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Graham Barnstaple at Fir Park

Motherwell U20s bounced back from Sunday’s Youth Cup disappointment with a battling 3-1 win over local rivals Hamilton Accies at Fir Park.

The Steelmen were two one up at the break thanks to goals from OMAR DALEY and BOB McHUGH, with Accies replying through Jordan Kirkpatrick. The game was sealed when EUAN MURRAY scored early in the second half.

Jonatan Johansson made six changes from the side that lost at the weekend and was bolstered by over age players Daley, McHugh and Axel Bossekota. There was also game time for defenders FRASER KERR and ADAM CUMMINS following their recent runs in the first team.

The opening stages of the game saw both sides jockeying for position with neither creating a chance of note in the opening twenty minutes. It was therefore a bit of out the blue when Motherwell eventually took the lead in the 21st minute.

Bob McHugh picked up a loose ball just inside the Hamilton half and drove at the visitor’s defence. With Daley peeling away to the right and Bossekota to the left, the former Scotland U19s strike slid an inch perfect pass to the Jamaican. The former Bradford winger unleashed a right-footed shot which left Scott Christie in the Accies goal with no chance as it flashed past him high into the net.

The lead only last seven minutes as Accies drew level with their first real chance of the game. The ‘Well defence failed to deal with a cross from the left, and the ball fell to Kirkpatrick at the edge of the box. The winger took one touch to set up a shot that was bent high into ROSS STEWART’s top left hand corner.

Six minutes later the Fir Parkers restored their advantage, this time Daley was the provider and McHugh the finisher. Daley twisted past three defenders to provide the shooting chance to McHugh who somehow saw his shot squeeze past the stranded Christie with the aid of a deflection.

‘Well were forced into a couple of changes with Stuart Carswell and Bossekota picking up injuries and were replaced by ADAM ASGHAR and CRAIG MOORE.

The visitors started the second half brightly and came close through shots from Conner McGlinchey and James Martin.

The visitors were having a bit more of the ball so it was slightly against the run of play when Motherwell made it 3-1 just twelve minutes after the re-start.

Sub Asghar won a free-kick near the edge of the box after a crude trip by Kilday. Bob McHugh took the resulting kick but his blistering strike was well saved by Christie low to his left. The rebound sat up nicely for Euan Murray to slide in and volley home from close range.

Both sides had chances throughout the second half with the Accies coming closest when Gary Fraser’s long range effort hit the bar with Stewart beaten. At the other end Christie had to be at his best to keep out a powerfully hit Daley strike.

Johansson will be no doubt be pleased to get the East Fife defeat out the system as the Steelmen record back-to-back wins in the Under 20s league for the first time this campaign.

Motherwell: Stewart, Kerr, Leitch, Cummins, Murray, Johnstone, Daley, Carswell (Asghar – 46), McHugh, Hetherington (Watt – 71), Bossekota (Moore – 37)

Subs Not Used: Currie, Neill, Thomas, Shirkie

Goals: Daley (21), McHugh (34), Murray (57)

Motherwell Under 20s will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing SFA Youth Cup exit against East Fife when Hamilton Accies visit Fir Park tomorrow.

Jonatan Johansson will be looking for a response against the New Douglas Park men after what was a difficult afternoon in Fife on Sunday.

Accies have had a mixed start to the campaign with two wins, two draws and two defeats from their opening six matches.

The match will be played at Fir Park Stadium with a 7pm kick-off.

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Referee for this Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Dundee Utd at Fir Park will be Euan Norris.

The 34-year old will be handling his second Motherwell game of the campaign having previously been the man in the middle for the 1-1 draw with St Mirren at Fir Park back in August.

Euan will be a familiar face to Fir Park fans having taken charge of four matches last season too.

He started with the 4-2 away success against Dunfermline at East End Park in late August, the 1-0 win at Easter Road in October, the 3 – 0 defeat at Ibrox in January and, most recently, the 6-0 demolition of Morton in the Scottish Cup in early February..

He also handled two games the previous season…

The first, a 0-0 draw with Inverness was instantly forgettable. However, the other was one that will live long in the memory. Motherwell beat Championship-chasing Celtic 2-0 at Fir Park; former striker John Sutton netting a brace.

Going back a further year to 2009-10, Euan also handed two matches. He was the man in the middle when Motherwell edged out Falkirk 1-0 at Fir Park. Lukas Jutkiewicz got the only goal of the game, heading home a corner from the left after 18 minutes.

His other game that campaign was also at Fir Park; a stormy affair between Motherwell and Hibs.

The Steelmen won the game 1-0 thanks to a Jamie Murphy goal eight minutes from time but the game was marred by a red card for Liam Miller for a challenge on Jim O’Brien midway through the first forty-five.

Thankfully, FIFA referee Norris usually likes to keep his cards in his pocket with only twenty-six cautions handed out in all those games, with ten flashed at a ‘Well players. He had only produced one red to a ‘Well player and that was Shaun Hutchinson for a second bookable offence the last time he was at Fir Park.

Euan will be ably assisted by James Bee and Billy Baxter with Greg Aitken on fourth official duties.

It’s time to decide who you think deserves to win the Clydesdale Bank SPL Manager, Player & Young Player of the Month for September.

Has someone in our team shown some skill worthy of reward?  Has a new signing set your pulses racing or has our manager impressed you with our team’s performances over the month? 

Fans can vote by visiting the Clydesdale Bank Premier League website www.cbfootball.co.uk and the top three fans nominations will be put forward to the shortlist for the panel of Scottish football experts to choose the winners.

Voting is open now and closes at 12pm on Tuesday 2nd October 2012.

