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[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at  New Douglas Park

Motherwell failed to overcome their New Douglas Park hoodoo, narrowly slipping to a 1-0 defeat this afternoon.

A Dougie Imrie goal late in the second half was all that separated the sides in a fairly contested affair, with Motherwell regretting passing up some decent first half chances which would have earned them a point.

Ian Baraclough once again changed his starting line-up bringing in Liam Grimshaw and Theo Robinson for their first league starts. Joe Chalmers and Kieran Kennedy came into the back four at the expense of the injured Stevie Hammell and Louis Laing, who dropped to the bench.

Motherwell created the better of the first half chances, the first of which fell to Robinson after five minutes, but his left foot shot was comfortably held by Michael McGovern. The Accies’ ‘keeper was tested again a minute later when he got he got behind a speculative shot from Jake Taylor.

While Hamilton were more comfortable in possession ‘Well were more threatening and they should have opened the scoring after 11 minutes. Robinson’s head flick sent Lionel Ainsworth down the right and when his cutback found the ex-Doncaster striker around the penalty spot, he should have done better than drill his shot straight at McGovern.

Midway through the half the Fir Parkers were down to 10 men for a few minutes as Kennedy received treatment for a head gash before returning with a Terry Butcher-type bandage.

Motherwell were still busy around the home goal and after chasing Keith Lasley’s cross, Louis Moult set up Ainsworth but he blasted his finish wide of goal.

‘Well almost paid for those missed chances seven minutes from the break when Ali Crawford’s rising shot from 18 yards rebounded from the face of Connor Ripley’s crossbar. Two minutes later Ripley got his body behind Imrie’s angled drive as the half ended pretty evenly.

The ‘Well stopper also made the first save of the second half beating away a thumping 25-yard drive from Antons Kurakins.

A smart move down the ‘Well right found Josh Law bursting into the box and his cross picked out Robinson. After taking a touch his shot looked to be sneaking inside the post until a deflection took it wide.

Three minutes later Accies found the net for the only goal. Gramoz Kurtaj floated a ball in from the left and Imrie climbed above Chalmers to loop his header beyond Ripley and under the bar for the winner.

Five minutes from time ‘Well had a chance for the equaliser when Taylor was grounded a couple of yards outside the box. However, Scott McDonald, who had replaced Lasley 10 minutes earlier, tamely curled the resultant free kick into the Accies wall.

The Steelmen were then denied a possible injury time equaliser for the second week. Moult headed Ripley’s long free kick into the box, but when the ball bounced off Lucas Tagliapietra’s arm, referee Craig Thomson had a good look before waving aside strong appeals for a penalty and with it ‘Well’s last chance of taking a point.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at New Douglas Park

FT: Hamilton Accies 1 – 0 Motherwell

92′ | 1-0
Looked like a clear handball by Garcia-Tena inside the box but the ref seemingly didn’t see it!!!

90′ | 1-0
3 minutes added on.

…fired into the wall by McDonald

84′ | 1-0
Free-kick to ‘Well in a promising position…

83′ | 1-0
And an Accies sub, Longridge on for Docherty.

82′ | 1-0
Final Motherwell change, Thomas comes on for Ainsworth

79′ | 1-0
Kurtaj looks to kill the game, cutting in off the left and curling a shot just past the post.

76′ | 1-0
Motherwell sub, Lasley off for McDonald

75′ | 1-0
Good save from Ripley to deny Docherty from 18 yards. Corner to Accies..

74′ | 1-0
McManus is booked for a heavy challenge on Imrie.

71′ | 1-0
Goal – Imrie heads home at the back post to give Accies a 1-0 lead.

68′ | 0-0
Motherwell sub, Johnson on for Robinson

66′ | 0-0
Good play by Accies sets Imrie free. His cutback finds Crawford but Law does enough to put him off and Crawford fires over.

64′ | 0-0
Good goalkeeping there from Ripley as he races off his line and tackles Nade who would have been through on goal.

60′ | 0-0
What a chance! Law gets down the right and picks out Robinson. He shoots but an Accies defender gets a touch on it! Corner.

