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Ahead of their 2016 SWFL1 campaign, the Ladies have signed striker Colette Fleming from local rivals Mill Utd.

Having secured promotion from SWFL2 in record-breaking style, the Fir Parkers are keen to make a big impression in the new season and Fleming is seen as a vital cog in the wheel.

Colette started her career with Hamilton Accies before joining Mill Utd, playing a big part in their drive towards promotion in 2014, including a brace against the Ladies of Steel in a tightly fought 2-1 victory that campaign. Since then, she has been a regular scorer and standout performer in SWFL1.

[pullquote]This is a top quality team with top quality players and I’m excited and looking forward to the new challenge this season will bring.[/pullquote]

Commenting on the signing, Ladies boss Graeme McArthur said: “This is another great signing for us; we only came to fully appreciate just how good a player Colette was when she played and scored against us for Mill Utd.

“We’ve tracked her progress since and when the opportunity arose to sign her, we made every effort possible despite intense competition from a number of SWPL clubs.

“From a football point of view, she is very good technically, has a great engine and is very much a team player. She is also extremely competitive and has experience playing in the league that we will compete. She is an ideal signing for us.”

Colette added: “I’m really delighted to have signed for Motherwell and can’t wait to get started. This is a top quality team with top quality players and I’m excited and looking forward to the new challenge this season will bring.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell and Hamilton Accies share the spoils in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Mark McGhee cut a frustrated figure as a 94th minute penalty denied his side a fourth consecutive victory.

Goals from Louis Moult and a Scott McDonald double looked to have been enough for the Steelmen in what was a pulsating ninety minutes at Fir Park.

However, a late shot hit Keith Lasley’s hand on route, with Greg Aitken quickly pointing to the spot to ensure a share of the spoils in the second Lanarkshire derby of the season.

It was a bitter pill for McGhee’s men, who had again turned in another impressive performance, full of attacking threat and menace.

“It’s turned out to be a frustrating one to lose the lead so late in the game,” the Fir Park boss said.

“Even when we were two-one down, we still had opportunities to make chances, had one cleared off the line and I told the boys at the break that they should continue to push and we will make chances and score goals.

[pullquote]“We showed great character and desire to get into a 3-2 winning position and in the end, I felt we were a little unlucky, but I suppose you’ve got to give Accies credit for going to the very end.[/pullquote]

“It maintains our little run, the team looked the same and we’ll try and take the positives from it going forward. Onwards and upwards.”

McGhee felt a sense of injustice at the equalising goal, which came via Accies midfield Ali Crawford, who netted from the penalty spot.

The Fir Park boss conceded the penalty was probably a correct call, but questioned if Crawford should’ve been on the pitch to win and take it in the first place.

Asked if he thought the penalty was controversial, McGhee said: “I’ve not seen it on replay as yet, but at the time I thought it hit Las’ (Keith Lasley) hand, so it probably was a penalty.

“My point is the lad who wins and then scores the penalty should be off the park. Why the referee hasn’t sent him off for what was clearly a second bookable offence makes no sense.

“To compound it further, for Lasley to then be sent off for a handball, which I think we would all agree isn’t deliberate, is just ludicrous.”

Action images from today’s 3-3 draw with Hamilton Accies in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

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 Phil McGhee Fir Park

Motherwell were denied a fourth consecutive win when Accies grabbed an 94th minute equaliser from the penalty spot.

It looked like another three points for Mark McGhee’s men until Keith Lasley was adjudged to have handled Grant Gillespie’s shot.

That produced a red card for the Fir Park skipper and a spot kick which Ali Crawford swept home to make it 3-3 and bring a dramatic derby to a close.

It had looked good for ‘Well until then, although the home side lost its way for bit in the first half after a Scott McDonald goal had given them the perfect start to the year and game.

However, two goals from Lucas and Darian McKinnon midway through the half swung the advantage to Accies.

In a blistering start to the second half, though, a second from McDonald and Louis Moult, with his 12th goal of the season, restored the Fir Parker’s lead which they held comfortably until the closing minutes.

‘Well were unchanged for the fourth consecutive game and the consistency in team selection paid off with a pressing start, which was rewarded with the opening goal after only 8 minutes.

Josh Law cut in from the left and whipped a low ball into the six yard area where McDonald’s touch carried the ball past Michael McGovern for the perfect start.

The Aussie striker might have doubled the lead three minutes later when a fabulous pass from Moult sliced open the Accies defence but from an angle McDonald’s thumping drive was parried by the Hamilton ‘keeper.

Motherwell still had the upper hand when a typical burst and cross from Marvin Johnston just evaded McDonald and Moult in the six yard box.

Gradually the visitors found their feet and a low curling free kick from Crawford forced Connor Ripley into his first save, throwing himself to his left to beat the shot away. Minutes later Dougie Imrie fired a shot narrowly past the post as Accies threatened to draw level.

The equaliser duly arrived after 24 minutes when Crawford swept a free kick into a packed box and the towering Lucas climbed above everyone to nod the ball past Ripley.

Within three minutes Hamilton had grabbed the lead when Darian McKinnon tried his luck from 30 yards and his left foot shot drifted over Ripley and under the bar to turn the game on its head.

It took the home players a while to regain their composure and just before half-time almost grabbed the equaliser. Law’s in-swinging corner was punched out by McGovern but only as far as Johnston whose controlled half volley was net bound until blocked on the six yard line.

The equaliser was only delayed until a minute into the second half. ‘Well came flying out of the traps to break into the Accies box but after Moult fed the ball to McDonald the chance seemed lost as he fell to the turf but even grounded the striker showed his experience as he scooped the ball beyond the ‘keeper to make it 2-2.

That raised the tempo of the game as ‘Well looked to regain the upper-hand.

