Motherwell took on Carlisle United in a behind-closed-doors friendly match on Tuesday afternoon, with the Steelmen winning 1-0.
Jens Berthel Askou named the same that took on FC Twente seven days prior, with new signing Eseosa Sule named amongst the substitutes.
In the glistening sun, it was Motherwell who had the first opportunity of the afternoon. Johnny Koutroumbis slipped the ball down the line for Tawanda Maswanhise, who beat his man and drove into the box. His shot went just wide of the far post on five minutes.
Just sixty seconds later, Lukas Fadinger beat his man with a burst of pace. As the Austrian drove into the box, he received a push in the back; however, the referee decided it wasn’t enough to warrant a penalty as Fadinger crashed to the deck.
Motherwell continued to have nice phases of play, dominating the ball for the most part. The Steelmen were creating space in the wide areas and looked a threat from every attack.
Callum Slattery and Lennon Miller linked up well to send Maswanhise in behind before the Zimbabwean was hauled to the ground by the Carlisle defender.
On 24 minutes, Miller’s free kick skimmed the roof of the net from 25 yards, as Motherwell continued to press for the opener.
Motherwell struck the woodwork twice on 28 minutes. Miller’s delivery from the corner found Stamatelopoulos, whose cushioned effort was deflected onto the post, with his follow-up also hitting the same post.
On 36 minutes, Carlisle had their first big chance of the afternoon. An intercepted pass found its way to former Well forward Luke Armstrong, who curled high and wide.
It only took 60 seconds for the first Well chance to arrive in the second-half. Slattery showed some exquisite skill in the middle of the pitch; O’Donnell’s curled cross met the head of the Motherwell number nine, but the effort was blocked.
On 49 minutes, the second opportunity came. Fadinger chipped the ball into the penalty area with the Carlisle keeper punching clear, but that clearance only reached Maswanhise, who twisted and turned but couldn’t find the target with his left-footed effort.
The chances in the game dried up. After the introduction of a number of substitutes, the next chance came on 73 minutes. Koutroumbis fired over from the second phase of a free kick.
On 74 minutes, new signing Sule won his side a penalty. Charging down the keeper, he was clipped by the keeper’s follow-through. Andy Halliday stepped up and fired into the top right corner to break the deadlock.
Ten minutes later, Slattery’s effort was deflected over the bar from 25 yards after Watt latched onto a loose pass.
The match ended bang on 90 minutes, with the Steelmen coming away with the win.
