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The ‘Well Society is having another sign-up / renewal night this Thursday in the Centenary Suite.

The Society was handed over to the fans last October with the purpose of growing the membership to a point where the fans could take over the ownership of the club.

With the recent financial news impacting other clubs, the Society need as many people as possible to sign up and help achieve that goal. The short term aim is to get to £500,000, which is a third of the overall target.

Hearts fans recently raised about £1.1million in a few weeks by buying shares and if the Society could add the same total to the figure already raised, they would gain majority control of Motherwell FC for the fans and provide stability to the club for years to come.

The money raised will provide a fund to help Motherwell FC through potential hard times in the future. Complacency is understandable when the team are pushing for Europe again – but now is exactly the time to act to help the club maintain the recent success.

The Society already has two members appointed to the Board of Directors of Motherwell FC, and as the stake in the club grows, so will the number of Director places available to the Society. This will grow until they take majority control of the club.

The Society will host an open night, on Thursday 21st March in the Centenary Suite (starting at 6.30pm), allowing anyone interested to sign up. Those members who joined a year ago will also be able to renew their membership for the next year.

A number of the First Team squad will be on hand to sign autographs and have their photos taken. There will also be the opportunity to have a mini tour of the stadium.

Membership levels are available as follows;

• Junior Steel Membership – £25 (for juveniles under 15)
• Steel Membership – £300
• Claret Membership – £1000
• Amber Membership – £5000
• 1886 Membership – £25000

There are a number of benefits which are accrued by each membership level.

We can also offer easy payment terms to help spread the load, please ask a member of the Society Board on the night.

For more information on the ‘Well Society – CLICK HERE

The Under 20s return to action tomorrow afternoon when they take on Hamilton Accies at the Excelsior Stadium.

The match was originally scheduled for New Douglas Park, but to protect the Hamilton pitch in the wake of recent inclement weather, it has been moved to the astro at Airdrie.

Although the young Steelmen go into the match after their first clean sheet of the campaign against Dunfermline on Monday, Jonatan Johnasson will be looking for a much better performance from his side.

The last time the teams met was back in early October when Omar Daley, Bob McHugh and Euan Murray all scored in a 3-1 win for the Fir Parkers.

Entry to the match is free of charge – the kick-off is 2pm.

Note: There is likely to be a pitch inspection early in the morning. Please keep an eye on the MFC Twitter feed for all the breaking news.

Extended highlights from a snowy Fir Park as Motherwell and Dunfermline U20s play out a goalless draw.

-WATCH THE FULL HIGHLIGHTS ON MFC TV-

Under 20s boss Jonatan Johansson was far from pleased despite his side keeping their first shut-out of the campaign.

Motherwell and Dunfermline shared the spoils at Fir Park but, in truth, it was a game the visitors really should have won.

A combination of luck and poor finishing from the Pars secured a point.

Motherwell rarely threatened and it left the 106-times capped Finnish international with yet more headaches in what has been a poor season.

[pullquote]I’ve been waiting for the clean-sheet to come since Christmas, but for it to come in this game we were very fortunate.[/pullquote]

“I’ve been waiting for the clean-sheet to come since Christmas, but for it to come in this game we were very fortunate,” the former Charlton striker admitted to MFC TV.

“The game was poor, and how we got away with a point and a clean sheet I will never know.

“We can’t blame the conditions as they were the same for both teams and Dunfermline played well at times.  They were on top of us all over the park and only a mixture of luck and some poor finishing kept it goalless.

“We had a chat with the lads and everyone accepts it wasn’t good enough. We can only look forward to Wednesday (vs Hamilton) now to get that out of our systems.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

The U20s kept their first clean sheet of the season to earn a point in a game that was played almost in its entirety in a snowstorm.

The opening stages were poor as both sides struggled to adjust to the conditions. There was no doubting the effort form both sets of players but there was little in the way of goalmouth action to warm the small band of fans huddled together in the Phil O’Donnell Stand.

The visitor’s cause wasn’t helped early on when they were forced to make a change after only seven minutes. Chris Kane was injured in a tackle and was replaced by Declan O’Kane.

The first chance of the half fell to Motherwell when Bob McHugh flicked a free kick from the right just past the front post. The Pars responded and O’Kane saw a header cleared off the line by Frazer Johnstone.

Both sides then exchanges long range efforts with O’Kane firing wide from 20 yards for the Pars and McHugh driving a shot at the keeper from about the same distance down the other end.

