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Motherwell were blown away as Celtic racked up four first-half goals and a further four in the second half to clinch a dominant victory at K-Park.

A Clarissa Larisey double, with further strikes from Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Craig, Jacynta and Lucy Ashworth-Clifford sealed a disappointing evening for the women of steel.

Celtic looked to impose themselves in the early stages, with Motherwell soaking up much of the early pressure deep into their own half.

Taylor Otto latched onto Gill Inglis’ misplaced pass deep into Motherwell territory before teeing up Larisey at the edge of the box, but the strikers curling effort was superbly denied by Emily Mutch in the Motherwell goal.

The visitors continued to dominate much of the ball and almost netted the opener midway through the first half. Tegan Bowie’s chipped through ball left Larisey free to race through on goal, but another exceptional reaction save from Mutch kept the scoreline intact.

However, Celtic finally found the breakthrough from the resulting corner kick. Ashworth-Clifford’s floated corner kick sailed invitingly into the path of Hayes, who powered her header into the top-right corner beyond the reach of Mutch.

Fran Alonso’s side soon doubled their advantage less than a minute later. Liv Chance worked her way into the box before drilling her strike across the face of goal, but despite being denied on three occasions by Mutch, Larisey was on hand to convert at the back post.

Motherwell boss, Paul Brownlie was sent to the stands in the immediate aftermath after being shown a straight red card for questioning the referee’s decision to allow the goal despite Larisey netting from an offside position.

As the half time whistle loomed, Celtic added a third. Ashworth-Clifford’s delivery fell kindly to Larisey in the box, and the striker coolly picked out the corner from close range.

Seconds from half time, it was four. Ashworth-Clifford’s cross continued to cause the Motherwell defence problems, and Hayes was on hand to net her second of the afternoon.

As the second half resumed, Celtic added their fifth on the hour mark. Ashworth-Clifford’s corner kick again caught out the Motherwell defence, and substitute Craig prodded home from a few yards out.

A terrible collision in the box forced goalkeeper Emily Mutch off midway through the second half, with substitute and academy graduate Skye Johnston making her senior debut.

Celtic continued to threaten the Motherwell penalty area, and quickly found their sixth of the afternoon. Substitute Jacynta worked her way into the box before dispatching her effort into the bottom left corner.

With less than 15 minutes remaining, the visitors had seven. Chance’s low cross fell to the feet of Jacynta who converted for her second of the game.

With the final few seconds ticking away, Ashworth-Clifford fired into the top-right corner to seal a disappointing evening for the women of steel.

Motherwell slumped to an unlikely defeat as a quick double from Kilmarnock midway through the second half, clinched the Ayrshire side’s first cinch Premiership win of the season – and left Steven Hammell and his players scratching their heads. 

Motherwell looked to be heading for a third consecutive away win, thanks to Kevin van Veen’s 14th minute goal. However, two goals from Danny Armstrong and Ash Taylor inside five minutes, turned the game on its head. 

Until then the Steelmen were comfortable in possession and threatened to extend their lead, although Killie were guilty of passing up a glut of chances. 

After a delay to the kick-off, while Rugby Park officials attended to their artificial surface after a section of the 1,000 strong travelling support behind Liam Kelly’s goal lobbed a flare onto the plastic pitch 

On the back of two successive away wins the Steelmen made a confident start and within two minutes Van Veen juggled the ball away from Lewis Mayo before his left foot shot forced Sam Walker into an early save.  

Paul McGinn then used the slippy surface, sliding across to guide the ball away from Oli Shaw as the Killie striker raced into the box. 

Motherwell were on the front foot, though, and Callum Slattery’s pass sent Connor Shields down the right. Although his cross was possibly intended for Van Veen, it found Dean Cornelius, who took a first touch before volleying the ball just beyond Walker’s right-hand post.  

It was not really a surprise when the Fir Park men opened the scoring after 14 minutes but it was a shocker from a Kilmarnock point of view. 

Spittal’s low measured ball sent Van Veen and Moyo racing towards the home goal. As the Killie defender relaxed thinking his ‘keeper was collecting the ball, ‘Well’s Dutch striker stuck in a foot to stab the ball past Walker and claim his fourth goal of the season. 

Two minutes later it was almost a carbon copy as Spittal’s low pass again sent both van Veen and Mayo racing towards the home goal but this time the defender guided the ball safely back to his ‘keeper. 

At the other end Ricki Lamie was having a real physical tussle with Kyle Lafferty as the Northern Ireland striker used his gangly frame to contest every high ball. 

Lafferty should have done better after 27 minutes when Ben Chrisene’s cross found the former Rangers’ man eight yards from goal but he hooked the ball high over Kelly. 

Motherwell continued to show the more composure on the ball and an attacking flair with Shields on the right and Spittal on the opposite side stretching Kilmarnock’s back four. 

In the 32nd minute Spittal’s cross found O’Donnell racing into the box and his glancing header forced Walker to stretch to catch the ball under his bar. 

