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NEW SIGNING GRANT REVELS IN DOUBLE FIGURE DEBUT

It was a dream start for new Well striker Suzanne Grant on Sunday as she netted 11 goals in her first appearance in Claret and Amber. It didn’t take Grant long to get off the mark either, just 3 minutes in and the strikers tally at Motherwell had begun! A barrage of attacks on goal then followed, proving too difficult for Edinburgh South keeper to stop. After scoring nearly four triple hatricks over the 90 minutes Grant bashfully stated after the match, “I would have been happy with a single goal.”

Edinburgh South 0 Motherwell Ladies 21

I spoke with Grant after the game:

 11 goals in your debut, you’ve set the bar high! What did you think of the game today?

Yeah, I still can’t believe I scored that many, I was really nervous before the game and I would have just been happy getting 3 points and 90 minutes under my belt, so scoring was a bonus. There were a lot of first team players missing but as a team, scoring 2 more goals in total than in the previous meeting I believe,  shows just how much quality and strength there is throughout this squad.

You clearly settled in well, what do you think worked well as a team on Sunday?

The team made me feel so welcome and I think the formation was great on Sunday, it really suited how Motherwell play. The squad played really well, experienced players and the young players who stepped up combined, created an excellent team performance.

The team goes forward into Sunday’s Scottish cup game with great confidence, but against a tough team, Glasgow Girls. What do Motherwell need to do to progress into the next round?

Yeah the team is full of confidence from Sundays game and getting so many goals I just think we need to play how we played Sunday and the rest will speak for itself. We just need to work hard on and off the ball and get into the next round. I’m really looking forward to it.

I had the opportunity to speak further with Suzanne and delve a little deeper to find out more about the girl behind all those goals.

Full name;       Suzanne Louise Grant
Nickname(s);   Granti
D.O.B;             17.04.84
Preferred position; Striker
What age did you start playing football? 15
All previous clubs (and dates if poss); Ross county from 1999-2004
Glasgow city 2004-2006
Hibernian 2006-2009
Arsenal ladies 2009
Celtic ladies 2009-2015

International duty:     2000-2015 representing at all age groups
What team do you support; My local team back home, Grantown United
Best personal sporting memory; Reaching 100 international caps

We are all very excited to have you at the club Suzanne, what made you make the move to Motherwell Ladies?

I spoke to the club a few times and I think Motherwell are an ambitious club and the set up is exceptional. I missed playing football when I decided to retire and Motherwell seemed the right club to support me coming back and are a key club who want to progress in women’s football.

You have played many years of top level football in both Scotland and England Suzanne, including a highly contested Scottish Schools cup final back in 2000 when our 2 schools met! Penalties decided the game and unfortunately for me, broke a few hearts! 😉 In the last 15 years since then, your footballing career has seen you play for club and country all over the world, what is it that continues to motivate you to train and play?

The love of the game continues to motivate me to train and play, I love the sport and travelling the world and playing at the level I did was a bonus.

You have vast experience playing for Scotland, how many Caps do you have?

I have 105 caps for Scotland and when I first started playing I could never have imagined getting 1 so having 105 is surreal so I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to play for my country that many times.

What is it like to represent your country?

There is no better feeling than pulling on the Scottish jersey! It makes all the hard work and sacrifices worth while.

What’s your best international memory?

I scored on my 100th cap against the world champions USA, it was a great memory that will stay with me forever.

You took a wee break recently and have become a Mum! Congratulations! How have you found it getting back to full fitness?

Thanks I played full contact for 3 months, trained for 7 months pregnant and came back 5 weeks after having my son.  It was harder than I first thought but it was worth it and I’m still getting my fitness back, I am getting old now too so my body doesn’t recover the same. I wanted my son to be proud of me and wanted to continue to play. I decided to retire as I couldn’t commit as much as I would’ve liked and wanted to spend time with my fiancé and my son as a family and embracing being a mother. But now I have done that and now I have a good balance of football and family time and Motherwell are so understanding of this which makes it easier for me and my family.

Well fans are certainly glad you didn’t retire! Particularly after Sunday’s performance!

I didn’t play for 8 months and I didn’t kick a ball at all. I did enjoy the break and just spending all my spare time with my family but Aberdeen Ladies FC asked me to play 3 games and tried to talk me out of retirement and it gave me the buzz back! I have totally missed kicking the ball and so am very grateful to Motherwell for giving me this opportunity to get back playing the game I love.

