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[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at Caledonian Stadium

A last-minute Marvin Johnson winner gave ‘Well their fifth win on the spin and moved the Steelmen into fourth.

After a poor first-half, substitute Lionel Ainsworth put the Fir Parkers in front with an unorthodox finish from a Johnson cross.

The hosts levelled through former midfielder Iain Vigurs, who slotted home a penalty after Keith Lasley had bundled Ross Draper to the ground.

However, in the dying seconds, Johnson raced clear from an Ainsworth pass and kept his cool to place it past the outrushing Fon Williams to win it.

Mark McGhee made just one change to the side that beat Aberdeen at Fir Park two weeks ago. Skipper Keith Lasley returned to the fold after injury with Jack Leitch having to be content with a place amongst the substitutes.

There was plenty of commitment and free-flowing football in the early stages but no end product until the 18th minute when Liam Polworth headed a half-chance over.

Liam Hughes had an even clearer chance six minutes later but his header from close range after Tremarco had delivered a cross from the left was held fairly comfortably by Connor Ripley.

Hughes was also involved when Inverness carved out a third opening in the 32nd minute, but the striker was unable to make clean contact with Miles Storey’s cross from the left and Ripley managed to gather the ball under pressure after an initial fumble.

It was not until a minute later that Motherwell bared their teeth for the first time, but it was the closest either side had come to a goal when Scott McDonald’s header from Steven Hammell’s free-kick flashed just past the far post.

Motherwell were given impetus and Johnson’s cross-cum-shot a short time later was on target until Fon Williams plucked the ball out of the air.

However, Inverness reasserted their authority on the stroke of half-time, Storey’s front post header from Andrea Mutombo’s cross from the left sneaking inches past.

Inverness began the second half with purpose and Motherwell were very nearly caught out by Mutombo in the 48th minute.

The attacking midfielder conjured up a chance out of nothing when he looked up and, spotting an opening, tried a speculative shot from 22 yards that curled just past the far post.

The match desperately needed a goal to raise it above the ordinary but both teams lacked the necessary cutting edge to grab the initiative.

Even when Josh Meekings headed just over after 59 minutes there was a lack of conviction about his finish from Mutombo’s corner kick.

Perhaps not surprisingly, when they deadlock was broken in the 62nd minute it was the scrappiest of goals.

Fon Williams failed to deal with Johnson’s cross from the left and succeeded only in palming the ball out to Moult who laid if off to Ainsworth in turn.

Even then Inverness should have retrieved the situation, but again flapped when Ainsworth, who had replaced Cadden nine minutes earlier, tried a speculative lob from just inside the 18 yard box and his miss-hit effort eluded the goalkeeper’s feeble attempt to push the ball over the bar with skipper Gary Warren positioned on the goal-line.

Inverness equalised in the 70th minute after Keith Lasley upended Ross Draper in the box to concede a spot kick, which was duly despatched powerfully into the net by Vigurs, but there was a nasty sting in the tail for the home side.

McManus hooked a corner clear, allowing Lionel Ainsworth to burst clear. With Johnson racing through the middle, the winger lifted a terrific ball over the top, allowing the former Kidderminster man to burst clear and slot beyond Fon Williams to take all three points.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Caledonian Stadium

An incredible finish here in Inverness! Johnson nicks it for ‘Well with the last kick of the ball. COME ON!!!!!!

FULL TIME!!!!!

90+3′ | 1-2
JOHNSON breaks away and slots it past Fon-Williams who was on rushing. 1-2 to The Steelmen!

GGGGOOOAAALLLLLL!!!

Four minutes added on….

89′ | 1-1
McDonald booked for a foul on the halfway line

86′ | 1-1
ICT sub, Horner on for Meekings

84′ | 1-1
ICT sub, R. Williams on for Story

82′ | 1-1
Draper booked for a late challenge on Johnson.

75′ | 1-1
Great tackle from Kennedy to block Tremarco’s shot. He’d surely have netted but great covering from the big defender

72′ | 1-1
Johnson fires in an inviting low ball but Fletcher can’t quite get on the end of it.

and an ICT sub, D. Williams on for Hughes

72′ | 1-1
Motherwell sub, Lasley off for Fletcher

70′ | 1-1
Goal – Vigurs sends Ripley the wrong way to bring ICT level.

