[tab:Match report]
Motherwell returned to domestic action with a 2-1 win over Hamilton Accies at the SuperSeal Stadium.
Goals from Andy Rose and Peter Hartley in their first Lanarkshire Derby encounters completed a Claret and Amber comeback after Giannis Skondras thundered the home side in front.
Stephen Robinson made one change from the side who were victorious over Partick Thistle two weeks ago, recalling Andy Rose to the midfield in place of Craig Tanner, who dropped to the bench.
And it was a positive start for the Steelmen, who went close through Richard Tait when the ball fell kindly for the defender to strike a vicious effort on target from close range, but Ryan Fulton did well to turn the full backs effort round the post.
The Fir Parkers went closer when they struck the opposite post via the head of skipper Carl McHugh, who rose highest from a corner to so nearly find the breakthrough after just ten minutes.
It was the hosts who went in front though, and it came against the run of play.
From what was their first attack, an overhit cross fell kindly for Skondras arriving in the area, and he lashed an unstoppable effort high past Trevor Carson.
Accies started to get a foothold in the game but as they started to press forward, Motherwell so nearly punished them on the break.
A pinpoint long ball from Carson sent Moult over the top of Hamilton’s back line and, with Cadden racing forward in support, the forward so nearly slipped his teammate through one-on-one, but a crucial touch from last man Alex Gogic turned the ball behind for a corner.
McHugh went close again from the resulting set piece, heading inches over the crossbar.
Shortly after the half hour mark, Rose made his return to the starting eleven count with a tremendous finish to bring the Fir Parkers level.
A slack clearance sat up nicely for the Australian, who fired a fantastic low effort beyond Fulton on the half-volley.
The visitors started the second period on the front foot and within just the opening five minutes fired themselves back in front.
A clever set piece allowed Peter Hartley to arrive unmarked towards the back post and a terrific cross from Chris Cadden was turned in to the top corner beyond the helpless Fulton.
The match played out in a somewhat scrappy manner, with neither side testing the goalkeepers too much at New Douglas Park.
However, the Steelmen hit the woodwork for the second time in the match and it was McHugh again, who saw his towering header clatter off the crossbar before being hooked clear by the Accies man guarding his back post.
Robinson could call on a number of fresh legs to see out the final stages of the game, with Elliott Frear, Gaël Bigirimana and Craig Tanner all introduced to the action.
And it was the former who made the biggest impact, nearly scoring and assisting despite only being in the field of play for around 14 minutes.
The winger saw a decent effort flash wide of the far post on the volley before so nearly notching an assist for Ryan Bowman, who should have buried a header from close range on an afternoon when the strong forward deserved at least a goal.
Immediately down the other end, Martin Canning’s men threatened to steal a point when Redmond flashed a shot wide of the mark in the dying stages, but Robinson’s men saw it out and notched an 11th victory in 15 games this season.
[tab:Reaction]
Alastair Reilly at Superseal Stadium
FT: Hamilton Accies 1 – 2 Motherwell
FULL TIME!!!!
90+2′ | 1-2
Glorious chance for Bowman to finish the game but he heads over the bar from close range
90′ | 1-2
There will be four minutes added on.
88′ | 1-2
Motherwell make their final change, Moult off for Tanner.
84′ | 1-2
Close! Frear beats his man and sees his powerful shot beaten back to him then he volleys wide of the post.
84′ | 1-2
Motherwell sub, goal-scorer Rose makes way for Bigirimana
83′ | 1-2
Redmond tries his luck from 25 yards but it’s a comfortable stop for Carson.
81′ | 1-2
So close!! McHugh’s header crashes off the bar and despite claims of it being over the line, play rages on,
77′ | 1-2
Accies make another change, Biaby off for Boyd
76′ | 1-2
Motherwell sub, Frear on for Cadden.
75′ | 1-2
Campbell booked for blocking MacKinnon’s quick free-kick.
72′ | 1-2
Docherty gets in down the right but Kipré does well to read the cutback and stick it out for a corner.
64′ | 1-2
Accies sub, Redmond on for Donati.
51′ | 1-2
It’s that man HARTLEY again! Cadden clips in a free-kick and the centre back is unmarked and cooly volleys home!!!!
GGGGOOOAAALLL!!!
49′ | 1-1
Biaby booked for running right in front of Rose as he went to take a free-kick.
Accies get the second half underway.
Both teams return to the pitch, it’s time for the second 45.
HT: Hamilton Accies 1 – 1 Motherwell
45’| 1-1
One minute added on.
43’| 1-1
Cadden’s low corner is met at the front post by Rose but it’s just past the post.
35’| 1-1
McHugh booked for a tackle on Skondras. Not a lot in it.
32’| 1-1
What a strike by ROSE!!! Volleys low into the bottom corner from just inside the box!! The Steelmen are back level!
GGOOOOAALLLL!!!
And from the corner McHugh heads inches over the bar!
30’| 1-0
Great chance there as Moult and Cadden end up 2v1 but McMann recovers well to put it out for a corner!
29’| 1-0
Tait hooks the ball into the back post area but Fulton is sharp off his line and plucks it out the air ahead of Moult
26’| 1-0
Bingham cuts in off the left and has a shot but it’s beaten away by Carson.
22’| 1-0
Cadden wins a free-kick wide on the right. Chance for a good delivery here….McHugh heads past the post.
15’| 1-0
Goal – Accies take the lead with their first attack. Ball to the back post volleyed in by Skondras
13’| 0-0
Tait curls in a fine ball from wide to the head of Moult but he doesn’t quite get enough on it to test Fulton.
From the resulting corner, McHugh flicks it just wide of the post!
9’| 0-0
Lovely ball in from Campbell finds Rose at the backpost but his header deflected wide off Gogic!
2’| 0-0
So close!! Moult’s ball is squared across goal to Tait but Fulton gets a hand to it and palms it wide!!
Rose gets the action underway. COYW!!!
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson:
Hamilton Accies manager Martin Canning
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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