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Our Under 18 side returned to competitive action on Friday against Kilmarnock at K-Park. 

The match ended 2-1 to the visitors, despite a Campbell Forest equaliser on the hour mark. Andy Miller and Zander Craik scored on either side of half time.

The first big chance of the game was presented to Devon Johnston of Motherwell. A slack backpass to the Kilmarnock keeper didn’t have enough power on it to reach Armour, Johnston pressed and tackled the keeper but the ball fizzed away from danger.

There would be a large stoppage in play when Arran Bone collided with Gilmour in the air. The Kilmarnock youngster was knocked out cold and treated immediately on the pitch. We wish him a speedy recovery.

At the restart, Mikey Booth went close. A free-kick from 25 yards wasn’t dealt with by the keeper who spilled the effort wide for a corner.

Max Ross was presented with a chance from a corner kick after Forest kept the ball alive in the area, but the defender blazed high and wide.

Miller opened the scoring for Killie after some continued pressure on the ‘Well backline. The centre-back connected well from a corner kick and knocked the ball in off the crossbar and past Josh Bogan. 1-1 half time.

The Motherwell keeper was called into action shortly into the second half. On 55 minutes, he made the stop from Craik’s header back across goal and his defence subsequently cleared the danger.

Substitute Harry McLean quickly made an impact from the bench shortly after. He carried the ball into the Kilmarnock penalty area and was brought down and awarded a penalty. Despite the keeper going the right way, Forest converted to get his side onto level terms.

However, seconds later, Kilmarnock were back in front. Craik converted up the other end from a free-kick awarded straight from the restart and Kilmarnock were ahead again.

Motherwell pursued an equaliser but couldn’t find the goal and ended up losing narrowly to the young Ayrshire side.

Motherwell team: Bogan, Garcia, McDermott, Ross, Bone, Flatman, Whyte, Forest, Tomany, Booth, Johnston.

Motherwell subs: Lawson, McQuarrie, Webb, McLean, Simpson, Arnott.

The club would like to thank supporters for their backing over the summer. 

As a result of tremendous backing, we have now exceeded our target of 4200 season tickets sold for the 2023/24 season.

We recognise, due to a number of factors, how difficult it has been for many to be able to afford season tickets this season.

With a tricky financial climate and rising prices across the board, we are hugely grateful for your backing and support.

Season tickets are a vital part of the club’s annual income and helps sustain the club for the season ahead. As a fan owned club, supporters a key pillar in our club and manager Stuart Kettlewell wants to extend his gratitude towards supporters for their tremendous backing since he arrived at the club.

The first Lanarkshire derby of the 2023/24 campaign awaits, as the women of steel prepare for another swift return to action following Wednesday nights hard-fought encounter with Glasgow City under the lights of Petershill Park.

Carla Boyce netted Motherwell’s only goal of the evening, with the defending champions punishing the visitors numerous squandered opportunities, cruising to a comfortable 3-goal advantage.

Paul Brownlie’s side will return to K-Park, looking to keep their unbeaten home record intact, as the visit from Hamilton provides an ideal opportunity to continue their positive start to the league campaign.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The hosts will be looking to continue their recent Lanarkshire derby success, with the women of steel securing three successive victories from their last four, including a comfortable 4-1 victory at New Douglas Park.

The midweek return of both Amy Anderson and Murron Cunningham from both short and long-term injuries is a positive first step from the clubs recent injury woes.

Georgie Rafferty will remain doubtful for Sunday’s match whilst Eve Donald will remain unavailable. Laura McCartney & Lucy Ronald continue their return from long-term injuries.

Hamilton

On the other side of the River Clyde, Hamilton will be looking to develop upon their 11^th-place finish last season, where they narrowly staved off relegation with a 2-1 victory over Gartcairn in the SWPL Playoff Final.

Accies have yet to pick up their first points of the new campaign, after facing top-six opposition in their opening three games. An opening day defeat to Hearts was soon followed by Celtic and Partick Thistle, with Josephine Giard netting the sides only league goal in a 7-1 loss to the defending Scottish Cup champions.

Ticket information

Cash & card payments are available for this fixture, with season ticket holders requiring their season ticket card upon arrival.

• Adult – £8
• Concession – £3
• Under 11s – Free to enter.

*Concession tickets apply to those over 65, and to 12–17-year-olds, with full-time students also eligible with a valid matriculation card.

Additional information – no pets allowed within K-Park.

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.

Theo Bair says the team love playing at Fir Park and are looking forward to being back home. 

The Canadian international speaks about his targets for this season and how big an impact he feels he can make in ML1 this campaign.

Brodie Spencer has joined the club on a season-long loan from Huddersfield Town, subject to international clearance. 

The Northern Irish international is a full-back and joins from the Championship side for the rest of the season, having penned a new contract with The Terriers until 2025 prior to the switch.

He joined Huddersfield from Cliftonville in 2020 and initially played in the under 17 side at the club. He made a quick impression at that level and the decision was taken to skip the Under 19s team and go straight into the B team.

In May 2022, the defender won the Antoni’s Memorial Academy Player of the Year trophy at Huddersfield for his impressive displays.

He the progressed to first-team level and has made six senior appearances in all competitions.

The 19-year-old made his international debut for the Northern Irish senior side 2022 against Kosovo, where he assisted one of the goals. He has three caps so far.

“Brodie is a real quality player with bags of potential” Stuart Kettlewell said.

“I think it says a lot when the parent club offer a player a new deal before loaning him out. It shows their real desire to see the player grow and I think Brodie will do just that.

“With international caps in the senior team at such a young age, it only shows how much quality he’s got.

“It’s been a busy couple of days but I’m buzzing to be here,” Spencer said.