69′ | 0-1
Penalty to Inverness!

64′ | 0-1
ICT looking for a quick reply as they break through Mutombo but he shoots straight at Ripley.

62′ | 0-1
It’s an absolute shank from AINSWORTH which catches out the keeper and loops in. Incredible!

GGGGOOOOAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!

59′ | 0-0
Johnson curls in a great ball to Moult but he can’t get enough on his header to get it on target. Goal-kick.

58′ | 0-0
McManus heads Polworth’s cross wide for a corner. It’s fizzed in and headed over by Meekins. Good chance for Caley!

52′ | 0-0
Double Motherwell change, Ainsworth and Leitch on for Cadden and Gomis.

47′ | 0-0
Mutombo tries his luck from range and its not a bad effort. Flies just wide of the post.

Motherwell get the second 45 underway. COYW!

HT: Inverness CT 0 – 0 Motherwell #ICTFCvMFC

…Hammell’s delivery is towards the back post but it too high for Moult and the ball goes wide for a goal-kick.

40′ | 0-0
Late challenge by Tremarco on Cadden earns him a booking. Free-kick wide on the right….

35′ | 0-0
Johnson with a powerful run down the left but his cross us to close to Fon-Williams and the ‘keeper gathers.

32′ | 0-0
Free-kick to Motherwell in a nice area on the right, Hammell to take…..just past from McDonald! Inches away from the opener.

31′ | 0-0
Storey gets down the left and clips the ball to the front post but Ripley manages to pluck it out the air before Hughes.

23′ | 0-0
Chance for ICT. Tremarco with a good cross in which finds the head of Hughes but his effort lacks power and Ripley saves.

21′ | 0-0
Another Motherwell corner….ball finds its way to Lasley who whips it in. Fon-Williams comes to punch but misses it compltely.

17′ | 0-0
Not a lot in terms of chanes so far. Polworth has a pop from 20 yards but it is well over the bar.

10′ | 0-0
Cadden’s cross is deflected wide for the first corner of the game……headed wide by Draper for a second corner.

4′ | 0-0
Johnson collects a throw-in, cuts inside and gets a shot away which travels through a ruck of bodies but Fon-Williams gathers

Inverness get the action underway. COYW!!

Out come the teams, usual colours for both sides… #ICTFCvMFC

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

“We’ve had a few sore ones this season like that, where we’ve lost goals in that sort of time in a game.

“It is not a game by any shape or form I can say we deserved to win, but all those ones we’re talking about we didn’t deserve to lose. So we’ll take this.

“It is six wins out of seven and that’s obviously why we’re sitting fourth tonight. The reality is we’ve still got work to do.

“Partick Thistle can still catch us, so the job isn’t finished. Maybe it will be by the time we play Celtic (on April 9), but we’ll see.

“We’ll be preparing ourselves until then that we need a point out of the Celtic game.

“As well as we’ve done, all we have for ourselves at this moment in time is a good position to finish in the top half.”

Inverness CT Manager John Hughes

“Once again, we beat ourselves. If we keep conceding those kind of goals, we can’t expect to win a football match.

“I thought the two of them were poor goals. We needed to work harder to stop the cross for the first one and then it was a catalogue of errors.

“For the second one, maybe we lost it because we all want to be heroes and go and win it. Nobody has the nous to say ‘what if?’. What if that comes out, especially at that minute of the game, when someone has to say ‘hold it now’.

“Next thing, it’s in the back of the net, so two poor goals. That’s just how it has gone this year. All credit to Motherwell, but nobody’s going to win a football match defending like that.

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”267”]

‘Well fans should note the following additional opening hours of the Fir park Ticket Office.

These additional hours are:

Saturday 2^nd April 10 – 1pm
Thursday 7^th April until 7pm
Saturday 9^th April – matchday open from 9am

Tickers will be available for next weeks game against Celtic at Fir Park (Saturday 9th April, 12.30pm kick-off) with prices as follows

• Concessions are listed as 60 and over and full time students with a valid matriculation card
• Juveniles are listed as 15 & under
• The Cheaper priced ticket is for the East Stand only
• Celtic fans will be allocated the Maxim Office Park Stand and a Family section in the Phil O’Donnell stand. Tickets can be purchased from Celtic Park. A limited amount of Celtic tickets will be available from the Fir Park Ticket Office for those who have purchased before.
• Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 07745 494631/ 07711 992161 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk

‘Well boss Mark McGhee hopes ‘Well can continue their recent form and strengthen their grip on a top-six spot.

