[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee Fir Park
It was a case of third time unlucky for Motherwell as yet another last minute goal sent them controversially crashing out of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
After falling behind to a Stephen McManus own goal just before half time, a second half equaliser from Scott McDonald had the teams settling for a replay in the Highlands.
But in the final minute, ‘Well conceded a debatable goal when Morgaro Gomis was shoved to the ground before Jordan Roberts powered a drive high beyond Connor Ripley for a winner.
Not unexpectedly with most of the play confined to a packed midfield goalmouth action was pretty limited in the first half.
The first chance came Marvin Johnson’s way when he whipped in a cross from the left and when Josh Law returned the ball from the other side the winger’s goal-bounce volley towards goal clattered off Chris Cadden’s head.
A Greg Tansey free kick, which bounced in front of the ‘keeper, gave Ripley a comfortable first save of the afternoon.
The Fir Park ‘keeper looked less at ease in the 29th minute when Carl Tremarco’s innocuous header had the on-loan Boro man backing into his own net to touch the ball onto the cross bar.
Up the other end, a lung-bursting run from his own box saw Chris Cadden split the visitor’s defence, but his promising through ball found McDonald flagged offside.
The striker was better placed in the 39th minute as ‘Well came within inches of the opening goal. Johnson worked his way to the goal line before crossing to the front post where McDonald’s glancing header directed the ball off the crossbar.
Typical of Motherwell’s recent luck, Inverness scored in their next attack. Josh Law could have cut out the cross field ball to Tremarco, but when the full back’s low cross into the six yard box was missed by Miles Storey, the ball cannoned of the luckless McManus and over his own goal line.
The Steelmen ooked to make amends from the restart and McDonald’s 30 yard drive was fumbled by Owain Fon Williams, but there were no takers in claret and amber.
One of many fine runs down the right from Cadden ended with an inviting cross into the six yard box but the unmarked Stephen Pearson missed when he should have at least tested the ‘keeper.
With Caley content to defend their lead and counter on the break, the visitors had a couple of chances to kill the tie. A terrific block from Law and then a smart one handed save from Ripley twice denied Danny Williams a crucial second goal.
As the fans made their frustrations’ apparent. Motherwell dragged themselves back into the game.
In the 66th minute another break from Cadden on the right earned a free kick which Stevie Hammell floated into the box only for Johnson’s effort to be deflected for a corner.
Hammell was again the provider this time with a rehearsed set piece finding the inrushing McManus whose powerful downward header towards goal was side footed home by McDonald to set up a tense ending.
Sensing a winner was on the cards, McGhee sent on Loius Moult and Lionel Ainsworth in the final 10 minutes but it was ICT who produced the decisive winner in the last minute.
With the announcement that there was three minutes of additional time, Roberts looked to push Gomis off the ball before driving forward and unleashing a tremendous 25 yard drive which sent the ball high into the net and cruelly end ‘Well’s cup hopes for another season.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at Fir Park
FT: Motherwell 1 – 2 Inverness CT
90′ | 1-2
Goal – Incredibly, Roberts fires ICT in front with a speculative effort from distance.
89′ | 1-1
ICT sub, Hughes on for Vigurs
87′ | 1-1
Motherwell sub, McDonald makes way for Ainsworth
82′ | 1-1
Motherwell sub, Lasley off for Moult
MATCH ATTAX | Young ‘Well fans can vote now for their MOTM. Tweet #MatchAttaxMOTM with their name, age & choice now.
76′ | 1-1
Pearson booked for a challenge on Williams just inside the Motherwell half.
69′ | 1-1
ICT sub, Storey off for Polworth
67′ | 1-1
Corner is whipped in which McManus bulets goalwards. McDonald does the rest from 6 yards! 1-1
GGGOOOAAALLLL!!!!!
66′ | 0-1
Devine is booked for a challenge on Cadden.
64′ | 0-1
Ripley does superbly to get down low to save from Williams who had nicked in at the front post and looked like scoring.
59′ | 0-1
Storey is played through by Vigurs but Ripley does enough to put him off and gives time for McManus to get back and clear.
56′ | 0-1
ICT sub, Mbuyi-Mutombo off for Roberts
55′ | 0-1
Last ditch defending from Law as he slid in on Williams to block his shot and prevent what looked like a certain goal.
54′ | 0-1
Mbuyi-Mutombo booked for a high footed challenge on Lasley who won the header.
51′ | 0-1
Great football there sets free Cadden who puts in a superb ball which Pearson can’t quite get right and the chance is gone.
49′ | 0-1
Patient build up but very little options for McDonald who opts for a shot from distance.Fon Williams gathers at the second attempt
Pearson and Lasley get the second 45 underway. COYW!!!
HT: Motherwell 0 – 1 Inverness CT
42′ | 0-1
Cadden drives forward with the ball and with few other options takes on a shot from 25 yards. Tests Fon Williams, who saves.
42′ | 0-1
Johnson latches onto a loose ball, fires it low across goal but Devine gets it wide for a corner.
39′ | 0-1
Goal – Tremarco gets to the byline and fires it low across goal. Unsure of who got the final touch but its 1-0 to Caley.
38′ | 0-0
Off the bar!! Johnson whips in a sweet cross which McDonald gets his head on but the woodwork denies him the opener!
35′ | 0-0
Williams’ shot is deflected wide for a corner…..Motherwell counter through Cadden but lino deems McDonald to be offside. Chance!
29′ | 0-0
Tremarco with a looping header which is put onto the bar by Ripley, who then gets back to his feet and gathers the ball to safety
23′ | 0-0
A minutes applause goes around Fir Park in tribute of young Ben Miller who sadly passed away last week. R.I.P. Ben.
17′ | 0-0
First test of the afternoon for Ripley. Long range free-kick from Tansey but is a comfortable stop for the big man.
12′ | 0-0
Some decent attacking play so far. Johnson has a volley from a Law cross but it seems to cannon back off Cadden. Unlucky.
8′ | 0-0
Corner for ICT, swung in by Tansey, headed clear by Lasley at the front post.
3′ | 0-0
Johnson wins the first corner of the game…..set-piece worked short but ICT clear the delivery.
Storey and Draper get the action underway..
Out come the teams. Usual colours for both sides. COYW!!
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
Coming Soon…
Inverness CT manager John Hughes:
Coming Soon…
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
[poll id=”263″]