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Bathgate and Motherwell U19s drew a blank as the two teams came together for the second annual Paul McGrillen Memorial Cup.

Both sides traded half-chances throughout the ninety minutes but neither goalkeeper was really tested as the game finished all square.

Motherwell’s best efforts came through Lee Erwin, who pulled an early first-half shot wide of the target and Keiran McGachie; the big striker curling a shot from the edge of the area that was gobbled up by the home goalkeeper.

At the other end, Willie Muir had to look smart to turn away a couple of routine efforts from the plucky hosts but, in truth, the youngster never really looked like conceding.

The draw was a fair reflection of the game as Gordon Young’s men continue their preparation for the start of the SPL U19s season, which kicks-off in just under two weeks time.

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Stuart McCall was proud of his battling Motherwell side who battled through the heat to earn a well-deserved draw at Rugby Park.

Both teams shared periods of possession and although Kilmarnock created more chances, ‘Well could arguably claim the better of the opportunities with Nicky Law, Steve Jennings and Bob McHugh all going close.

McCall was delighted with his men and felt a share of the spoils was just about the correct score.

He said: “I thought they started better and on the front foot but once we got the ball down we started to make some good opportunities, but we just didn’t have that final pass or that finish.

“Cammy Bell did pull off a couple of great saves, one from Bob McHugh and the other from Jennings. We were sitting right behind that one and we thought it was going in and he just got a finger on it. Nicky Law had also been clean through but the boy came from nowhere and got a great tackle in.

“We had opportunities; we perhaps could have done better in the first half. I thought we got into good areas of the park without the finish. Second half it was more even, but the last fifteen minutes the players suffered in the heat.

Motherwell had an unusually high amount of corners, fourteen in total, but failed to convert them into goals.

McCall explained the difficulty ‘Well faced in trying to break the home defence and reckons that although both teams are renowned for trying to play good football, there are differences in how the sides set-up.

“We didn’t really want to put the ball into the box as they had the height advantage. Maybe if we had big Higdon there it might have made a difference,” McCall explained.

“We had no tall full backs and no big target man, we only had two big guys, Steven Craigan and Shaun Hutchinson, and we felt defensively we could be under the cosh. But if you look at the game as a whole, Darren only had a couple of saves from long range which were comfortable enough, while Bell had a couple of fantastic saves when we hit them on the break.

“We like to hit teams on the break with a bit of pace and I think Kilmarnock play a lot of passes and it would have been hard on either team if they had lost.

“The heat was a big telling factor and you need to work hard against Kilmarnock as they keep the ball so well. All in all, I am pleased with the result.”

Pictures from the 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Rugby Park.

These action shots and more are available to buy online at www.motherwellpics.com.

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[tab:Match report]

Kris Jack at Rugby Park

Motherwell stay top of the league after a battling 0-0 draw away to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this afternoon.

A share of the spoils was perhaps the correct result, as an end to end game failed to muster up a goal for either team. The glorious sunshine from last week’s win over Inverness followed the ‘Well to Ayrshire but the slick passing and overlapping play from seven days previous was stifled by the heat and Kilmarnock’s stubborn backline.

The loss of Michael Higdon to a thigh injury, meant only a fourth league start for Bob McHugh, in an otherwise unchanged team from the league opener.

Killie kicked off towards the Claret and Amber travelling support and had a penalty shout turned down early on.  Dayton’s jink in to the box was ended abruptly as he ran in to Lasley. No penalty was referee  Salmond’s decision much to the chagrin of the home support but he probably got it correct.

Kilmarnock started the game the stronger, with Dayton their brightest  player in the first half. After being brought down on the edge of the box by Hammell, his powerful free kick was deflected over Randolph’s bar for a corner. Harkins then pulled a shot wide from distance as the home side threatened to take full control.

Motherwell hauled themselves back in to the game and applied a decent amount of pressure on the home side. Just like last week, Law was the one making most inroads, linking up well in attack with Hammell and Murphy. This combo of players almost resulted in the opening goal, as Hammell fed Law, whose cross was a stretch too far for Murphy in the middle.

