BEGAN THEIR Pre-Season programme with a comfortable win over their hosts at Ochilview. With a skeleton squad to choose from Manager Terry Butcher certainly had the players well fired-up, which can only bode well for the season ahead.
The Fir Parkers began on the attack with McFadden breaking only for former Airdrie man Sandison to clear. Kinniburgh then returned the ball towards the box but Waldie knocked down for Carlin to collect. Stevie Woods was called in to action soon after when he had to look alert and gather a Harty ball off the head of the waiting Crawford. A minute later Woods got down well to hold a fierce shot from McFarlane who had collected a throw from Hamilton. Motherwell hit back and McFadden showed superb skill to turn Easton before forcing a terrific save from Carlin. A good old-fashioned stramash was ended only when Easton booted way out of touch.
The first of many fouls on James McFadden saw Murphy warned by Referee Murray. The move broke down and Stenhousemuir attacked though Martyn Corrigan was on hand to cut out Murphy’s ball to McFarlane. Soon after Scott Leitch was caught in possession near the edge of the box, Murphy set up McFarlane but his shot failed to trouble Woods. Good work from McFadden then presented Adams with a shot but it was well held. Dougie Ramsay took a head knock a moment or two later but Referee Murray chose to wave play on and only stopped once Crawford had his shot held by Woods. Motherwell went close to opening the scoring when, following a foul by Hamilton on Pearson, Adams had a superb shot tipped over the bar by Carlin for a corner. Adams was looking lively and he saw another shot desperately blocked on the edge of the box, Leitch’s follow-up cleared.
However, just on the half-hour Motherwell did take the lead. Hamilton fouled Adams and conceded a free-kick 10 yards from the by-line. Ramsay crossed and although Carlin got a hand to it the ball struck Sandison and gave Adams an easy chance to net. McFadden was then the subject of a nasty challenge from McKenna and just seconds later the same Ochilview man went over the top on the Motherwell striker. Referee Murray decided that a word in the ear of McKenna was enough on this occasion. The Fir Parkers continued to attack with Lehmann seeing his header well held. Stenhousemuir were awarded a free kick near the box when Kinniburgh was adjudged to have fouled Crawford. Lehmann headed out as far as Murphy and his shot went over the bar but was superbly held by an alert Motherwell fan. Just before the break the Fir Parkers almost doubled their advantage, McFadden winning possession before sending Ramsay clear but his chip beat Carlin and only just cleared the bar.
Half-Time Stenhousemuir 0 Motherwell 1
There were three quick substitutions by Stenhousemuir, Graham, McKenzie and McKeown replacing Waldie, Murphy and McFarlane. It seemed to have a positive effect as the Ochilview lads began the brightest. Leitch had to stop the progress of Graham at the expense of a corner seconds after the restart. Graham was at it again and only a Hammel tackle, resulting in a free kick which Lehmann cleared, prevented Woods being called upon. However, Motherwell quickly re-asserted their authority to double the lead. Great work from Pearson along the edge of the box brought McFadden into play and his delicate cross to the back post was brilliantly headed home by Dirk Lehmann, who enjoyed the moment. Stenhousemuir’s reply was a header from Crawford which sailed over. There was a nasty moment when McKenzie performed a quite ridiculous and dangerous tackle on James McFadden. Referee Murray insisted, once things had quietened down, that McKenzie be replaced and he duly was, Burrows coming on for the Sub who had seen just 7 minutes of action. Scott Leitch was enraged and needed to be placated by several players, it was quite a shocking challenge and could have been far more serious. McFadden was again the subject of another late tackle, this time from Hamilton who received no warning from Referee Murray.
A minute later Motherwell wrapped the game up with a great goal. More terrific skill from Pearson saw him invite the challenge before skipping thorough to pick out Adams and he sank the header with ease. Stenhousemuir then replaced McKenna with McCormick. The Fir Parkers gained a free kick 18 yards out when McFadden was tripped on the run. Pearson met the ball but sent his shot behind. Leitch then set up Lasley but he took it to such an acute angle the shot was always going wide. A moment or two afterwards the same combination forced a great parry from Carlin. Stenhousemuir broke upfield with Harty winning a free kick near the box. McFadden gathered and raced away though Sandison regained possession.
There was an anxious moment for the visiting support, who numbered well over 300 of the near-400 crowd, when Woods failed to gathered a cross ball. Harty crossed for Crawford but with the goal gaping he headed over. Hamilton then went on a run towards the Motherwell box but shot wide. A free kick given when Lehmann was chopped down by Coulter almost gave Motherwell a fourth, Hammel’s drive deflected wide but Pearson’s effort across goal was ruled off-side. Lehmann then headed over before he made way for David Clarke, McFadden also being replaced by the Trialist, Jack. Called into action was Stevie Woods but the save from Graham’s header was comfortable. Motherwell came close in the closing stages, Clarke racing to the by-line and seeing his cross strike the bar. Hammel then saw his shot deflected to Jack who forced a good save from Carlin, and with almost the last kick of the ball Clarke cracked a shot across the face of goal with Jack pleading for a pass to score.
Full-Time Stenhousemuir 0 Motherwell 3
Match Report by Ricky Mullen