56′ | 0-0
Docherty booked for blocking a quickly taken free-kick.

54′ | 0-0
Hamilton Accies sub, Morris makes way for Nade.

50′ | 0-0
Close again from Crawford! His shot from distance dips just over the bar…thankfully.

Lasley and Taylor get part two underway. COYW!!!!

Both sides back out and ready to get the second 45 underway….

Half-time whistle blows, Hamilton Accies 0 – 0 Motherwell

44’| 0-0
Lasley booked for what Thompson will deem persistent fouling.

42’| 0-0
Law’s cross is headed straight out to Taylor who with some time to spare, can’t get his volley on target from 18 yards.

38’| 0-0
Half-chance there as Imrie cuts in off the right and gets a shot away but it’s a routine stop for Ripley.

36’| 0-0
Close for Accies. Crawford works the ball onto his left foot and sees his strike crash back off the bar!

32’| 0-0
Good spell of Motherwell pressure there. Ends with Ainsworth firing well wide form about 18 yards after he cut in off the left.

26’| 0-0
Crawford bursts from deep, unchallenged, but at the time of shooting, seems off balance and slices high and wide.

22’| 0-0
Another half-decent chance falls Robinson’s way after Lasley finds him on the edge of the box. Hooks his shot over the bar, though

11’| 0-0
Great chance as Ainsworth gets played in down the right and cuts it back to Robinson who shoots straight at McGovern from 12 yards

9’| 0-0
Accies fans on their feet as they think Morris has headed into the net but the ref had blown for a foul on Ripley.

5’| 0-0
First sniff of goal for ‘Well. Robinson gets the break of the ball on the left of the box but his shot is tame and is saved easily.

Kick-off | 0-0
Morris and Docherty get the game underway. COYW!!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:

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Hamilton Accies manager Martin Canning:

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[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Stephen Robinson has challenged the Motherwell squad to repay the fans for the disappointment of defeats at New Douglas Park last term.

The Steelmen slipped up on all three visits across the River Clyde during 2014/15, despite having a large contingent from the other side of the County their to back the side.

Robinson was involved in just one; the first game after the league split and he admits it’s a defeat that still rankles even now.

And the Northern Irishman wants Motherwell to up their performance, match the endeavour of the home side and play their own game, rather than the Derby occasion.

[pullquote]There are enough experienced heads in our dressing room, guys who know the club and the fans well, so we are very aware of how important it is for everyone.[/pullquote]

Speaking to the broadcast press, the Fir Park assistant said: “There are enough experienced heads in our dressing room, guys who know the club and the fans well, so we are very aware of how important it is for everyone.

“We’ve done a lot of homework on them and watched them on several occasions.

“They have a big, physical, strong side with a number of very talented players and it’s our job, first and foremost, to match them.

“We also have to concentrate on what we’re doing as we have got to be better than we were last Saturday. We’ve got players who can cause damage when they’re on it and a plan that we’ve worked on all week.”

Stephen Craigan praised his young side after they battled hard to earn a draw against Dunfermline Athletic today.

The young Steelmen had four ‘first year’ pros in the starting eleven and another was introduced during the game against a Pars side with five over-age players in their team.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half and despite creating four decent chances to extend that, they failed to capitalise.

‘Well hung in and battled when they needed too, and they were rewarded late on when Ryan Watters converted from about ten yards out to seal a hard-earned share of the spoils.

[pullquote]Is it well deserved? Well, I think it is on general play. Probably on chances created, they edged it, but in terms of application and the information we’re giving them and putting that into practise, I thought they earned it.[/pullquote]

Craigan was delighted with the application his side showed and was pleased their hard work paid off.

The former Northern Irish International said: “Dunfermline will leave thinking with the chances they created; they could have put the game to bed.

“But I felt we stuck at it. In terms of being pleasing on the eye style of play, in terms of getting on the ball and trying to play, I felt we were excellent.

“I said to [Assistant] Keith Lasley during the game, the one thing you will always get from this group is that they keep plugging away, they keep believing something is going to come from them and eventually it did.

“Is it well deserved? Well, I think it is on general play. Probably on chances created, they edged it, but in terms of application and the information we’re giving them and putting that into practise, I thought they earned it.”