A sloppy pass from McKeown allowed McHugh a run at goal, but his effort was put out for a corner. Hammell swung in four corners back to back, the final one headed over by Shaun Hutchinson. The big defenders Killie namesake, Ben, then set up McKeown in the box, but was blocked out by ‘Well’s Hutchinson. Indeed the big number 15 won the battle of the Hutchinson’s , giving the former Celtic striker little change throughout the ninety minutes

Motherwell continued to threaten and Law once again looked lively as he hit the byline, but his cross was softly volleyed in to the arms of Bell in the Killie goal; the Killie stopper would later make two stunning stops to keep his team in it.

His opposite number Randolph was next in line to be tested, as Dayton ran 50 yards unchallenged, only to see his low shot palmed to safety by the Republic of Ireland keeper. Dayton then blazed over the bar when a Ben Hutchinson knockdown landed at his feet. However, his volley was wild and landed amongst the travelling fans.

McHugh began to find himself in the game, and after winning a high ball, he was put through on Bell by Murphy. His shot would have taken the net off, had Bell not stretched a fantastic hand towards it.

The Scotland goalie made an even better save at the beginning of the second half.

A Hateley throw in found Jennings, who travelled to the edge of the box, before unleashing an arrowed drive to the top left corner. Bell’s diving save denied the game a belter of a goal, worthy of winning the match. Conversely, an unusually poor kick out from Randolph left Kelly with an open net, but his effort form 30 yards sailed over.

Soon after, the jinky Law should have wrapped the game up. A long ball up the left from Hammell sent him clear through on Bell. With McHugh square, the midfielder dinked Bell only to be denied by a great recovering tackle from Kroca. This was to be the chance of the match, as the game descended in to a midfield battle with Motherwell not creating in roads and Kilmarnock restricted to long range efforts.

Silva and Heffernan came on for Killie, with Silva providing some glimpses of flair, bringing out some routine saves from Randolph. One thunderbolt from the sub was heroically blocked by Hutchinson, taking a hefty stoat in the face for his troubles.

As the clocked ticked towards the finish, McHugh was unlucky to be called for offside from Murphy’s intelligent pass and Humphrey shot wide after cutting in from the right as the heat began to take its toll on both sides.

Silva had another effort after a bout of pinball outside the box, which was again comfortably held by Randolph. Some half chances came for both teams as the game petered out, but neither side could find a winner.

Top of the SPL for the second week in a row, despite the draw, it’s Motherwell’s league to throw away!

[tab:As it happened]

Graham Barnstaple at Rugby Park

Full time: 0-0 decent result, four points from first two games seems okay to me.

90mins – Into three minutes of stoppage time

79mins – SIlva shot saved low at front post by Randolph

74mins – Final Killie change – Dean Shiels on for Liam Kelly

71mins – Hutchinson getting treatment for a head knock (or is it his face??) after blocking a shot at close range.

66mins – Bell forced to turn a Hateley free over for a corner.

65mins – Law sent clear by Hammell, as he is about to shoot the ball is taken off his toe by Kroca, McHugh was also in middle for a tap in

61mins – Crowd this afternoon is 4867

60mins – Only one winner of the Hutchinson v Hutchinson battle this afternoon….

59mins – Two changes for Killie on come Silva and Heffernan and off go Harkins and Hutchinson

47mins – Poor clearance from Randolph lands at feet of Kelly but he sends ball high over the open goal from about thirty yards out.

46mins – Swerving Jennings shot looks to be heading to the top corner until Bell somehow gets a fingertip to deflect wide.

Half Time – Back refreshed in Press Box after a Killie Pie – they look after you here….

Half time – 0-0, decent half overall after a poor opening 10 minutes for Well.

44mins – Murphy and McHugh combine with the latter’s effort turned over by Bell in the Killie goal.

40mins -Hutchinson winning the battle against Hutchinson!! – You decide!!

32mins – Game has been more even since the opening 10 minutes, as we close to 10 minutes to half time. Killie fans around us getting a bit frustrated.

29mins – Killie come close, long run from Dayton ends with an 18 yard shot saved well by Randolph low to his left.

15mins – Liam Kelly shot palmed clear by Randolph, stinging shot well saved.

14mins – Fourth Hammell corner picks out Hutchinson who heads just over, got the Well fans at the other end excited for some reason!!

10mins – Law cross into corridor of uncertainty is just missed by Murphy and cleared for a corner.