The Steelmen have won five of their last six matches, which has propelled the Fir Parkers from eleventh to fifth in the SPFL Premiership table.

And McGhee knows that working towards a top-half finish comes with its own sort of pressure.

Speaking to the broadcast media at Thursday’s pre-match news conference, he said: “It becomes a different sort of pressure. Now the criticism comes if you don’t make the top six.

[pullquote]It’s a never-ending story. You are playing for the next game and the next objective and pressure comes from the next set of expectations.[/pullquote]

“We are now sitting fifth and our supporters will expect us to finish in the top six. We have Inverness away and Celtic at home so we are not taking anything for granted.

“The game at Inverness, regardless of their recent form, is a hugely difficult game for us. I have a great respect for the way they play and the way John (Hughes) goes about his business.

“Whether me make the top six or not, it could arguably be the most difficult game we are going to face between now and the end of the season. It would be a fantastic game to get something.”

Highlights from Excelsior Stadium as despite taking the lead, Motherwell’s Under 20s lose 1-2 to Hibernian.

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan gives his post-match thoughts.

‘Well lost for only the second time in three months after an uncharacteristic 1-2 home defeat to Hibernian.

After taking a first-half lead through a Crane OG, late goals from Sterling and Shaw handed the Leith side all three points.

Craigan made three changes to the side that beat Falkirk 0-3 last midweek. PJ Morrison, Barry Maguire and Dylan Mackin all had to be content with a place on the bench, replaced in the staring eleven by Craig Samson, David Ferguson and Wes Fletcher

Motherwell started bright and had the first real effort at goal after ten minutes. Robbie Leitch released Fletcher down the left flank. His pull back found Davie Turnbull, but his low shot was straight at Otso Virtanen who saved comfortably.

However, the goalkeeper was powerless to stop Motherwell’s next attack as the Steelmen took the lead.

Dom Thomas drew a foul from Jordan McGregor on the edge of the box, allowing Luke Watt to whip in. When the ball did go into the area, it was inadvertently turned into his own net by Hibees fullback Calum Crane from a yard out.

Shell-shocked, it took the visitors until the 22nd minute to register a shot, but when Adam Watson eventually got his effort away, Samson was happy to watch it sail into the side net.

‘Well were soon back on the attack though and Allan Campbell, who signed a three-year extension to his Fir Park contract hours before the game, sent a stinging shot inches wide of target after good play between Chalmers, Thomas and Turnbull.

Hibs had a couple of half chances when Crane shot over from distance and Olly Shaw volleyed way off target from the edge as the Edinburgh side looked to get back level.

However, it was ‘Well who should have been further in front on the 33rd minute.

It started with a Chalmers free kick that was deflected on route for a corner. When Thomas delivered, Hibs made a hash of clearing it allowing Fletcher a chance to hit, but it was again blocked. When the rebound spun out to MacLean, his attempted chip landed on top of the net.

Hibs took confidence from surviving that scare and went on to control the closing ten minutes. They should have been on level terms shortly after that ‘Well chance,when Samson made a super stop to deny Shaw from close range, and even got up to deby Peters from the rebound.

The second half took some time to get going and it was just before the hour when Thomas registered the first effort, dribbling through several Hibs defenders only to hit the side net with a shot.

Ten further minutes passed before Hibs, who had introduced both Sinclair and Gullane for Handling and Peters, got their first effort of the second period. Cutting in from the right, Watson hit a low effort, but it lacked pace and trundled back towards Smason.

However, the Hibees did eventually get themselves level on the 77th minute. Sub Gullane got away from Watt and after cutting inside, brought out a terrific save from Samson. Unfortunately, it landed perfectly for Ben Sterling and he took a good touch before lashing it home into the far corner.

The goal gave the away side confidence and only another superb Samson stop, low to his left this time, denied Sterling a second as Hibs sensed a winner.

That winner did eventually come five minutes later. A cross from the right was only half cleared, and when Crane’s knocked a ball back into the danger zone, Shaw was on hand to turn it home from close range.

