Motherwell finally celebrated their first league home win since August with a solid and deserved win over St Mirren.
It was a perfect start to Stuart Kettlewell’s spell in the dugout with two goals from Kevin van Veen and Max Johnston inside the opening 18 minutes.
When Ryan Strain pulled back one for the Saints midway through the first half there was an uneasy expectation that it might be a case of ‘Well throwing away a lead for the third time in four home matches.
However, the Steelmen looked organised and determined in a second half where they restricted Stephen Robinson’s men to few chances and the players and ‘Well’s interim manager took a richly merited ovation at the final whistle.
Stuart Kettlewell’s first team selection showed minimal change in personnel, from outgoing boss Steven Hammell. From those who lost out to Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup, ‘Well’s interim manager changed the starting line-up with Max Johnston, James Furlong, Dean Cornelius and Sean Goss coming in.
That allowed ‘Well to line-up with a back three of Paul McGinn, Callum Butcher and Dan Casey.
Former ‘Well boss Robinson, also looking for his team to overcome a cup exit on Saturday, named a Saints side which included five players returning to Fir Park to face their former club.
Ex-strikers Tony Watt and Curtis Main posed the main threat of inflicting more pain on the Steelmen and making it a quick double for Saints especially after the latter’s winner in Paisley three weeks ago.
It was Motherwell, though, who made the brighter and energetic start as they pressed the visitors from the kick-off.
And the Fir Park men were rewarded for their positive opening after eight minutes when they opened the scoring.
Blair Spittal’s long ball over the top found van Veen chasing the ball into the box with Richard Taylor closing him down as they approached the corner of the six-yard box. Somehow the Dutch striker stayed on his feet to toe poke the ball low across Trevor Carson and into the corner of the goal to give Kettlewell the start he hoped for.
Unbelievably the home the Fir Park fans were on their feet 10 minutes later as ‘Well doubled their lead.
Another long ball this time from Sean Goss found Johnston running down the right flank and after leaving Scott Tanser in his wake his shot drifted beyond Carson and inside the ‘keeper’s far post to make it 2-0.
It took Saints until the 22nd minute to test Liam Kelly although Main’s low shot from the edge of the box was straight at the ‘Well ‘keeper.
Two minutes later, though, Saints pulled a goal back. Watt fired the ball across goal and although it was missed in front of goal Strain raced in to fire the ball Kelly and get Robinson’s men back into the game.
That gave the visitor’s a lift but although they had some possession around the home box the ‘Well players defended Kelly’s area extremely well for the remainder of the first half.
At the other end Carson was idle until three minutes from the break when the former Northern Ireland ‘keeper was happy to hold Dan Casey’s powerful header from Spittal’s corner.
The home fans were optimistic of their side earning a long overdue home win and just before the hour the Steelmen had a chance to extend their lead.
Obika who had a strong presence against his former team exchanged a quick pass with van Veen but from a tight angle ‘Well’s top scorer fired the ball into the side netting.
In the 65th minute Strain’s drive from the edge of the box raced through a packed box but the ball was firmly held by Kelly.
The ‘Well ‘keeper then had another routine save this time from ex-team mate Mark O’Hara before Kettlewell made his first substitution with 13 minutes remaining.
Van Veen had played his part and was roundly applauded by the Fir Park faithful as he was replaced by Jack Aitchison.
And five minutes later the former Celtic player almost killed the game when he jinked past three players in the Saints’ box before firing over Carson’s bar.
In the added four minutes ‘Well, for the first time in recent home games, looked comfortable in a lead they held for three deserved points which lifts them up to ninth in the league table.