Log onto www.cbfootball.co.uk to cast your vote and play Score Selector. You can also win tickets for our upcoming fixtures, take part in the weekly quiz and keep up to date with all Clydesdale Bank’s football activities.

Highlights from Bayview as Motherwell Under 20s crashed out the SFA Youth Cup at the hands of East Fife.

-WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS ONLY ON MFC TV-
(No Audio Summary)

Under 20s boss Jonatan Johansson was left angry and frustrated as his side crashed out the Youth Cup to Second Division East Fife at Bayview this afternoon.

Motherwell dominated both the opening and closing stages but were off the pace for large spells and the part-timers from Fife can be proud of this efforts.

In the end, a 51st minute penalty from Mark Shaw separated the sides after some poor defending from the Fir Park side

The 106-times capped Finnish International Johansson spoke of his embarrassment and frustration at crashing out at the second round stage of the competition.

[pullquote]I’m angry, embarrassed and there can be no excuses from the lads. There are no hiding places but credit to East Fife who showed a great attitude.[/pullquote]

He told MFC TV: “I’m angry, embarrassed and there can be no excuses from the lads. There are no hiding places but credit to East Fife who showed a great attitude.

“We started well but after fifteen minutes the whole gameplan went out the window and we were getting caught offside too much and trying the hard ball when nobody wanted to do the hard work of getting the ball down and playing the simple stuff that would have got us through.

“We can take loads from this game but unfortunately most are negatives”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-

Pictures from the 1-0 defeat to East Fife U20s in the SFA Youth Cup, Second Round at Bayview.

 [svgallery name=”eastfifeu20300912″]

 Graham Barnstaple at Bayview

Motherwell’s miserable record in the SFA Youth Cup continued after crashing out to Second Division side East Fife at Bayview.

The Steelmen were dominant in the opening exchanges but despite a couple of good chances for the usually prolific Craig Moore, the scores remained at stalemate.

However, just six minutes into the second half the home side scored what would turn out to be the winning goal from the penalty spot.

Jonatan Johansson will be furious with how the goal came about with ‘Well caught in possession on the edge of the area before eventually giving away a cheap spot kick. Mark Shaw took the resulting kick and kept his composure to drill the ball down the middle.

Tournament rules does not allow for overage players so there were wholesale changes from the side that won at Dens Park on Monday night.

Lee Hollis, Simon Ramsden, Jonathan Page, Zaine Francis-Angol and Omar Daley all dropped out, replaced by Ross Stewart, Adam Asghar, Jack Leitch, Morgyn Neill and Paul McCafferty.

Motherwell controlled the first half without managing to properly test the home keeper, Dylan Roonie, often enough. He should have been called into action as early as the first minute, Josh Watt bursting down the left but his cross was narrowly missed by Craig Moore and Paul McCafferty.

A few minutes late Neil sent Moore in one on one with long ball over the top but his shot was deflected wide by the foot of goalkeeper Roonie. From the resultant corner Neill could only head the ball just over the bar.

The home side had their first effort on goal after seventeen minutes when Shaw’s twenty-yard effort sailed high and wide of the left hand post. At the other end Moore squandered another opportunity when, clean through again, he clipped the ball over the goalie but the ball rebounded clear off the cross bar.

The onslaught continued and Stuart Carswell sent a stinging low drive just an inch wide of the post.

You would have been forgiven for thinking at that point that it was only a matter of time before the Fir Parkers got themselves ahead but, despite dominating the opening forty five minutes, they had nothing to show for their efforts.

As often happens, ‘Well were punished just six minutes after the break. Daryl Falconer shrugged off Dale Shirkie to create a shooting opportunity, but his effort was well saved by Ross Stewart. The ball fell for Nicky McGowan who was bundled to the deck by Adam Ashgar for a clear penalty.

Falconer confidently struck the ball into the bottom left hand corner after sending keeper Stewart the wrong way to give his side an unlikely lead at this stage.

East Fife defended deep for the remainder of the game, inviting Motherwell on to them but despite a couple of headers off target from Neill and Moore there was little to trouble Roonie.

The home side managed to keep the glaring opportunities to a minimum and goalkeeper Roonie was rarely called into meaningful action.

Carswell did have a couple of glaring chances in the dying stages, both of which flew over the bar.

Motherwell: Stewart, Asghar, Leitch, Murray, Neill, Hetherington, Carswell, McCafferty, Watt, Shirkie (Thomas 64), Moore

Subs Not Used: Currie, Green, Johnstone

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Celtic run out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Gary Hooper and a Adam Cummins own-goal.

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(No Audio Summary)

‘Well boss Stuart McCall conceded his side were second best to a strong Celtic side who ran out 2-0 winners at Fir Park this afternoon.

The Steelmen started the match well but a quick-fire double from Gary Hooper and an Adam Cummins own-goal handed the visitors the advantage before the break.

Motherwell’s task was made even harder with the red card to Adam Cummins just after the hour mark but the young defence battled on and the score remained the same.

McCall was honest enough to admit that Celtic were just too strong for his side and that he is already looking towards next week’s match against Dundee United at Fir Park.

[pullquote]I’ve got to say that, while we were not at our best, we were up against opposition who used their quality well today.[/pullquote]

He told MFC TV: “I was pleased with the way we started the game, but I’ve got to say that, while we were not at our best, we were up against opposition who used their quality well today.

“I thought they were outstanding. As always when you are playing Celtic you need them to be off their game. We did ok up until 30 minutes when we had some chances but their class shone through and if they play like that on a regular basis nobody will get near them.

“It was a hard day for us and to be two down and down to ten men, everyone had to stick hard at it.

“We won’t get judged by how we perform against Celtic. Of course we want to beat them, especially at home, but we can only do that if we are at their best and they aren’t and today they were at their best.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLY ON MFC TV-