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Highlights from East End Park as a Bob McHugh opener is cancelled out by Craig Dargo and Alex Whittle as Dunfermline U20s edge a tight game 2-1.

-WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-
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Under 20s boss Jonatan Johansson was pleased with large parts of his side’s performance this evening despite a 2-1 defeat at East End Park.

‘Well had got their noses in front early in the second half but goals from Craig Dargo and winger Alex Whittle handed all three points to John Potter’s side.

Johansson bemoaned some of the defending that led to both goals but was also quick to highlight some of the positive attacking play demonstrated by his young side.

[pullquote]The tempo, combined with a couple of very experienced opponents, made it a really worthwhile exercise for our lads.[/pullquote]

“I am disappointed because all I can think about is how easily we lost the goals, particularly the first one” he told MFC TV after the match.

“We took the lead and played really well for long spells tonight and showed some really positive, attacking football and it was a good game for this league.

“The tempo, combined with a couple of very experienced opponents, made it a really worthwhile exercise for our lads.

“Obviously I am desperate for our players to do well and win matches but I enjoyed it tonight and was happy with large parts of our play.

”We just need to iron out some of the sloppiness in our defending but it is a learning curve and we will use this as another part of their development.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

Despite taking a lead early in the second half, Motherwell U20s lost 2-1 to Dunfermline at East End Park this evening.

BOB McHUGH grabbed his second of the season just four minutes after the half-time interval but ‘Well were quickly pegged back via veteran striker Craig Dargo.

Pars winger Alex Whittle grabbed the all important winner 18 minutes from time after springing the offside trap to fire past Hollis, securing all three points for his side.

‘Well boss Jonatan Johansson made six changes from the side that beat Hamilton seven days previous – ROSS STEWART, FRASER KERR, FRAZER JOHNSTONE, OMAR DALEY, STUART CARSWELL and Axel Bossekota all missed out, replaced by LEE HOLLIS, MORGYN NEILL, ADAM ASGHAR, PAUL McCAFFERTY, JOSH WATT and CRAIG MOORE.

Both teams traded possession and a series of corners during the opening exchanges but nothing to really threaten either Hollis or Ryan Goodfellow in goals.

McHugh did have the first real effort in anger after twenty minutes, following some patient build-up from Hetherington, but his shot from the edge of the area blazed high over the bar.

Moore followed that was a low shot which presented few problems for Goodfellow before Neill crashed a header off the bar, getting on the end of a Josh Watt corner, but the referee had already blew his whistle after spotting an infringement.

Pars’ most threatening spell during the first-half came just before the interval when Dargo flashed a teasing ball across the six-yard box but ‘Well escaped with no takers in Black and White waiting to finish the move.

It was the visitors who finished the half on the front foot with McHugh again firing over and Moore slipping at the vital moment after a great pass from Watt had him closing in on goal.

Although Dunfermline were the first to register a chance in the opening exchanges of the second half, when Kirk latched on to a long ball to fire an effort straight at Hollis, it was the Steelmen who took the lead just four minutes in.

A long ball from the back from Murray was flicked on by Moore towards the box. McHugh beat Kerr Young in a footrace and prodded the ball past the outrushing Goodfellow for his second in consecutive games.

John Potter’s side looked to hit back quickly and Andy Kirk’s low shot straight at Hollis was a warning to ‘Well that the home side were still in the match.

It wasn’t heeded though as with their next chance, the hosts drew level. A rather innocuous looking high ball towards Kirk looked as if it would be dealt with by the ‘Well rearguard. EUAN MURRAY and Neill got in each other’s way and the ball somehow squirmed through to Dargo; the veteran striker was in on goal and kept his nerve to tuck it under Hollis from close range.

The goal seemed to knock the confidence of the young Motherwell players as Dunfermline turned the screw. So much so, they took the lead ten minutes later albeit there was more than a hint of offside about the goal.

Motherwell had cleared the initial cross as the ball landed at the foot of Shaun Byrne who wasted no time clipping it back into the danger area. It flew over the head of everyone before landing kindly at the feet of Alex Whittle who appeared to be standing half a yard offside. There was no flag and the Scouse winger took full advantage, slamming home from ten yards out.

To Motherwell’s credit they threw everything at the home side and only some sensational goalkeeping from Goodfellow denied them what would have been a deserved share of the spoils.

He made a great save from JACK LEITCH low to his left, minutes after somehow turning a Moore header onto the bar from point-blank range.

With just seconds to go, Moore came within an inch of levelling after turning brilliantly inside the box but his fearsome shot shot past the far post and out for a throw-in.

It was to be the last effort of what was an evenly-matched, keenly-contested game of football. Johansson will be disappointed to leave Fife with nothing but will take plenty of positives from some of the performances of his younger players.