It must be difficult to juggle being a Mum and commit to training and games?

Yeah, it is hard especially at the Start as I was learning to be a mother for the first time,  studying full time and training all the time. It did get a bit much and I think I was doing too much then that’s when I decided to take time out. I know I have the right balance and support from Motherwell to train and have time for my family. Oscar will be there on game days to cheer me on, that’s important to me and hopefully I make him proud.

As a striker, a lot of responsibility to win games falls on your shoulders. Now you have scored many goals for club and country over the years. For all the aspiring young strikers out there, what is your philosophy in front of goal?

I just think as a striker if you miss, which I do a lot, you have to put it to bed and believe the next one will go in. A lot of players concentrate on the chance they had or should’ve scored, I believe in wanting the ball and making another chance and I think that’s why I’ve scored as I don’t let the chances I miss affect me. If I did I would’ve retired years ago hahaha!

Scoring goals is most young footballers dream! Can you describe the most memorable goal you have ever scored?

As I mentioned earlier it has to be my goal against USA. It was my 100th cap and was not a bad finish, that was definitely the most memorable goal for me.

You have recently played at Celtic in the premier league, a quality side who consistently finished in Scotland’s top 4 best teams. This is a completely new league for you, which  opponent do you look forward to playing the most and why? …or is there no-one you fear?

I don’t really concentrate on opponents as lot of teams/players do. I believe in concentrating on yourself as an individual and as a team you go out on the day, play your best and the rest should speak for itself. I fear no team as I just concentrate on what I have to do as a player and for the team.

So normally I wouldn’t expect a new signing to know too much goss on their team mates, but I believe you have played alongside and against a lot of our current squad in previous years! A lot of the Well fans out there have been asking me to tell them some team secrets…can you let me into a wee secret no one knows about one (or a few!) of your new team mates?

Yeah I played with a lot of the girls when I was at Hibs Ladies and Scotland and there are loads of funny stories (trust me!) …but seeing as I’m the new girl I best keep them to myself…at least for the moment 😉 Maybe if I get another interview in a few months the secrets may be told lol (Stacey and Mandy beware hahaha)

There seems to be a lot of folk who have stories to tell about our Staceo and Mandy! I will definitely be back to you in a few months so you can share all the chat with our fans! 😉

Thanks for giving us an insight into your fantastic career to date, I’m sure you will make many more memories and hopefully add some more trophies to your cabinet during your time here at Motherwell! All the best for the second half of the season Granti!

For all the latest info and live match tweets follow the ladies on twitter @MotherwellLFC

Follow me on twitter @dibsy_

‘Well fans should note the Ticket Office at Fir Park is open late tonight (Thursday) for anyone wishing to purchase a 2015/16 Season Ticket.

The Chapman Building will open from 9.15am and won’t close until 7pm.

For further information, including prices and ways to buy, click the banner below.

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan was delighted with his side after they recorded a win in their opening game against Ross County this afternoon.

The Steelmen legend was on the touchline for the first time and watched on as his side swept County away.

‘Well scored four courtesy of Ben Hall, Dom Thomas and a Lionel Ainsworth double, but it truth, it could have been more.

Indeed, the visitors hit the frame of the goal on three separate occasions and County goalkeeper Foden was on hand to make numerous stops.

Craigan was pleased with the application from his side, particularly the more experienced lads who set the tone for the performance.

“It’s nice for the players who have worked hard throughout pre-season as today was the real thing starting for them,” Craigan told MFC TV after the match.

[pullquote]We probably could have won by more. Some of our play was good and of course there are things we can work on but, overall, for my first game if you had offered me a 4-2 win, particularly away from home, I would’ve taken that.[/pullquote]

“For some of the younger lads this is the start of their career. From now on they are professional football players; they have to play and train like professionals, eat and live like professional players.

“We had three or four first team lads who joined us today and it’s important for those youngsters to see their attitude and commitment and that pleased me more.

“I told Lionel Ainsworth when he came off the park after seventy minutes that I felt he inspired people around him; that they grasped that his attitude was right and that’s full credit to him.

“So when you put all that together, it was pleasing to win the game.

“We probably could have won by more. Some of our play was good and of course there are things we can work on but, overall, for my first game if you had offered me a 4-2 win, particularly away from home, I would’ve taken that.”

