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It’s time to pick your Paycare Motherwell FC player of the month for March.

Kevin van Veen, Blair Spittal, Sean Goss and Max Johnston are all in contention.

To vote, head over to our Facebook page.

March Matches

• Ross County 0-2 Motherwell
• Motherwell 2-4 Rangers

Kevin van Veen

Grabbing three goals in two matches, Kevin van Veen is in red hot form.

Taking his goal tally to 18 this season, the Dutchman is the second highest Dutch goalscorer in the world right now.

Scoring a vital brace in Dingwall, with two second half finishes, Van Veen also struck inside three minutes against Rangers at Fir Park.

Blair Spittal

Back-to-back nominations for Blair Spittal, who has had another fine month at Motherwell.

He set up Kevin van Veen with a pinpoint cross against Ross County, taking his goal contributions in the cinch Premiership to eight this season.

Sean Goss

Back in the international fold, Sean Goss’s performance earned him a first international call-up in five years for Northern Ireland.

One of the first names on the teamsheet for Stuart Kettlewell at the minute, Goss has linked the play from the middle of the pitch with a range of passing going forward. His ball forward against Rangers found Max Johnston who went on to assist Van Veen for the first goal.

It hasn’t just been in range of passing that has impressed recently, Goss won 86% of his defensive duels and 100% of
his aerial duels against Rangers on Saturday.

Max Johnston

A revelation since his return from loan at Cove Rangers, Max Johnston has impressed in his stint at right-back.

Proving to cause issues going forward for opposition defences, Johnston has got two assists in as many games.

His ‘pass’ from the edge of the box to Kevin van Veen, helped the Dutchman seal the three points in Dingwall.

Johnston also set the number nine up for a tap-in after a lethal cross across goal against Rangers.

Alan Archibald has been appointed lead development coach. 

The 45-year-old will be begin working specifically with our Development and Under 18s teams after leaving his role as assistant manager at Partick Thistle in February.

Archibald takes up the role that was vacated by manager Stuart Kettlewell last month.

“I’m delighted to be here” Alan Archibald said.

“I spoke with the manager last week and it made this a very easy decision to make.

“When I was manager, one of the best parts of the job was being able to give youngsters their debuts and time on the pitch.

“I started off coaching at youth level so I’m well aware of the challenges that await.

“This is a great football club and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

With almost 500 appearances in his career, Archibald spent his playing career at Partick Thistle and Dundee United.

He retired in 2013 and became interim manager in January of that year before being given the job on a permanent basis.

Under his guidance, Thistle won the First Division, the second tier, to get the Jags back in the top flight.

Archibald would keep Thistle in the top flight, securing a top-six finish in the 16/17 season and a record amount of top-flight wins in the process, until the 2017/18 season when they lost the play-off final to Livingston.

He left Thistle in 2018 before returning less than 12 months later as Ian McCall’s assistant manager.

“I think getting someone of Alan’s calibre is a massive positive for the club,” manager Stuart Kettlewell added.

“He’s a premiership manager who has lots of experience at the top level.

“The young players here will benefit massively from him.

“I know how important the lead development role is at Motherwell so to get Alan in means I can trust and rely on that role being executed well.”

Niamh Noble, Kayla Jardine and Tiree Burchill have been named in Scotland’s Under 19 squad. 

The trio, who all joined in January, are available for Scotland’s upcoming UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship qualifiers against Albania and Liechtenstein.

Scotland take on Albania on Wednesday 5 April before they tackle Liechtenstein on Saturday 8 April.

Both matches take place at the Arena Kombëtare, Tirana.

• Albania v Scotland – Wednesday 5 April (1.30pm K.O)
• Scotland v Liechtenstein – Saturday 8 April (10.30am K.O) 

It was four games unbeaten in the Stuart Kettlewell era at Motherwell but that record would be put strongly to the test against second-placed Rangers.

Unbeaten in the league since Michael Beale’s arrival, the Gers arrived at Fir Park looking to close the gap on leaders Celtic. But it would be Motherwell who put the first marker down.

Kevin van Veen netted his 18th goal of the season after just three minutes to give Motherwell an early, before Rangers moved the game into their favour come 47 minutes, when Fashion Sakala made it 2-1.

Substitute Bevis Mugabi got the home side on level terms however Rangers would go on to win 4-2, with Callum Slattery receiving a controversial red card in the process.

They were looking to cause what would have been an upset by beating Rangers, but Motherwell manager Kettlewell knows games against Rangers won’t be season defining but he wants his team to know it was still a defeat regardless.

Motherwell coasted past local rivals Hamilton with a comprehensive 1-4 victory at New Douglas Park to secure their third straight Lanarkshire Derby win this season.

An emphatic Tiree Burchill hat-trick across both halves alongside a composed Carla Boyce penalty was enough to ensure all three points went to the claret and amber side of Lanarkshire.

Manager, Paul Brownlie made three changes from the side that secured a historic semi-final place in the Scottish Cup and a trip to Hampden after a convincing 3-0 victory over Glasgow Women at Cliftonhill last weekend.

Amy Anderson made her first start since returning from a recent injury spell, with Lori Gardner and Georgie Rafferty also featuring in the starting XI. Niamh Noble, Kayla Jardine and Jo Addie settled for a place on the bench.

The visitors were certainly the likelier to break the deadlock after the early exchanges.

