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“We stuck at it and to get the top six in that fashion, I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’m so pleased for everyone.”

Motherwell snatched a top six spot with a dramatic late show at Livingston.

Odin Bailey and Alan Forrest looked to have buried the Steelmen, with results elsewhere going against the team.

But Callum Slattery’s 30-yarder, followed by Ricki Lamie’s dramatic late header in the third minute of stoppage time, sent the away fans wild and secured the top six place.

Jake Carroll came into the team for the injured Stephen O’Donnell in the only change to the side which defeated St Mirren last time out.

Motherwell barely had a chance in a first 45 that was dominated by Livingston.

A mix-up in the Livi defence early on should have presented Efford a chance at an open goal, but the ball held up in the air long enough for the covering defender to clear.

After knocking on the door for long spells, the hosts took the lead in the 25th minute.

Forrest cut inside and split the defence with a through ball which Bailey ran onto and, with Kelly rushing out, poked the ball past him into the net.

O’Hara was introduced for Cornelius at the break as Motherwell looked to find some sort of response, and started the second half more positively.

Van Veen sent a difficult shot over the bar early on and then the Dutchman thought a shot two minutes later had crossed the line, but the linesman said goalkeeper Stryjek had kept it out.

Goss was bundled over in the box with no consequence as Motherwell flew out of the blocks and looked certain to claw their way back in.

But they would be the architects of their own downfall just before the hour mark.

Bailey was allowed to cut inside and get a shot away which was blocked, but fell to Forrest just inside the area. With the defenders slow to react, he was able to pick his spot, firing low and hard into the bottom-left corner.

Tierney and Woolery replaced Efford and Carroll as Motherwell looked to spark a reaction and it came with 18 minutes to go.

A ball into the box was cleared out where Slattery reacted quickest to sprint onto it and send a 30-yard piledriver into the bottom-left corner of the net to give ‘Well hope.

‘Well kept pushing but the big chances just wouldn’t come until the third minute of stoppage time.

A corner from the right, with Kelly up, Mugabi hit the bar with a header before Lamie reacted quickest to knock the ball over the line and send the away fans wild – and Motherwell into the top six.

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander says his side are in a good position going into the cinch Premiership match against Livingston.

The Steelmen’s win against St Mirren has ensured they are now in full control of whether they finish in the top six – something they have to take full advantage of as they go into the final pre-split match.

Connor Shields says Motherwell are well aware of the significance of the final cinch Premiership pre-split crunch match against Livingston.

There are just four points between fourth and 10th in the table, but a win will secure a top six finish for Motherwell regardless of results elsewhere.

Kevin Van Veen is your Paycare player of the month for March.

Beating Liam Kelly, Ricki Lamie and Joe Efford in the public vote, Van Veen picks up his second player of the month trophy at Motherwell.

The striker, who scored his tenth goal of the season against St Johnstone after a mazy run, started in all four fixtures in March against Ross County, St Johnstone, Dundee and Hibernian in the Scottish Cup.

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

To vote, head to our Facebook page and pick your favourite.

Kevin Van Veen, Liam Kelly, Joe Efford and Ricki Lamie are all in contention.

When Lauren Doran-Barr lined up for Motherwell in the Scottish Women’s Premier League against Celtic last month, it represented the culmination of a two-year journey back to the starting line-up.

But the 22-year-old feels her comeback was just the latest stage in an ongoing attempt to get where she wants to go in football and make up for lost time.

The former Scotland youth international had last played in February 2020 before suffering the latest in a short series of medial knee ligament sprains in training.

Further assessment from the physio led to the feeling there was something more to the sprains but the pandemic caused major delays in getting to the root of the problem.

“She suggested I go to my doctor and hopefully they could refer me for an MRI scan,” the right- back said.

“I had my doctor’s appointment a week before lockdown happened so there were bigger things going on in the NHS. It took about six months to get the MRI.

“The scan came back clear but I had a ganglion cyst. People usually get them in their wrist but it is really uncommon in knees so it was a bit new to the physios. I still had pain when I ran so I got referred to a knee specialist and waited another six months.

“Thankfully I didn’t need surgery, he was happy for me to push on and the main thing was strengthening about the area because there was quite a bit of scar tissue there. The biggest thing that kept me out for so long was the waiting but there was nothing I could do with Covid going on. It was a bit of a strange injury and the timing wasn’t great.

“Since then it’s been trying to find a rehab programme that has worked for me. It was just trial and error and eventually we got it right and get to the level of strength where I was able to kick through it.”

Doran-Barr returned to training in January and was back in action in February off the bench before starting the last two games against Celtic and Partick Thistle.

“It felt like a long time coming,” she said. “I was just absolutely buzzing to be back kicking a ball again.

“I have just tried to take it one week at a time and not look at the bigger picture. It’s just about getting game time under my belt to get my fitness levels back up. It’s been two years so it’s not going to happen overnight.

“As much as you are buzzing to come back in and you can’t wait, it is quite daunting. My first session back, I was really quite nervous.

“During the two-year period, not only have I got to catch up fitness wise but there’s a feeling that everyone else has had an additional two years’ development. But I can only focus on myself and take it one week at a time and be better than I was the last week. That’s what got me through the two years, just celebrating small wins.