10mins – First ten minutes has been all Killie, with a half shout for a penalty and a Dayton free deflected over to show for their efforts.

1min – Game underway with Killie kicking off in bright sunshine in front of a noisy travelling support.

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Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“I think for a 0-0 it was a really entertaining game. You always want to win the game, but it was a well-earned point.

“It was a great effort from both sides and I think a draw was a fair result. I think overall we were pleased with the way we played.

“It was a roasting day, great summer football for the fans, but I felt for the players in the last 10 minutes.”

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels:

“It was a fantastic performance from my players and Motherwell’s players.The priority is to win, but what a fantastic game it was.

“I’ve seen five games this season, and they’ve all been highly entertaining. Teams are playing with guile and craft and intelligence. You don’t get that in England.

“When they talk about SPL reconstruction: why would you want to reconstruct that?”

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Motherwell winger Chris Humphrey hopes ‘Well can build on last Saturday’s success against Inverness but admits they face a tough test against a good Killie side.

Stuart McCall’s men opened the season in the best possible fashion, roaring to a 3-0 win in the Fir Park sunshine.

The Claret and Amber men now travel down the A77 to Rugby Park and the former West Bromwich Albion and Shrewsbury Town speed merchant insists that the standard has been set for the season ahead.

[pullquote]We have set high targets this season and we expect a lot from ourselves. Hopefully we get what we deserve.[/pullquote]

“For being the first game of the season, I thought we played very well last Saturday; particularly the first half where we passed it and played some nice football.

“Things look good at the moment but the challenge for us is to keep up that standard throughout the season.

“You could see from the way we were playing in pre-season that we meant business. The new lads, Nicky Law and Michael Higdon, are top class players and have added an extra dimension to our side.

“Last Saturday against Inverness is the level we want to try and operate at in every game. That sort of performance is what the gaffer will now expect from us each and every week as we have demonstrated that we can do it. Anything less isn’t good enough. We have set high targets this season and we expect a lot from ourselves. Hopefully we get what we deserve.

“As for the game, it will be a good encounter, that’s for sure. You tend to find that most games between Kilmarnock and Motherwell provide entertaining football as they, like us, try to keep the ball and pass it about. They have some good players and a big pitch so I reckon it’ll be one that both sets of fans can enjoy.

“They have lost one or two players who were massive for them last season but they have still got quality in their side. They look strong in the middle of the park and have always had good, attacking wingbacks so we will have to be at our best to beat them.

“You read about them in the papers not having a settled team but I don’t expect that will make things any easier for us. Teams can click at any time and the players Kenny Shiels has brought in are of a quality that will cause problems regardless if their team is settled or not.”

Both Kilmarnock and Motherwell have a reputation of being teams who favour the more attractive possession and passing game.

Asked if he thought Motherwell would fight the Killie fire with fire, Humphrey is convinced the Steelmen have enough in their ranks to match most in the SPL.

“We demonstrated our ability to play last week,” said the Jamaican. “We kept the ball and were very direct going forward.”

“If we can keep that up then I don’t see how we can’t cause teams problems. But, like I say, they keep the ball very well too so we will need to be patient and not get frustrated with ourselves and utilise any attacks we have to the maximum effect.

“Our biggest problem will be with injuries as our squad is very thin. If any of our top guys are ruled out then it might be difficult for us but that’s the same everywhere I suppose.  But if we can keep our squad fit then I don’t see why we can’t achieve something this year.”

Although the SPL season is already swung into action, you can still grab your 2011/2012 Season Ticket and land yourself some great savings.

Stuart McCall’s men couldn’t have started the season any better after sweeping to a terrific 3-0 win over Terry Butcher’s Inverness CT.

The games are coming thick and fast and you can be a part of the new season action. If you are still undecided, here are another three great reasons to buy.

DAVIE COOPER OFFER

The fantastic “2 Kids go free in the Cooper” offer which kicked-off last season has returned once again. That means any adult or senior citizen purchasing a season ticket can claim up to two Juvenile / Young Adult Season Tickets absolutely free of charge.

We had a 13% increase in our Season Ticket base last year, the majority of which came from this offer, it’s little wonder given an adult and two juvenile’s ticket for the Davie Cooper Stand will cost just £300 – or just over £5 each per game!