The best chance of the half fell to Motherwell just before the break, Lee Erwin burst into the box but his shot from close range was well saved by Ryan Goodfellow. The keeper recovered well to get back on his feet to save from Dom Thomas who had collected the rebound.

With incessant snowfall during the first half, the lines were beginning to disappear. The ground staff worked hard throughout the break to sweep the lines clear and there was no danger the game wouldn’t get under way again.

The Pars were to prove the stronger side in the second half, and they almost took the lead in the opening two minutes. A corner from the left was headed goal ward by Blair Henderson but Johnstone was on hand to head clear once again.

Stewart in the home goal was getting busier and busier, as he was first called upon to make a diving save from Ross Millen and then to smother at the feet of Henderson.

With twenty minutes left on the clock ‘Well made their first chance of the half, when Lee Erwin fired in an angled drive on the turn which was turned wide by Goodfellow.

Ten minutes later the Steelmen’s goal lived a charmed life once again, Scott Gray latched on to a loose pass back he rounded Stewart before choosing to squared the ball.

With the stopper out of position, it looked as though Whittle only had to roll the ball into the empty net but the keeper got back to somehow hack the ball of the line.

Even in stoppage time the Pars should’ve sealed the three points their second half chances deserved.

A cross from the right picked out Henderson only yards out but somehow he managed to screw the chance over the cross bar.

Jonatan Johansson will have been pleased his side managed their first shut-out of the campaign but the Steelmen were way off the pace.

They will need to be much better when they take on Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park on Wednesday night.

Motherwell: Stewart, Neill, Kellock, Murray, Saunders, Ashgar, McCafferty, Erwin, McHugh, Thomas, Johnstone (Shirkie)

Subs not used: Currie, Ferguson, Higgins

Booked: Ashgar

With Michael Higdon’s twentieth league goal of the campaign tonight, he joins an exclusive band of Motherwell players.

29-year old Higdon is only the sixth Steelmen striker to net 20 league goals in the country’s top division since the Second World War, and the first to do so in 36 years.

He equals Wilson Humphries in 1947/48, Ian St John in 1958/59 and Pat Quinn in 1960/61, all of whom bagged 20 league goals.

He is just one behind Joe McBride’s total of 21 in 1964/65 but still three behind Willie Pettigrew’s haul of 23 in 1975/76.

The ‘Grew also hit 21 in 76/77 in an incredible run of scoring form which seen him score an astonishing 82 goals in two-and-a-half seasons.

Jackie Hunter (25), Jim Forrest (25), Dixie Deans (30) and Willie Irvine (20) also surpassed twenty league goals in Claret and Amber, but it was in the second tier of Scottish football.

Higdon told motherwellfc.co.uk: “I am delighted that I have got to twenty league goals and it’s an honour to be named alongside some of those fantastic players in the clubs’ history.

“It’s not job done for me though. I have set myself a target of at least 25, and I will work as hard as possible to get there before the end of the current season.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as a clinical Motherwell thrash Hibernian 4-1.

-WATCH THE FULL HIGHLIGHTS ON MFC TV-

Pictures from the 4-1 win over Hibernian in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park.

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‘Well boss Stuart McCall was absolutely delighted with his side after they roared back from a goal down to beat Hibs 4-1.

The Steelmen went behind against the run of play to a Tom Taiwo header midway through the first-half.

However, a scintillating, James McFadden-inspired show in the second forty-five blew the Easter Road club away.

Goals from Higdon, McFadden, a Higginbotham stunner and Tom Hateley confirmed the win.

And McCall was thrilled with his men after yet another excellent showing which puts the Steelmen five ahead of Ross County.

[pullquote]Faddy will take all the plaudits, and rightly so, but there were a lot of unsung heroes out there.[/pullquote]

He told MFC TV: “I was happy with the first half performance; it was harsh to come in at half-time a goal down and to lose Lasley and Law was a worry.

“Faddy will take all the plaudits, and rightly so, but there were a lot of unsung heroes out there. His entertainment value was terrific, but the bottom line was he had end product too in his goal and some great crosses.

“From Randolph through the team they all played their part and it was a fantastic win.

“It was a really good way to go into the international break and we’ll now look forward to the next two games.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

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Phil McGhee at Fir Park

A James McFadden inspired Motherwell blast four past Hibs to confirm their spot in the top six.