“It was probably quite a surprise that I started a couple of weeks ago, but I have just tried to keep my head down and work away sand thankfully I got an opportunity. Hopefully between now and the end of the season I will get as many minutes as I possibly can and look to get a really good pre-season under my belt and kick on next season.”

Eddie Wolecki Black was in charge when Doran-Barr got injured but current boss Paul Brownlie and player/coach Leanne Crichton have made sure the pathway to the first team was open.

“They have been great in terms of supporting me and keeping me on throughout the journey,” she said.

“Under that change, initially there was that doubt before I had a conversation with Paul, he was not a coach I had worked with before. Given I was out for so long, it was in the back of my head: ‘Will he keep me?’

“But the first conversation I had with him, he just wanted to get me the support that I needed. Straight away his take was that he wanted to get me back fit and back playing.

“He hadn’t seen me play for a long time so coming back from injury I feel a bit like I have a point to prove to re-sign for season 22-23. I am hoping to get as many minutes as I can and hopefully stay on for next year.”

Doran-Barr has had to show similar determination to prove herself throughout her football career.

“I played in boys’ teams when I was younger,” she said. “I think it has massively changed now but back then I was the only girl in my team and I don’t ever remember coming up against another girl.

“There was always a comment or two made by the opposition player or coaches: ‘They have got a girl in their team’. That probably puts a target on your back at times. Maybe at times they thought it was going to be easier because I was a girl.

“I think it gives you a bit more determination to prove yourself and make a point that you are not a passenger, that you can actually play. You always work that bit harder to impress the coaches.

“The coaches and boys I played with were always great, they accepted me straight away, and I think that was off the back of me working hard every session and wanting to win. They were always very encouraging and accepting and I definitely felt part of the team.

“Rangers was my first girls’ team. I got scouted when I was playing for the school team. It was a tournament at Toryglen and I think I was in first year. I signed for Rangers when I was 11 or 12, going into the under- 13s, and worked my way up to the first team.

“When I was 17 or 18 I left to go to Stirling because I was at university in Stirling. In my second year, I went and played for Stirling University in the SWPL and then came over to Motherwell.

“My initial time was under Donald Jennow, who really kicked me on confidence wise and had a lot of belief in me.”

As well as her football education with Rangers, Doran-Barr also won 10 Scotland youth caps at age levels up to under-19s.

“I absolutely loved going away with Scotland squads. I have got so many memories and made friends for life throughout that journey. There were so many amazing trips.

“Everyone wants to play for their national team but my focus is just on getting back to where I need to be and helping the team. I don’t think I am anywhere near where I want to be, I have still got a long way to go to get back to sharpness.

“It is definitely an exciting time to be at Motherwell, we are trying to kick on. The club has taken massive strides in the two years I was out and I want to be a part of it. We are building something special.

“Paul and Leanne have great experience in the women’s game and it’s somewhere I feel I can become a better player.”

Football has also been a major part of Doran-Barr’s education and current full-time job for a sportswear firm, where she has worked after graduating from a sports studies degree in 2021.

“In my dissertation I looked at the perceptions and knowledge levels of the menstrual cycle within Scottish women’s football,” she said.

“I interviewed six coaches and sent a survey out and got over 100 responses. I got a first in it so I did all right.

“It was definitely interesting. It’s something not a lot of people talk about or are aware of. There is still more that can be done to develop the education side of women’s football for coaches.

“Women’s football has taken massive strides and the participation levels for young girls are amazing to see, it wasn’t like that when I was younger.

“But there are still sides oft the game that need to be developed, the education side of the game is almost entirely based on male athletes. For coaches that are coaching the women’s game, I think it’s important they have more knowledge of the athletes they are dealing with, that they go through different things.”

Livingston are the opposition in the cinch Premiership on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3pm at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Ticket information

Tickets for Motherwell fans can be purchased online now directly from Livingston. Fans should purchase tickets in section L of East Stand.

Prices are:

• Adults: £25
• Over 65s / 16-18 / Full time students £17
• Under 16: £10
• Wheelchair & carer £17

Watch live online

The match is available to buy on pay-per-view from Livingston in the UK and Ireland for £20.

To buy, head to ppv.livingstonfc.co.uk.

Form guide

Motherwell picked up a valuable three points against St Mirren last Saturday, which was their first league win of 2022.

Livi have been in good form since the start of December, but have lost their last three games, failing to score in their last two.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell have won the last two meetings at the Tony Macaroni, and have also won both games this season.

Last time at Livingston, the Steelmen won 2-1 in what was a memorable day for Liam Grimshaw, who’s winning strike was his first ever professional goal.

Top Six hopes

Motherwell go into Saturday’s game knowing a win will secure top six status.

A draw will also be enough but not if Hibernian (v Hearts) and Ross County (v Aberdeen) both win.

A Motherwell defeat makes things more complicated. It would require Hibernian to lose to Hearts, Aberdeen v Ross County to end in a draw and St Mirren not to beat Rangers by enough to better Motherwell’s goal difference.

Livingston can also make the top six. A win would see them leapfrog Motherwell onto 40 points which will be enough provided Livi better Ross County’s scoreline or Hibs fail to win.