A darting run by Kodie Hay saw the winger coast through to the edge of the box, before firing an ambitious attempt towards goal, but her strike narrowly evaded the far post.

Motherwell were still struggling to find their rhythm as the half-time whistle loomed, but they soon found the breakthrough.

Hay, again looking lively on the right, sprinted beyond her marker before drilling a low delivery across the face of goal, and Burchill was on hand to convert from a few yards out.

As the second half resumed, the women of steel increased the intensity, and soon took complete control of the game.

A skilful run from Lori Gardener saw the winger edge her way into the penalty area before teeing up substitute Gill Inglis’ whose close-range effort ricocheted through a number of bodies before falling kindly to the feet of Burchill, who calmly netted her second of the afternoon.

Less than two minutes later, Motherwell had their third. A clear handball in the box was spotted by the referee who correctly awarded the spot kick. Boyce stepped up and clinically dispatched her strike into the bottom right-corner for her seventh goal in recent prolific spell.

On the hour mark, Burchill secured her hat-trick and Motherwell’s fourth of the derby.

Latching onto Boyce’s incisive through ball, Burchill’s fast footwork allowed her to shift the ball onto her stronger right-foot before placing her strike into the bottom-left corner to secure Motherwell third successive Lanarkshire Derby triumph this season.

Paul Brownlie’s side will now turn their attention to Dundee United who are the visitors at K-Park next Sunday.

Players and staff from Motherwell Football Club’s youth academy, together with the North Lanarkshire Child Protection Committee, are working together to raise awareness about what we can all do to help keep North Lanarkshire’s children and young people safe.

We can all play our part by helping to make our communities safe, nurturing places for all children to grow up in.

Listening to what children say to us and taking any worries they have seriously helps children feel valued, respected and encourages them to speak up if they don’t feel safe.

The club is delighted to announce an extension to the long-established partnership which sees the youth academy continue to back the child protection message by displaying the Child Protection Committee logo on their tops throughout the season.

The club also displays prominent child protection messages around Fir Park, as well as information on how to report concerns. Motherwell will also promote important child protection messages through their social media and digital channels.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership between our academy and the Child Protection Committee,” Suzanne Reid, Head of Commercial & Marketing at Motherwell FC, said.

“The particular focus this year will be on keeping children safe online, especially on social media.

“Our academy players and coaches will work to spread the message of internet safety across our local area.”

For more information, go online.

Contacts
Childline – 0800 1111 (free 24 hour service), childline.org.uk
Parentline  – 08000 28 22 33 (free to call 9am-9pm Mon – Fri and 9am-12pm Sat – Sun)
CELCIS Protecting Children– celcis.org/our-work/protecting-children
Think u Know –  an education programme for children, young people parents and workers – thinkuknow.co.uk  

It’s the Lanarkshire Derby this weekend, with Motherwell making the short journey to New Douglas Park. 

Kick-off is 2pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets for the match cost £5 for adults, £2 for concessions with U16s going free.

Story of the match

Hamilton’s last win came back in January against Glasgow Women.

The two sides last met in February, with Motherwell coming away with a 2-1 win.

Motherwell are on red hot from, losing one game in the last seven game in all competitions.

The women of steel progressed to the Scottish Cup semi final with a 4-0 win over Glasgow Women last weekend.

Hampden bound. The women of steel secured their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup after a comprehensive 0-4 victory over Glasgow Women at Cliftonhill on Sunday.

An early first-half penalty had Motherwell ahead at the break before a quickfire second from Carla Boyce saw the women of steel in the ascendency midway through the second half.

A precise effort from Lauren Doran-Barr was quickly followed by a well-placed header from Boyce who secured her hat-trick with the final few minutes to spare.

Assistant Manager, Leanne Crichton made two changes from the side that cruised to a 1-3 victory over Aberdeen at Cormack Park last weekend. Captain Gill Inglis and Louisa Boyes both missed out with Kayla Jardine and Kodie Hay returning to the starting XI.

The visitors wasted no time in breaking the deadlock after striking in the early exchanges. Niamh Noble’s quickly-taken throw was controlled by Tiree Burchill, who shifted the ball onto her stronger right foot before being hauled down under a late lunging challenge. The referee rightly awarded the spot kick which Boyce coolly dispatched into the bottom left corner.

Neither side posed much of an attacking threat as the half-time whistle loomed, with both sides struggling to settle into the occasion.

Nevertheless, Motherwell soon found a vital second. Strikes from Burchill and Kayla Jardine ricocheted across the face of goal, before falling kindly to Boyce at the edge of the box, and the striker accurately picked out the bottom left corner for her second of the afternoon.

Not long after the hour mark, it was three. Glasgow failed to clear their lines, with the ball drilled towards the direction of Doran-Barr, who connected perfectly on the half-volley, and her strike sailed past the keeper before hitting the bar and nestling into the bottom corner.

With the final few minutes ticking by, Motherwell netted a decisive fourth to seal their place at the national stadium.

Kodie Hay’s perfectly-weighted delivery from the right flashed across the face of goal, and Boyce calmly nodded home from a few yards out to earn their place in the semi-finals.

Motherwell will now await their opponents in the next round, with a place in the Scottish Cup final at stake.

“Massive moments in the game have went against us today, which is very frustrating.

“We don’t want to be glorious losers. We came close but we now go into the break and look forward to the next game.”