Extended highlights from Highland Football Academy in Dingwall as the Under 20s kick-off their campaign with a 4-2 win over Ross County.

Motherwell opened their Under 20s campaign with a well-deserved 2-4 win over Ross County at the Highland Football Academy.

A Ben Hall header had the Fir Parkers in front before Darren Holden brought things level with a fierce shot from the edge of the area.

However, quick-fire goals from Lionel Ainsworth and Dom Thomas soon had ‘Well back in a commanding lead before the break.

Ainsworth scored again to assure the win, albeit County did reduce the arrears late in the game via a Keiran Kennedy own goal.

Stephen Craigan named several experienced heads in his starting eleven with first-teamers Lionel Ainsworth, Keiran Kennedy, Dom Thomas and Chris Cadden taking their place in Claret and Amber.

County made a positive start to the match and almost took the lead inside the opening two minutes. After working a short corner towards the edge of the area, McLennan’s effort got caught in the strong wind blowing across the pitch and came crashing back off Brett Long’s post.

‘Well went immediately on the attack and Ainsworth smashed a shot inches over the crossbar.

However, with their next attack, Craigan’s men would take the lead. Ainsworth’s corner found Ben Hall inside the area and the Northern Irishman rose at the far post to head home.

The conditions were playing a part, making it difficult for either team to defend and Tony Dingwall almost drew his side level with a low shot into the side netting. Two minutes later, and down the other end, Keiran Kennedy almost got in from a corner but his spin and shot came back off the County crossbar.

It stayed at 0-1 until the 24th minute when County got themselves back on level terms. Left back Holden had got up well to support from a County attack and when the ball was rolled back to him, he smashed it high past Brett Long at his near post.

‘Well had a trialist midfielder on show and he almost made a big impression on the half hour, but his low curling effort across the goalkeeper bounced off the frame of the goal before being hooked clear.

County survived that scare but a 90 second spell shortly after all but sealed the victory for the visitors with two quick-fire goals.

The first, on the 34th minute, was created by the impressive Allan Campbell, whose sixty-yard pass played in Ainsworth who kept his composure to lift the ball over Foden and into the net.

Just seconds later, it was 3-1 and it was another ball over the top, this time from Dylan Mackin for Dom Thomas who slotted it under Foden from a tight angle.

Incredibly, Motherwell almost scored a fourth goal just two minutes later when Jack McMillan cross caught the wind before crashing back off the crossbar – the third time in the half the Steelmen had hit the frame of the goal.

Motherwell started the second much the same way the first ended and Lionel Ainsworth almost added his second of the day, but his sweetly struck volley flew just wide of target.

Dom Thomas was causing all sorts of problems and he created ‘Well’s fourth just before the hour. Twisting and turning, he got away from his marker before squaring for Ainsworth who calmly fired past Foden.

It was almost 5-1 within two minutes, this time it was Cadden with a free header inside the area, but Foden managed to get a stray leg to it, making the impressive block.

Motherwell continued to dominate and they almost scored a wonder goal via sub Ryan Watters. Thomas twisted and turned, terrorizing the home fullback, before knocking it into the middle for Mackin who flicked it back for the young striker but Foden again saved his low shot.

It wasn’t the end of the scoring though as with fourteen minutes left to play, County grabbed a consolation when Keiran Kennedy inadvertently bundled a Dingwall shot past Brett Long and into his own net.

There was a couple of half chances for both sides in the closing stages as the torrential rain hit the Highland Football Academy, but nothing could dampen the ‘Well spirits as they travelled down the A9 with all three points for the second time in four days.

Motherwell: Long, McMillan, Hall, Kennedy, Ferguson, Ainsworth (Watters – 65mins), Campbell, Cadden, Trialist, Thomas, Mackin (Hastie – 76mins)

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Moore, R.Leitch, Maguire, Livingstone

Motherwell have been drawn against League Two Side East Fife in the Second round of the Scottish League Cup.

‘Well take on The Fifers at Bayview on either the 25th or 26th of August and will be looking for a repeat of the last time they travelled there, when goals from Dirk Lehman and James McFadden gave The Steelmen a 2-0 win.

Full ticket details will be released in due time.