Motherwell: Hollis, Cummins, Leitch, Murray, Neill, Asghar, McCafferty (Johnstone 66), Hetherington, McHugh, Moore, Watt

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Green, Thomas, Shirkie

Goals: McHugh (49)

Anyone wishing to request a refund from Saturday’s abandoned match at Fir Park should contact Ticket Office Manager Wendy MacFarlane direct.

Her contact details are:

Telephone: 01698 333333 (ext 212)
Email: wendy.macfarlane@motherwellfc.co.uk

Spectators in possession of a ‘match abandoned’ voucher will be entitled to either a full refund or a ticket for the rearranged match and it is hoped that the date will be confirmed in the next 24 hours.

Motherwell U20s return to action tomorrow night (Tuesday) against Dunfermline hoping to build on back-to-back league wins.

Jonatan Johansson’s men have secured victories over both Dundee at Dens Park and Hamilton at Fir Park, propelling them away from the foot of the table after a somewhat difficult start.

They now face the Pars at East End Park tomorrow (7pm KO) looking to make it a hat-trick of wins when they face John Potter’s men.

Entry is available on the turnstile priced at £3.

[TV] Jonatan Johansson’s pre-match preview will be on MFC TV later this afternoon.

‘Well boss Stuart McCall was left frustrated after today’s match with Dundee United was abandoned.

The power in the local area went out just minutes before the match was due to start and with the safety of fans in the ground potentially at risk; the decision was taken to cancel the match.

And whilst McCall was completely understanding of the circumstances regarding the call-off, he was none-the-less frustrated for his side.

“Everyone is frustrated but there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about that,” he said.

“It’s just one of them things unfortunately. We were really looking forward to the game, as I am sure Peter Houston and Dundee United were too.

“It’s a shame, particularly going into the International break as we now have no game for fifteen days. But, there’s nothing we can do. That’s life!”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-

Today’s match with Dundee United has been postponed due to a power failure in the Motherwell area.

The problem was not in the stadium but rather the local area.

Early indications from Scottish Power was that power may not have been restored until 6pm. At that point, with the safety and security of people inside the ground the priority, the decision was made by the club to abandon the match.

Fans inside the ground have been issued with match abandoned vouchers. Those who are not able to attend the re-arranged match (no date has been confirmed as yet) will be entitled to a full refund – details will be published shortly.

Although completely out with the clubs’ control, Motherwell Football Club would like to apologise to anyone inconvenienced by today’s events.

For the second year running, Motherwell FC is offering young people between the ages of 5 and 12 the opportunity to experience life as a professional footballer.

The ‘Academy Experience’ is a week long intensive programme which will replicate the coaching received by professional players, and will include training sessions with members of the first team squad and coaching staff and a training session on Fir Park.

Comprehensive coaching will include game awareness, technique development, balance, creativity and nutrition.

Academy Experience is designed to take young players to the next level of performance and to instil in them the skills and confidence they require to develop their potential.

Coaching will be delivered by our highly-qualified SFA accredited coaches, and the young people will be rubbing shoulders with the first team professionals and youth squads.

Participants will also be presented with a certificated signed by Motherwell Manager, and former Scotland star, Stuart McCall.

The five-day programme costs just £55 which includes a healthy breakfast.

Players should bring their own packed lunch, and appropriate footwear and clothing – and a change to allow for inclement weather.

For more information and to book please call us on 01698 239 926 or go to our website at www.motherwellsoccerschools.com.

Places are strictly limited so book now! Download the flyer here.

North Lanarkshire Council, in association with Motherwell FC, Alzheimer’s Scotland and NHS Lanarkshire is launching a free fun-filled ‘Remember Well’ football memories programme at Firpark Stadium on 7 October.

Our national game holds fond memories for football fans of all generations, and sharing experiences of a particular moment of football history is special to supporters the world over.

Fans are being encouraged to come along and support the innovative memories programme, which aims to use our strong football heritage to improve the lives of people with dementia in North Lanarkshire.

People with dementia may also remember their first game, favourite player, favourite goal and everyone loves to share those experiences.

And supporters are being encouraged to bring along any football memorabilia such as programmes, football tops, press cuttings or their own pictures so the club can take a copy for their archives in exchange for a free ticket for a future match.

Councillor Sam Love, Convener of Housing and Social Work Services with North Lanarkshire Council, explained: “Through this programme, we can help raise awareness about dementia and hopefully help support those people experiencing the condition to lead a fuller and more enjoyable life.

“Motherwell is also aiming to be the first Dementia Friendly Town Centre in Scotland and the council and its partners are working hard with local businesses to make a commitment to supporting people with dementia. We as a council are determined to support people with dementia and help them remain a part of their community.”

The project involves training volunteers to spend time with people with dementia who have an interest in football, talking about the teams and matches of the past and working with visual images to stimulate memories.

Football has been used effectively to support people with dementia in other areas, but uniquely the North Lanarkshire project will involve young people as volunteers. By mixing young and old, the project hopes to encourage cross-generational discussion and learning to benefit both the people with dementia and the young volunteers.