“This is a great opportunity for me to get minutes and impress in a first-team environment.

“I feel like the club and the manager is a good fit for me and I can’t wait to get going.”

Spencer will wear the number 22 kit this season.

Stuart Kettlewell addresses the recent debate around Charles Dunne’s tackle on Mika Biereth against St Mirren last weekend.

The manager also provides an injury update on Biereth, Jon Obika and Pape Souare.

He goes into detail around how sore the defeat against St Mirren was and how the team were aware they could improve drastically on the performance and result.

With Kilmarnock beating both Rangers and Celtic this season, Kettlewell remains calm in his approach to the game.

Motherwell’s swift return to action following Sunday’s victory over Spartans proved to be challenging, as the defending champions punished the visitors squandered chances by racking up a four goal-lead under the lights of Petershill Park in Glasgow.

The attacking quality at Glasgow’s disposal was demonstrated only minutes into the game, with Emily Whelan breaking the deadlock after only five minutes. Claire Walsh powered home a header from close range 15 minutes later to double the hosts lead.

Carla Boyce narrowed the deficit midway through the first half with a composed finish from distance, but a late Cori Sullivan goal restored the hosts advantage seconds before the break. The midfielder netted her second of the evening late into the second half to seal victory for her side.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie made one change from the side that secured the first three points of the new campaign. Sarah Gibb returned to the starting XI against her former side whilst Amy Anderson remained available from the bench.

Looking to continue their quest for silverware this season, City started on the front foot and netted the opener in the early exchanges.

Lauren Davidson’s driving run from the right allowed her to tee off Whelan midway through the Motherwell penalty area, and the forward calmly dispatched her strike into the bottom-left corner.

The hosts netted their second after surpassing the 20-minute mark, with Walsh powering home Sullivan’s floated corner kick from the left.

Moments after the half hour mark, Motherwell sought a vital route back into the game. Picking up the ball deep on the right, Boyce drove to the corner of the Glasgow penalty area before curling an exceptional effort into the top-left corner, beyond the reach of the City stopper.

Despite some positive play from the visitors, City netted a third against the run of play. Sullivan’s deep cross from the left sailed over Emily Mutch before nestling into the side netting.

Motherwell started the second half brightly, limiting the hosts to few chances whilst testing the Glasgow defence on numerous occasions.

Tara McGonigle’s whipped free kick from the left forced a smart stop from Erin Clachers in the City goal, with the looping strike destined for the top-corner.

Moments later, the winger’s floated corner kick sailed invitingly into the path of Chelsie Watson, who’s dangerous header narrowly evaded the crossbar.

The visitors squandered opportunities were soon punished as Glasgow netted a decisive fourth. Sullivan’s corner kick from the right sailed towards the back post, evading everyone in the penalty area before picking out the side netting at the far post for her second of the evening.

A disappointing and frustrating evening for the women of steel was brightened with a positive change late into the second half, with Murron Cunningham returning to action following a lengthy period on the sideline with injury.

Brownlie’s side will return to action this weekend, with a highly-anticipated visit from local rivals Hamilton in the first Lanarkshire derby of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

Motherwell return to cinch Premiership action on Saturday when Kilmarnock visit Fir Park. 

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under

Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.

Ticket Office open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.

Tickets can be purchased online.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit on Saturday.

Team News

Long-term absentee Calum Butcher remains missing for this game.

Jon Obika suffered an injury setback last week and will remain missing for a period of time.

Mika Biereth has joined the injury list, picking up a knee injury from a tackle against St Mirren. He will be missing for three months.

Pape Souare is a doubt for this match, having missed the trip to St Mirren and will be monitored this week.

Harry Paton is also a doubt as he continues his recovery from a groin strain and will be assessed for the remainder of the week.

Motherwell’s fortunes

Stuart Kettlewell suffered his first defeat on the road since he arrived in February, against St Mirren last time out.

The loss was Kettlewell’s third defeat in 21 games in charge.

A 1-0 defeat knocked Motherwell out of the Viaplay Cup. However, the Steelmen have made a strong start in the league.

Drawing against Dundee before beating Hibernian 2-1 means Motherwell are on four points out of six so far.

Opposition report

Kilmarnock come into this game having beaten Celtic 1-0 in the Viaplay Cup. Marley Watkins grabbed the only goal of the game.

They are also on four points from their first two games in the cinch Premiership, beating Rangers on the opening day at Rugby Park 1-0 and coming away with a point from Tynecastle in a 0-0 draw.

Danny Armstrong continues to be involved in most of the good at Kilmarnock. The tricky winger has one goal and three assists so far.

Stuart Findlay has adjusted well back to life in Scotland. The centre-back rejoined the Ayrshire side in the summer for his second spell at the club and has already got himself on the scoresheet twice.

There are two former Motherwell men within the Killie ranks. Liam Polworth and Liam Donnelly are currently applying their trade at Rugby Park, with both still looking for their first goal or assist of the season.

Mika Biereth is set to spend up to three months on the sidelines. 

The Arsenal loanee sustained a knee injury in our Viaplay Cup match against St Mirren on Saturday.

Scans have revealed a serious knee injury and means the striker will miss 12 weeks of the season.

Our loan agreement with Arsenal has not changed as a result of this injury.

We wish Mika all the best in his recovery and look forward to seeing him back playing soon.

Fir Park will be Scotland’s Under 21 venue for matches against Hungary and Malta in October. 

Kick-off times and tickets details have yet to be confirmed but will be communicated as soon as possible.

Scotland begin their UEFA Euro Under 21-Championship qualifiers. The Scots have three matches in October, kicking off the round of fixtures with a trip to Spain before a double header at Fir Park.

Scotland v Hungary

• Friday 13 October

Scotland v Malta

• Tuesday 17 October