And after 56 minutes the home side reclaimed the lead with a super goal. Liam Grimshaw’s burst from the half way carried him past Antons Kurkans and when he curled his cross to the near post Moult’s glancing header sent the ball flashing past McGovern to make it 3-2.

With Accies chasing an equaliser more chances came ‘Well’s way the best falling to Johnston whose charge took him into the visitor’s box before his fierce left foot drive was palmed over the bar by McGovern.

While a fourth goal would have eased the tension in the closing minutes Ripley’s goal was seldom threatened until injury time.

And in the final minute the ‘Well keeper at full stretch brilliantly beat away Alex D’Ancol’s snapshot but as Gillespie fired the rebound into the packed box it struck Lasley’s raised arm allowing Crawford, who was lucky to escape a second yellow card twenty minutes earlier, to convert the penalty and cruelly deprive ‘Well of another three points.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park

FT: Motherwell 3 – 3 Hamilton Accies

95′ | 3-3
Goal – Crawford makes no mistake from the spot. 3-3

94′ | 3-2
Penalty to Accies! Lasley off for a second booking!

91′ | 3-2
Motherwell sub, Johnson off for Cadden

90′ | 3-2
Five minutes added on….

88′ | 3-2
Docherty goes close for Accies, drilling a shot just wide of the right hand post.

86′ | 3-2
McManus booked for hauling down Brophy on the touchline.

85′ | 3-2
Accies sub, Lucas off for Sendles-White

83′ | 3-2
Lengthy stoppage in play as the stretcher is out for Lucas, who took a sore one when a cross was delivered into the box.

81′ | 3-2
Motherwell sub, Moult makes way for Robinson

Young ‘Well fans can vote now for their Man of the Match. Use #MatchAttaxMOTM with their name, age & choice.

78′ | 3-2
Accies sub, D’Acol on for Morris

77′ | 3-2
Referee goes for his pocket again, this time it is a booking for Kurakins.

75′ | 3-2
Johnson lashes a shot away from the edge of the box which McGovern does well to parry over the bar for a corner.

74′ | 3-2
Pearson tries a chip from range and it almost comes off,drifting inches wide of McGovern’s post.

72′ | 3-2
Promising Motherwell break ends with Grimshaw trying his luck from 20 yards but it is well over the bar.

71′ | 3-2
Accies sub, Redmond on for Imrie.

70′ | 3-2
Lasley booked for a trip on Crawford.

69′ | 3-2
5477 in attendance, 546 in the away end.

64′ | 3-2
Docherty goes for a run and does well to get down the right. His shot from 15 yards can only find the side netting.

57′ | 3-2
Grimshaw with a great burst down the right and ball into Moult whose diving header flies past McGovern!!

GGGGOOOOAALLLL!!!!

51′ | 2-2
Game is heating up as Crawford is booked for a rash tackle on Lasley.

50′ | 2-2
Now Imrie enters the book for handling the ball as ‘Well broke.

49′ | 2-2
Law booked for a late challenge on Imrie.

46′ | 2-2
At the second attempt, McDonald makes it 2-2 from Moult’s square ball!

GGGGOOOOAAALLLL!!!!!

Accies get the second 45 underway….

HT | 1-2
Motherwell 1 – 2 Hamilton Accies

1 minute added on

45′ | 1-2
Nice play down the right sets Law free in the box but with the angle narrowing, he can only shoot into the sidenetting.

40′ | 1-2
Close! Johnson rasps a volley into a crowded box which hits someone in the face as it looked goalbound!

38′ | 1-2
Grimshaw booked as Imrie goes down screaming. Straight back up though, and is absolutely fine.

28′ | 1-2
Goal – MacKinnon fires off a shot from range which nestles in the top corner. 2-1 to Accies.

25′ | 1-1
Goal – Lucas squares the game, nodding home Crawford’s whipped free-kick.

20′ | 1-0
Good save from Ripley, getting down low to Crawford’s free-kick and palming it to safety.

19′ | 1-0
Great wing play again from Johnson and a great cross to match but McGovern just gets there ahead of Moult.

14′ | 1-0
Brophy turns on the edge of the box and gets a left-footed shot away which thankfully trickles wide of the post.

11′ | 1-0
Very nearly 2 there as McDonald gets space down the right and fires off a shot but McGovern is equal to it, saving well.

7′ | 1-0
Law fires in a great low ball which McDonald gets the final touch on to make it 1-0 to the Steelmen!!

GGGOOOOAAALLL!!!

Motherwell get the game underway. COYW!!

Out come the teams………usual colours for both sides.

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Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

Coming Soon…

Hamilton Accies manager Martin Canning:

Coming Soon…

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Motherwell FC is today delighted to confirm the loan extension of goalkeeper Connor Ripley until the end of the current campaign.

The 22-year old Middlesbrough stopper has enjoyed an impressive five months at Fir Park, becoming a fan-favourite for his consistent displays.

The 6ft 3-inch former England U20s ‘keeper has played every minute for the Fir Parkers this term, fighting off competition from both Craig Samson and Dan Twardzik to retain the number one shirt.

His loan extension now ties him to Motherwell until the end of May 2016.

[pullquote]I’ve really enjoyed my time here. We’ve had some highs and lows, but I think my experience here is making me a better goalkeeper.[/pullquote]

Speaking of his the new deal, Ripley said: “I’m really pleased to be staying; I’ve always said my preference was to stay and see it out and thankfully we’ve got it sorted today.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time here. We’ve had some highs and lows, but I think my experience here is making me a better goalkeeper.

“I’m learning each and every week and I hope I can continue to help the club whilst I am here.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as goals from Ben Hall and Stephen Pearson give Motherwell a 2-0 win over St Johnstone at Fir Park.

Action images from today’s 2-0 win over St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

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