Referee for Saturday’s SPFL Premiership clash with Kilmarnock at Fir Park is John Beaton.
John will be handling his first Motherwell match of the campaign so far but will be a familiar face, being one of the up-and-coming elite referees and someone who handled four matches last term.
His first was the league game against Aberdeen, when they travelled to Fir Park back in August 2013; Derek McInnes side taking all three points in a 3-1 win.
The game wasn’t without controversy with Beaton, a late replacement for Kevin Clancy, awarding the Dons two spot kicks, although it was certainly a win the visitors deserved for their second half showing.
His next was also against the Dons, when ‘Well disappointingly crashed out the League Cup despite dominating for the majority of the match.
Next was almost exactly twelve months ago as ‘Well smashed four past St Johnstone without reply on New Years Day.
Most recently was a comprehensive 4-1 win over Hearts at Fir Park back in March as goals from Vigurs, Ainsworth, Sutton and McFadden secured the win.
The 32-year old also took charge of two Motherwell matches last term too. The first was a 1-1 draw with Dundee at Fir Park; Michael Higdon rescuing a point after Nicky Reilly had given the Dark Blues a surprise lead midway through the first half.
His other match that campaign was against Dundee United at Tannadice, the Steelmen running rampant in the City of Discovery, confirming second spot with a superb 3-1 win.
Not only did Michael Higdon open the scoring with a peach from distance, the big striker surpassed Willie Pettigrew’s post-war record for most top-league goals in a single season when he netted the third midway through the second half.
His overall record reads three wins, two defeats and a draw from six matches. ‘Well have scored thirteen and conceded eight. Twenty-two players have gone into the book, twelve of them wearing Claret and Amber, with just one red card (Joe Shaughnessy in that Dons League Cup tie last season).
John will be ably assisted by David McGeachie and Douglas Ross with Bobby Madden on Fourth Official duties. Referee observers are George Clyde and Tom Murphy, SPFL Delegate is Alan Dick.