The draw in full reads:

Ross County v Ayr United
Forfar Athletic v Heart of Midlothian
Kilmarnock v Berwick Rangers
Raith Rovers v Hamilton Academical
Queen of the South v Morton
Dunfermline Athletic v Dundee
Partick Thistle v Falkirk
East Fife v Motherwell
Hibernian v Stranraer
Airdrieonians v Rangers
St Mirren v Livingston

Extended highlights from the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium where Motherwell got the 2015/16 season off to a winning start, beating Inverness CT 1-0.

Ian Baraclough praised his side after they edged out Inverness Caley Thistle to win their SPFL Premiership opener 0-1.

The Steelmen were the better side throughout and carried a threat on the counter, and but for the heroics of Caley stopper Owain Fon Williams, the scoreline could have been far more convincing.

However, it was left to Wes Fletcher to separate the sides, his fourth minute winner proving enough for all three points.

Ian Baraclough highlighted the importance of a good start and his team building on the momentum of the Play-off victory over Rangers during the pre-match build-up, and his side did that.

[pullquote]We created chances; we asked questions of the goalkeeper and the only real complaint is we perhaps could’ve been a little more ruthless in the final third, but that will come.[/pullquote]

“We spoke as a group about coming into this match with no fear and having to be better away from home than what we showed last season,” he told MFC TV after the match.

“Many aspects of today’s game were very pleasing indeed. The shape was good; it was difficult for them to find any pockets of space to feed off or anything in behind.

“We restricted them to very little throughout the game, even when we started to fatigue a little in the last ten minutes, as you tend to do in the first month of the new campaign.

“However, we maintained our concentration and proved a threat in attack. We created chances; we asked questions of the goalkeeper and the only real complaint is we perhaps could’ve been a little more ruthless in the final third, but that will come.”

Action pictures from this afternoon’s convincing 1-0 win away to Inverness CT in the Highlands.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

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[tab:Match report]

 Phil McGhee at the Caledonian Stadium

Motherwell kicked off the new 2015/16 campaign with an impressive 0-1 win over Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium.

Although the game finished 0-1, courtesy of a fourth minute Wes Fletcher goal, the Steelmen were the better side, created far more chances (including a penalty miss) and on another day could have made their way back down the A9 with a far more convincing victory.

Ian Baraclough named the same side that started against Preston in the final pre-season match of the campaign, with the exception of new goalkeeper Connor Ripley, who replaced Dan Twardzik between the sticks.

Interestingly, only two players – Stephen McManus and Keith Lasley – were in the starting line-up last time the Steelmen were in the Highland Capital last November, with boss Baraclough having revamped the squad over the last nine months.

And it was one of his summer recruits, Wes Fletcher, who opened the scoring after four minutes with ‘Well’s first meaningful attack.

Stephen Pearson pressed to win the ball before combining with the former York City striker. Pearson’s low shot forced Owain Fôn Williams to palm out allowing Fletcher to slot home from close range for his first ever Motherwell goal.

The visitors were dominating the opening encounters and almost doubled their lead after nineteen minutes when Fletcher again came close after nice set-up play from Johnson, only for his 18-yard shot to go just wide of target.

Johnson had a half chance shortly after, but saw his shot deflect wide for a corner, before he won the Steelmen a spot kick after 27 minutes. It was some great play from the former Kidderminster Harries winger, whose “Zidane turn” bamboozled Danny Devine before the defender tugged her jersey to conceded the kick.

Sadly, Scott McDonald’s saw his shot saved, Fôn Williams guessing the right way to hold.

Inverness boss John Hughes, obviously concerned his team had barely made a dent in the opening thirty minutes, replaced Nat Wedderburn off for Andréa Mbuyi-Mutombo.

However, it was ‘Well who could and should have added to their tally on the stroke of half time. Inverness had knocked the ball out to make a substitute, but because it wasn’t for a player receiving treatment, ‘Well played on. With no Inverness players moving, Johnson was in on goal but could only stroke it wide of target.

‘Well were forced into a change at the break, with Pearson, who had been involved in a clash with Gary Warren five minutes before the interval, failing to return for the second half, replaced by Jack Leitch.

However, it didn’t stem the flow of play with the vast majority of chances and play going towards the home goal. Johnson kicked off the efforts with a low shot from twenty-five yards that forced Fôn Williams to tip wide.

Two minutes later and the Steelmen were then, somehow, denied a second.