Extended highlights from Broadwood as ‘Well battle back from behind to earn a point for a third game in a row.

A last minute Ryan Watters goal earned the Under 20s a hard-earned share of the spoils against Dunfermline.

The Pars had gone ahead through Paul-Joseph Crossan midway through the first half and passed up three or four good chances to extend their lead.

The young Fir Parkers held firm and gradually worked their way into the game and after bossing the closing stages, were rewarded when Ryan Watters nicked a point late in the game.

‘Well had just Dan Twardzik over the age of twenty in their squad for game. In contrast, Pars had experience in the shape of David Hutton, Steven Saunders, Ryan Wallace, Mickaël Antoine-Curier, David Hopkirk all “over age” for the Pars.

The game started lively and ‘Well perhaps should have had a penalty inside the opening ten minutes when Chris Cadden wriggled free of Jordan Orru and appeared to be pulled back. Frustratingly, referee Duncan Williams waved the claims away.

The Pars had the game’s first real chance when Crossan fired a shot high over the crossbar. Motherwell responded when Dylan Mackin met a David Turnbull free kick, only to head narrowly wide of target.

The game stayed level until the midway point of the first half when Crossan crashed home the opener, slamming high past the diving Twardzik after a neat passing move.

Four minutes later, Wallace had the ball in the net again for Dunfermline but the assistant ruled the forward offside.

‘Well had a low shot from McMillan comfortably saved before Pars’ James Thomas missed two glorious chances to extend their lead. Moore hooked the first off the line after Twardzik’s initial block and when the rebound was swung back into the box, Thomas sent a header wide of target.

The young Steelmen were seeing a fair bit of the ball, but Pars were restricting them to efforts from distance with a Mackin shot way off target the best the first half could muster.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Pars missed another glorious chance to double their advantage, but former Accies front man Antoine-Curier crashed a header off the underside of the bar from close range.

Ten minutes later, Thomas passed up his third chance of the afternoon when he lost his footing just yards from the goal line, allowing ‘Well to somehow scramble clear. Seconds later, Antoine-Curier had a header down into the ground when he would’ve expected to make the keeper work.

Motherwell survived those early second half chances and gradually started to take control of the half. Watters flashed a shot wide of target before Mackin headed over a Robbie Leitch corner.

Mackin then forced goalkeeper Hutton into an impressive save; beating his marker before smashing a low shot at goal which was turned away in style by the 30-year old former Clyde, Queen of the South and Accies stopper.

The Steelmen went on to dominate the closing stages and pinned the Pars in for long spells.

However, as the seconds ticked away, it looked as if the game was slipping away until Ryan Watters levelled in the last minute. A good passing move was eventually turned towards goal by Dylan Falconer, landing fortuitously at Watters who took a touch to steady himself before lashing past Hutton to secure a point.

Motherwell: Twardzik, McMillan, Livingstone (Ferguson – 70mins), Maguire, Hall, Campbell, Watters, Turnbull (Falconer – 65mins), Mackin, Hastie, Cadden (R.Leitch – 45mins)

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Moore, Watt

Motherwell FC is pleased to confirm the signing of goalkeeper Craig Samson until the end of the season.

Samson, 31, a recent inclusion in Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad, was last with Kilmarnock before agreeing a release at the start of August.

The Irvine-born player, who has also enjoyed time with Queen of the South, St Johnstone, Dundee Utd, Ross County, Dundee, Hereford, Ayr United and St Mirren, was almost a Motherwell player two years ago but a deal never materialized.

The former Scotland U21 International will now battle with Connor Ripley and Dan Twardzik for a spot between the sticks. Other goalkeepers at the club are youngsters PJ Morrison and Northern Irishman Brett Long, who is out long-term injured with a broken bone.

[pullquote]I know Connor has the jersey at the moment, I know Dan is pushing hard as well; so it is up to me to train hard and try and force my way in.[/pullquote]

Samson, who will wear number 13 shirt for the season, told MFC TV: “I am absolutely delighted to be here; I’ve spoken with the manager on a few occasions since leaving Kilmarnock and it was only last night we came to an agreement.