Despite falling behind to a Tom Taiwo goal to trail at the interval and suffer the loss of both Keith Lasley and Nicky Law in midfield, a superb second half, with Faddy the conductor, produced a performance of real style and determination.

Completing his first 90 minutes since his return to the club, McFadden capped a wonderful display with his first ‘Well goal since August 2003.

That gave ‘Well the lead after 53 minutes but even Hibs boss Pat Fenlon admitted that the Fir Park side should never have been behind.

Dominating the first 20 minutes, Michael Higdon headed over from a McFadden cross, before Henrik Ojamaa darted in behind the Hibs defence only to see his deflected shot blocked at the foot of the left hand post by Ben Williams.

Then, with eleven minutes played, a swerving free kick from Tom Hateley almost deceived the ‘keeper who dived low to his right to block the ball low at his post and then watch as the ball rebounded off the surprised Shaun Hutchison and bounce past the post.

Very much against the run of play, and in their first attack, Hibs took the lead. David Wotherspoon curled the ball in from the right and Taiwo, six-yards in front of goal, stooped to send a header past Darren Randolph.

Motherwell suffered another setback three minutes later when captain Keith Lasley limped off to be replaced by Stuart Carswell.

‘Well had a narrow escape when Hibs almost increased their lead when James McPake headed Leigh Griffiths corner into the side netting.

The home side, though, regained their composure and their attacking threat before half time.

Firstly a quickly taken free kick from McFadden sent Ojamaa racing into box before laying the ball into Hatelely’s path whose low drive flashed across the goal and narrowly past.

On the stroke of half time McFadden headed on a Nicky Law free kick with Willaims grabbing the ball under the cross bar.

If the first half was quite frustrating for the ‘Well fans, the second half was majestic.

Despite the loss of Law in the middle of the park Motherwell took the game to Hibs and were rewarded with an equaliser within three minutes.

And in a second half of notable goals, Higdon grabbed his twentieth of the season, powering a header from McFadden’s floated cross into the six yard box high beyond Williams.

While that strike leaves Higdon only three behind Willie Pettigrew’s post War record, McFadden decided to get his name on the score sheet five minutes later.

Collecting the ball just outside the box, the 48-times capped forward moved toward the box, side stepping Matt Done before sweeping a left foot shot beyond the diving ‘keeper for his first goal since his return to the club.

At the other end Leigh Griffiths’ goal threat had been well tamed by Shaun Hutchison, but the Hibs striker finally produced a save from Darren Randolph with an overhead kick.

Kallum Higginbotham then showed him how to do it as he claimed his first Motherwell goal with an outstanding strike after 66 minutes.

Stuart Carswell out on the right floated a cross to the far side of the box where ‘wee’ Higgy finished with a wonderfully acrobatic bicycle kick sent the ball back across Williams for a stunning goal; a contender for strike of the season for sure.

Hibs were finished but ‘Well were hungry for more and six minutes from time, Tom Hateley drove home the fourth from 25 yards with once again McFadden the provider.

Stuart Carswell could have made it five on full-time when Carswell got on the end of a Zaine Francis-Angol cut-back but his low shot was excellently saved by Williams.

That concluded a super performance, which not only made certain of a top six finish, but also had Stuart McCall setting his sights on a return to Europe.

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Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

Coming Soon…

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Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“If there are Motherwell fans out there who haven’t come, he’s finding his best form now and he’s getting fitter.

“Some of his foot-work, we know what he’s about and he showed that tonight. The team were excellent but he added the entertainment value, he was terrific.

“The performance as a whole merited the victory. The park is in a decent condition compared to a few that we’ve been to of late and we got the ball down and moved. All four goals were top quality.

“The next aim is trying to finish in a European spot, which is the top three. The lads have got the bit between their teeth and we’ve got to maintain second place.”

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon:

“It’s very sore. We got what we deserved tonight; we didn’t deserve anything out of the game.

“We weren’t pleased we conceded three goals within 15 minutes.

“If you concede one it’s bad enough, but you’ve got to make sure you stay in the game and you don’t concede one quickly.

“It’s happened to us three or four times this season and it shouldn’t happen.

“Our confidence should have been good coming into tonight, we hadn’t been beaten in a long time.

“I didn’t think we played well in the first half and I didn’t think we played well for 90 minutes.

“Motherwell are a decent side, there’s no doubt about that, but our performance wasn’t good enough tonight.”

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