Johnson again had the effort, controlling a ball dropping out the air only for Fôn Williams to again block. The ball spun out to McDonald whose ball across the box looked perfect for Joe Chalmers but Devine made an incredible saving tackle, somehow getting his outstretched leg to the ball to knock it over his own bar from one yard.

The Fir Parkers continued to push – Fletcher had curling effort straight at Fôn Williams before being replaced by another summer recruit, Louis Moult.

Louis Laing, who was superb throughout, had an audacious forty-five yard effort and Johnson again came close, sending a curler inches wide of target.

As the game went into the latter stages, Josh Law almost got on the scoresheet too. The fullback collected from Johnson, played a neat one-two with Moult but fired his shot straight at Fôn Williams who blocked. Moult was first to the rebound but his shot was blocked over for a corner.

The game soon came to an end, with the Fir Parkers picking up a deserved three points, restricting the hosts to zero shots on target.

Motherwell: Ripley, Hammell, Laing, McManus, Pearson (Leitch – 46mins), Fletcher (Moult – 67mins), Johnson, Lasley, Chalmers, Law, McDonald (Clarkson – 83mins)

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at the Caledonian Stadium

A convincing opening day victory for ‘Well. Could have been more but a very welcome three points to start the new season,

FT | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
FULL TIME! Inverness CT 0 – 1 Motherwel

90′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Two minutes added on.

88′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Great chance for Law as he combines with Moult but he can’t get enough power to test Fon Williams from close range.

85′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Lopez picks the ball up in a decent area but seems caught in two minds as his effort is neither a cross nor a pass.

82′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Motherwell sub, McDonald is replaced by Clarkson.

76′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
ICT have a free-kick which Tansey takes. It’s in a great area but the wall stands strong and blocks his shot.

75′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Not far wide from Johnson who cut in from the right on his left foot and curled it just past. Still 1-0 to ‘Well.

65′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Motherwell sub, goalscorer Fletcher comes off for Moult.

55′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Fletcher has a bit of time on the left side of the box but can’t get enough power in his shot to test Fon Williams.

52 | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
What a tackle from Devine to somehow clear from Fletcher only 4 yards out. :O Incredible, really!

50′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Fon Williams takes no chances and dives low to beat away Johnson’s low drive.

45′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Half-time sub, Leitch is on for Pearson and for ICT, Meekings is off for Horner.

Wes Fletcher’s 4th minute strike separates the two teams although it could have been more. Motherwell on top so far.

HT | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Half time: Inverness CT 0 – 1 Motherwell.

45′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Three minutes added on for injuries.

42′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
ICT sub, Warren can’t continue and is replaced by Polworth.

36′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Pearson booked for a tackle on Warren.

32′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
ICT sub, Wedderburn off for Mbuyi Mutombo

27′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Fon Williams saves the penalty! Guesses right to deny McDonald.

27′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
PENALTY! Johnson jinks past 2 and gets hauled down by Devine!

23′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Johnson breaks away from the half-way line and shoots from 20 yards. Takes a deflection and goes out for a corner.

19′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
CLOSE! Johnson slides it into Fletcher who drops his shoulder and gets a low shot from 18 yards away. Just past.

16′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Raven plays in a deep cross from the left but Ripley does well under pressure to gather Meekings’ looping header

15′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
After an eventful opening five minutes, it’s gone a bit quiet here in Inverness. Still 1-0 to ‘Well.

4′ | 0-1 | #ICTFCvMFC
Pearson broke into the box, forced the ‘keeper into a save and FLETCHER was on hand to poke in the rebound!

GGGOOOAALLL!!

1’ | 0-0 | #ICTFCvMFC
Warren booked almost straight away for a late and clumsy tackle on McDonald.

Kick-off | 0-0 | #ICTFCvMFC
Draper and Lopez get the 2015/16 campaign underway. COYW!

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Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:

“To get a clean sheet and three points away from home against a side that did really well last year, you can’t really ask for more.

“We could have won by more and made it easier for ourselves. Scott is disappointed but the keeper has guessed the right way. All you ask of a penalty taker is to get it on target and he did that.”

Inverness CT manager John Hughes:

“We need to roll our sleeves up and get that underdog mentality. I’ve just got that vibe since I’ve come back that one or two are thinking they’re better than they are,” he told BBC Scotland.

“I’ve said to them ‘football owes you nothing’. If you think you’re better than you are it’ll come and kick you up the backside.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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