Fans attending ‘Remember Well’ will:

• Meet former Motherwell legends and have your picture taken with them around the stadium including in the first team dressing room, the dug out, by the pitch side or with some historic silverware;
• Go on free stadium tours;
• Watch historic footage from big games over the decades and hear from the players involved, and
• Take part in competitions and games.

And for football trivia fans, a Quizball event, featuring questions from yesteryear and former playing legends is taking place at Firpark on Friday 28 September as part of the project and supporters are being invited along to be part of the audience.

Norrie Gallagher, Alzheimer’s Scotland Volunteer for Remember Well said: “We all know that Scots are passionate about football. We also know that football can be an incredibly powerful tool in helping to trigger other memories.

“So when we bring football nostalgia to those with dementia it often has amazing results.  Photos of a game can help people to remember where they went for a pint before, where they watched it and in some cases even conversations that took place during the game.  We can’t wait to start sharing favourite football memories with fans in North Lanarkshire.”

Supporters can also volunteer to get involved with ‘Remember Well’, and benefit from either free access to matches, free MFC Community Trust kit and most importantly a chance to make a difference to someone else’s life.

Colin Sloey, Executive Director of NHS Lanarkshire’s North Lanarkshire Community Health Partnership explained: “All the partners involved in the treatment of dementia are committed to improving the diagnosis, care and support for people with dementia as well as their carers.

“We are grateful to the Motherwell FC for this support, as well as Comic Relief for its financial support and Alzheimer Scotland who have all helped make this programme possible”.

There are an estimated 84,000 people with dementia in Scotland with around 4,400 people in North Lanarkshire affected by the condition and that number is only expected to increase in the coming years.

Leanne Dempster, Chief Executive of Motherwell Football Club said, Motherwell FC are determined to be Scotland’s Premier Community Club. We believe in the power of football to reach, involve and inspire communities. We are delighted to be at the heart of the ‘Remember Well’ Football Memories Programme. We are a club with a proud 125 year history. It is an honor that these memories are being used to raise awareness and improve the lives of people with dementia.”

Another belting edition of the 68-page Steelmen Matchday Magazine returns against Dundee Utd tomorrow.

It’s an excellent read from Editor Andy Ross and the team from Curtis Sport and BlueChilli Design.

But what can fans expect from the eighth magazine of the campaign?

‘Well boss Stuart McCall and Captain Keith Lasley both return with the regular columns. The manager talks candidly about the last week or so at Fir Park and looks at the bigger picture in the league. Skipper Lasley gives a fascinating insight into the players’ mindset following defeat against both halves of the Old Firm.

Andy Ross caught up with Antigua and Barbuda International Zaine Francis-Angol for the feature interview. The former Spurs defender chats openly about his hopes and dreams for the future and what Motherwell can archive this campaign.

And that’s not where the features stop!

There is a 13-page section dedicated to our visitors, Peter Houston’s Dundee United.

Kris Jack goes through four players to watch from opponents, as we as a player-by-player breakdown of their squad.

Arabs midfielder John Rankin is the man in the spotlight in our opposition Q&A and fan Heather McKenzie gives her view on how the Terrors are progressing. We also have a scout report from United’s last SPL match when Inverness CT ran out 4-0 winners in the Highlands last weekend.

The features and big names keep coming…

In our Interview Alumni section, John Berry caught up with former Steelman Kevin Twaddle who launched his new book ‘Life on the Line’ at Fir Park this week.

The winger tells a horrifying tale of a gambling addiction that cost him over a million and almost the ultimate price. He also looks back favorably on his time at Fir Park, recalling ‘his’ team.

The Press Association’s Gavin McCafferty returns with his ‘From the Press Box’ feature and looks at how Motherwell are setting the trend with the move to fan ownership. Press & Media Manager Alan Burrows adds his thoughts in ‘The Last Word’ near the back of the publication and looks at how Scottish Football could learn from the Ryder Cup.

Keith Lasley is the latest to give his top five’s in the iPlayer feature and Jamie Murphy tells us his ‘First and Last’.

Graham Barnstaple’s Cult Heroes this week focuses Ray Farningham who, to a certain generation of Motherwell fans, will be forever remembered for a certain goal at Ibrox. Oh for one of them recently, eh?

But wait, there’s more! We take a look back at last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Celtic, 10 tough questions in our Quiz, the latest news section as well as an in-depth statistical look at referee Euan Norris. We have the latest from The Ticket Office and the Commercial Department and the latest stats, facts and figures for the already busy 2012/2013 campaign.

The programme is available for £3 and is currently on sale from the Club Shop as well as the usual sellers located in and around the ground pre-match.

You can also order back editions or take a season-long subscription to the magazine by visiting the website of our publishers – Curtis-Sports – http://www.curtis-sport.com/