WELLevate

With the Davie Cooper Stand offer proving so successful last season, the club have rolled this out to all home stands in a scheme we’re calling “WELLevate”. In a throw-back to an era where youngsters, the lifeblood of the club, were first introduced to the magic of Fir Park by being ‘lifted over the gate’.

Modern Health and Safety regulations would hamper any replication but in 2011, ‘WELLevate’ is the closest you’re going to get. An entirely new initiative whereby if you buy and adult or senior citizen season ticket, you can bring along any kid aged 12 or under for free all season (season ticket book will be issued). We have also reduced the prices of ALL Juvenile and Young Adult season tickets throughout the stadium. An adult

SPECIAL OFFERS

In an exciting new scheme, Motherwell Season Ticket holders will benefit from a range of discounts and offers from a range of companies throughout Lanarkshire and beyond.

Take advantage of any one of these terrific offers from such names as McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway, Brewers Fayre, Access NL, LivingWell Health Club and Evans Halshaw.

For a full list of what is available, CLICK HERE.

Motherwell’s new 2011/2012 PUMA home kit has gone on sale at the ‘Well Shop and online.

Early responses have been extremely encouraging with ‘Well fans taking the opportunity to snap up the latest kit when it was launched yesterday.

The Club Shop will be open today from 9.30am – 5pm and again on Saturday from 9.30am – 1pm.

The sky blue goalkeeper shirt will be on sale from this coming Tuesday (August 2nd) with the new silver away kit available the second week in August (exact date still to be confirmed).

Motherwell U19s have been drawn at home to face either Arbroath or Civil Service Strollers in the 2nd Round of the SFA Youth Cup.

Gordon Young’s men will start their quest for the Cup on Saturday 8th October at Fir Park with a 1pm kick-off.

Match details such as admission prices will be confirmed in due course.

Head of Youth Development Young said, “The Youth Cup is always a great platform for our players to experience stadium football and they are all looking forward to playing at Fir Park.”

Meanwhile, the youths will continue their pre-season preperations when they face Bathgate at the Creamery Park this Sunday (31st July) with a 1pm kick-off.

Motherwell’s home clash with Kilmarnock on Saturday October 22nd has been chosen for live coverage on Sky Sports.

The game will now kick-off at 12.45pm.

>> Revised fixture list

A new café aimed at those with memory problems is to open at Motherwell Football Club.

The living well with dementia cafe is aimed at those with dementia as well as those with memory concerns, and will provide an informal and relaxed environment where they can ask questions and get information and advice from health professionals about any memory issues they may have.

The café is a pilot initiative which will run for the next year in the club’s Centenary Suite on the first Friday of every month.

Among those who will be present enjoying the tea, coffee and biscuits, will be specialist doctors, memory service nurses, an advocacy worker, a welfare benefits officer, an occupational therapist as well as representatives from Alzheimer Scotland, Carers Together and North Lanarkshire Council’s Housing and Social Work department.

[pullquote]We hope that by hosting the café inside Fir Park we will be providing a comfortable environment in which patients, carers, and organisations can come together and get some help and support.[/pullquote]

One of the cafe organisers, NHS Lanarkshire community nurse Hazel Boyle, said: “We want to reduce the stigma of a dementia diagnosis and give those with dementia – and other memory problems – their families and informal carers, a place where they can gather, share their experiences and get some practical support in a friendly setting.

“Visitors will be able to pop into the café at their leisure and speak informally to a wide range of professionals and discuss all aspects of memory problems and get signposted to relevant services.”

The café is yet another example of the longstanding partnership between NHS Lanarkshire and MFC to promote positive mental health.

Charlie Bennett, head of adult Learning and Motherwell FC in the Community, said “We’re always happy to work with NHS Lanarkshire, and this initiative is of particular interest to me as my own mother suffered from Alzheimer’s.

“I’m well aware of its effect, not only on the sufferer, but the family as well.

“We hope that by hosting the cafe inside Fir Park we will be providing a comfortable environment in which patients, carers, and organisations can come together and get some help and support.

“Hopefully for some, its location will also stir happy memories of them and their loved ones cheering on the ‘Well at Fir Park.”

The café will open for the first time on Friday 5 August in the Fir Park Centenary Suite from 1pm to 4pm. It will be open on the first Friday of every month there after.

For more information on the cafe, contact: 01698 269649.