“I think this is a Club going in the right direction. The team performed so well in the play-offs and this season they’re ready to kick on and do well. I believe the manager has added well and there is competition for every spot.

“Connor (Ripley) has been playing excellent since coming to the club and Dan is here too. I’ve got to work hard to impress the manager and try and get into the team.

“I know Connor has the jersey at the moment, I know Dan is pushing hard as well; so it is up to me to train hard and try and force my way in.”

MORE THAN A CLUB …..

Unbeaten in the last three games, the first 11 are slowly but surely moving up the Premiership League table.

The Under 20’s too, are making good progress. According to Stephen Craigan, manager: “I’ve been with the group for about six or seven weeks now and we can certainly start to see the fruits of our hard work.

“Players are taking on board what we’re telling them. The more and more than happens, the better side we will be and, hopefully, the better players they will become.

The young lads represent the future of the football side of the club. The greater the number of players making their way into the first team, the brighter that future will be.

Our ladies’ football team also continue to blaze a trail in their league. I would like to express my congratulations to the team on securing their promotion to the 1st Division next season.

The ladies’ team is one of several that are run by the Community Trust, which for my money tops the Scottish league for providing a substantial top quality range and variety of programmes for over 37,000 citizens – young and older – across Lanarkshire.

For example, football-wise, during the summer the Holiday Soccer Camp proved to be very popular, with more than 50 boys and girls on average attending the camp each day. The Camp provides great fun for its participants who have the opportunity to improve their football skills while making new friends and mingling with the first team squad.

The new season started for many of our community teams in mid-August. Over 350 players from the age of 6 onwards will be donning the claret and amber and representing the ‘Well at community level with distinction.

The community teams continue to feed players through to the club’s academy. On the female side we have six players attending SFA regional squads, and Alise Stewart, at only 15, was selected for the Scottish Women’s Under 17’s squad.

But the Community Trust is more than just football, much more. For instance, the Trust has secured £58,000 of heritage funding to develop a project which will celebrate next year’s 130th anniversary of the club.

As part of the project a team of volunteers will catalogue the memorabilia held by the club, digitise it and make it available through a project website. Stadium Tours will be developed, as will learning resources for local schools that will timeline the social history of Lanarkshire within the context of the club. The project has just started August and will be concluded in November 2016.

Comic Relief has provided £47,000 for the Community Trust to work with young people who are at risk of, or have been exposed to domestic abuse. In partnership with Lanarkshire Council and Police Scotland, the project will seek to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of these young people using football as a hook.

And so on…

While we are all passionate about what happens on the pitch every Saturday, what happens day in and day out at the club is something our supporters can be justifiably very proud of.

Since 1886, throughout its sometimes tumultuous history, the club has remained a strong and enduring pillar of the community, providing a sporting and social focus for its fans, employment for many of its citizens and business partners, and a focal point for caring, community action.

Long may it continue.

Brian McCafferty
Chairman

The Under 20s return to action this Tuesday (15th September) when they take on Dunfermline at Broadwood Stadium.

The young Steelmen have drawn their last two games 2-2 against both Rangers and Kilmarnock, fighting back from a losing position in both to earn a point.

The Pars have made a good start to the campaign themselves, putting an opening day 3-1 defeat at Rugby Park behind them to win against both Hearts and St Mirren.

They currently sit fourth in the SPFL Development League table, a point ahead of the Claret and Amber men, having played a game less.

The match will take place at Broadwood Stadium, home of Clyde FC, with kick-off 2pm.

Seventeen shirts from Keith Lasley’s Testimonial against Bolton Wanderers are being auctioned off on our ebay site and bidding ends tonight!

The Steelmen lost out 2-1 on the day but this is your chance to make sure you don’t lose out on a piece of Motherwell history as the match-worn shirts are up for grabs.

All shirts come signed by each player and come with a signed programme.

Keith’s shirt is a little more special and comes with a signed captain’s armband.

Head over to our ebay site and get bidding on these great items by clicking here

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Louis Moult’s injury time goal earns ‘Well a point against Ross County.