Five minutes later Motherwell had a lucky escape when the Rugby Park side came within a few centimetres of an equaliser. Kerr McInroy played the ball in front of the inrushing Chrisene who hammered his left foot drive high past Kelly only to see it rebound down from the crossbar before Lafferty, once again, lashed the loose ball high over the goal. 

Despite that narrow escape the Motherwell players probably thought that their first half display earned them the right to hold a one goal lead as the teams headed up the tunnel at the interval. 

Within minutes of the restart, Killie fans thought their side had found the equaliser but Danny Armstrong’s fierce drive from the edge of the box flashed past Kelly’s right hand post. 

Four minutes later Spittal and Van Veen combined once again to open up the home defence but this time Mayo got it right nipping the ball off  the ‘Well striker as he cut into the penalty area. 

On the other side Shields burst down the wing before cutting into the box but his low shot was easily taken by Walker. 

As the hour mark approached and the ‘Well boss prepared for the double introduction of Joe Efford and Josh Morris, Shaw squandered a great chance to level the scores. 

In a substitution identical to last week, Hammell was hoping for an immediate impact.  

And it nearly arrived when Van Veen set up Slattery 30 yards from goal but his low bouncing shot produced a solid diving save from Walker. 

Despite both sets of players finding it difficult to stay on their feet, Motherwell maintained their tight passing game as Killie, having passed up a string of chances desperately strived to test Kelly. 

With 19 minutes remaining the Rugby Park men finally found the target, thanks to the bit of luck that deserted them in the first half.  

Rory McKenizie’s ball into the six-yard box found Armstrong and O’Donnell tussling in front of Kelly. As the Killie man fell to the ground the ball rebounded from O’Donnell, allowing Armstrong to get up and squeeze the ball past the ‘Well ‘keeper for an equaliser they probably deserved.  

Hammell immediately sent on Ross Tierney and Barry Maguire and only a brilliant save prevented ‘Well from regaining their lead. 

Breaking from the half-way line Van Veen had both subs in support before electing to play in Tierney 15 yards from goal. The Irishman’s sidefoot shot across the ‘keeper was heading just inside his post until Walker, at full length, palmed the ball just wide of his goal. 

That proved to be the turning point as four minutes later Kilmarnock stunned the Fir Park side with the winner. 

There was also a touch of irony as former Steelman Liam Polworth floated a free kick beyond the back post, where Taylor’s thumping header sent the ball back across Kelly and into the net, and floor Motherwell. 

Callum Slattery is enjoying life under Steven Hammell.

The Motherwell playmaker says the new manager has given all the players a freedom on the football pitch and insists that this is a good thing.

Motherwell manager Steven Hammell expects cinch Premiership newcomers Kilmarnock to put up a tough test for his side to overcome.

The Motherwell boss insists his side are taking it one game at a time and are by no means getting ahead of themselves.

Left back Matt Penney has joined Motherwell on a six-month loan from Ipswich Town. 

The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Sheffield Wednesday, playing nearly 30 times for the Owls in the Championship.

He had a number of short-term loans at the likes of Bradford and Mansfield before joining 2. Bundesliga club St Pauli for the Covid-interrupted 2019-20 season.

He joined Ipswich Town last summer and has 26 appearances thus far for the Tractor Boys.

“We had a number of options available to us but we wanted to wait for Matt and are absolutely delighted to have him with us,” manager Steven Hammell said.

“When Jake Carroll broke down in training and it was confirmed he was going to miss a significant portion of the season, and with Nathan McGinley still recovering from his operation, we knew we were going to have to bring someone in.

“Stephen O’Donnell has performed well out of position, so we now have real competition and cover on the side of the pitch.”

The loan is subject to registration formalities and international clearance.

Motherwell’s hot prospects for the future will be able to play it cool, thanks to a donation from the Well Society. 

The players were gifted an ice-machine which will help them treat minor injuries and cool off after training at their Braidhurst High School campus.

“Our ice machine broke quite a while back,” head of youth at Motherwell David Clarkson said.

“We reached out to the Well Society and are delighted that they’ve been able to help.

“It means that any minor knocks can be treated quickly as we will have ice to hand. The machine is in the social area and it gives the lads a focal point, as they fill up their water bottles.”

“It’s our role to support and promote the club. Our members are always keen to look after our next generation of players. This is a small gesture which goes a long way in terms of achieving that aim.” Co-chair of the Well Society Douglas Dickie said.

After defeat to Sligo Rovers in the Europa Conference League, Motherwell and Graham Alexander parted ways by mutual consent.

In the immediate aftermath, club legend and hall of famer Steven Hammell stepped up to take charge of his beloved Motherwell for the start of their 2022/23 cinch Premiership campaign.

After a win and a narrow defeat during his interim reign, Hammell among 75 other candidates, applied for the vacant manager’s role to where he was shortlisted and interviewed.

With the board agreeing together that Steven Hammell was the right man for the job, Hammell takes his first steps into management and looks to turn Motherwell’s fortunes around.