Motherwell threw men forward in search of an equaliser of their own, but a Luke Watt shot from distance aside, they failed to trouble Virtanen.

Indeed, Shaw might have added a third, racing clear and onto a long ball, but his attempted lob over the outrushing Samson was off target.

Motherwell: Samson, McMillan, Chalmers, Ferguson, Watt, Campbell, McLean, Turnbull (Mackin – 84mins), Fletcher (Falconer – 70mins), Thomas, R.Leitch (Hastie – 42mins)

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Maguire, Livingstone, Moore

Motherwell FC is today delighted to confirm young talent Allan Campbell has signed a three-year extension to his current contract.

Campbell has enjoyed an outstanding season for Stephen Craigan’s Under 20s side and was recently named as a substitute for the first-team in their 2-1 win over Aberdeen two weeks ago.

The 17-year old, a terrier-like holding midfielder, is a product of the club’s Youth Academy, signing professional in the summer of 2014.

[pullquote]”I’ve really enjoyed this season and being a part of the current Under 20s side; working with Stephen Craigan has been brilliant.[/pullquote]

And after countless standout performances for the young Steelmen, Campbell has signed an extension that will take him through to the summer of 2019.

Speaking to motherwellfc.co.uk, Campbell said: “I’ve really enjoyed this season and being a part of the current Under 20s side; working with Stephen Craigan has been brilliant.

“I am really pleased the club has shown the faith in me and I hope I can continue to develop. My ultimate aim, like everyone in the Under 20s squad, is to try and progress into the first-team, but I can only do that by playing well for the 20s.”

Supporters Direct Scotland in partnership with the Scottish FA and supported by the SPFL are pleased to launch the Scottish Football Supporters Survey 2016 – designed to give supporters across the country their say on the big issues affecting the national game.

This year’s survey is expected to engage tens of thousands of supporters, with clubs supporting the call to ask fans, “What’s the view from where you sit?”

Since its inception, the Scottish Football Supporters Survey has helped shape strategy and facilitate change at all levels of the game.

Your feedback is essential in the next stage of supporter engagement and to help provide a better fan experience whether supporting your club or country.

Already, your views have been taken on board and helped achieve the implementation of innovations such as:

• The creation of a single league body, the SPFL
• The creation of the Premiership Play-Offs
• The appointment of SDS and other independent groups (Players, Coaches and Referee Representatives) to the Scottish FA Congress
• The reformatting of the League Cup

In addition, the survey feedback has also enhanced the debate on the fixture calendar, pricing strategy, barriers to attendance, alcohol in football and fan engagement and ownership models.

Have your say on the future of Scottish football and you could win tickets to Scotland’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Hampden (8 October 2016)

How will your views count?

• We’ll publish the full survey results in a comprehensive format
• Supporters Direct Scotland will identify key “supporter asks”
• These will be presented to the Scottish FA Congress’ July meeting
• Supporters Direct will report on the progress of the “supporter asks” in July 2017

CLICK HERE TO TAKE PART IN THE SURVEY

Stewart Regan, Scottish FA Chief Executive stressed the importance of the annual survey.

He said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with the SPFL and SDS to launch this year’s Scottish Football Supporters Survey. The Scottish FA is committed to improving the game at all levels and the feedback from the fans – the lifeblood of the game – is important in shaping our plans for the future.”

Head of Supporters Direct Scotland, Andrew Jenkin explained that the survey is part of a process to continue to deliver change.

“As an organisation, Supporters Direct Scotland, plays a vital role in influencing key issues for supporters in Scottish football,” he added.

“This year we are more ambitious than ever before and plan to present the findings to all supporters, and then identify the key “supporter asks” we think Scottish football as a whole should focus on. Our aim is to be collaborative, to represent supporter views clearly, and to work with governing bodies & clubs to deliver ongoing change.”

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster added that the survey provides a valuable opportunity for the league governing body to reflect on the views of supporters across the country.

“The SPFL welcomes this survey and the opportunity it provides to hear and take on board the views of Scottish football supporters around the issues of most interest and concern to them,” he said.

Extended highlights from the Falkirk Stadium as goals from Ross MacLean and a Jake Hastie double gave ‘Well an impressive 0-3 win.

Under 20s assistant Keith Lasley reviewed his side’s fine 0-3 win over Falkirk at the Falkirk Stadium.