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

Kevin van Veen, Blair Spittal, Sean Goss and Max Johnston are all in contention.

To vote, head over to our Facebook page.

March Matches

• Ross County 0-2 Motherwell
• Motherwell 2-4 Rangers

Kevin van Veen

Grabbing three goals in two matches, Kevin van Veen is in red hot form.

Taking his goal tally to 18 this season, the Dutchman is the second highest Dutch goalscorer in the world right now.

Scoring a vital brace in Dingwall, with two second half finishes, Van Veen also struck inside three minutes against Rangers at Fir Park.

Blair Spittal

Back-to-back nominations for Blair Spittal, who has had another fine month at Motherwell.

He set up Kevin van Veen with a pinpoint cross against Ross County, taking his goal contributions in the cinch Premiership to eight this season.

Sean Goss

Back in the international fold, Sean Goss’s performance earned him a first international call-up in five years for Northern Ireland.

One of the first names on the teamsheet for Stuart Kettlewell at the minute, Goss has linked the play from the middle of the pitch with a range of passing going forward. His ball forward against Rangers found Max Johnston who went on to assist Van Veen for the first goal.

It hasn’t just been in range of passing that has impressed recently, Goss won 86% of his defensive duels and 100% of
his aerial duels against Rangers on Saturday.

Max Johnston

A revelation since his return from loan at Cove Rangers, Max Johnston has impressed in his stint at right-back.

Proving to cause issues going forward for opposition defences, Johnston has got two assists in as many games.

His ‘pass’ from the edge of the box to Kevin van Veen, helped the Dutchman seal the three points in Dingwall.

Johnston also set the number nine up for a tap-in after a lethal cross across goal against Rangers.

Niamh Noble, Kayla Jardine and Tiree Burchill have been named in Scotland’s Under 19 squad. 

The trio, who all joined in January, are available for Scotland’s upcoming UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship qualifiers against Albania and Liechtenstein.

Scotland take on Albania on Wednesday 5 April before they tackle Liechtenstein on Saturday 8 April.

Both matches take place at the Arena Kombëtare, Tirana.

• Albania v Scotland – Wednesday 5 April (1.30pm K.O)
• Scotland v Liechtenstein – Saturday 8 April (10.30am K.O) 

It was four games unbeaten in the Stuart Kettlewell era at Motherwell but that record would be put strongly to the test against second-placed Rangers.

Unbeaten in the league since Michael Beale’s arrival, the Gers arrived at Fir Park looking to close the gap on leaders Celtic. But it would be Motherwell who put the first marker down.

Kevin van Veen netted his 18th goal of the season after just three minutes to give Motherwell an early, before Rangers moved the game into their favour come 47 minutes, when Fashion Sakala made it 2-1.

Substitute Bevis Mugabi got the home side on level terms however Rangers would go on to win 4-2, with Callum Slattery receiving a controversial red card in the process.

They were looking to cause what would have been an upset by beating Rangers, but Motherwell manager Kettlewell knows games against Rangers won’t be season defining but he wants his team to know it was still a defeat regardless.

Players and staff from Motherwell Football Club’s youth academy, together with the North Lanarkshire Child Protection Committee, are working together to raise awareness about what we can all do to help keep North Lanarkshire’s children and young people safe.

We can all play our part by helping to make our communities safe, nurturing places for all children to grow up in.

Listening to what children say to us and taking any worries they have seriously helps children feel valued, respected and encourages them to speak up if they don’t feel safe.

The club is delighted to announce an extension to the long-established partnership which sees the youth academy continue to back the child protection message by displaying the Child Protection Committee logo on their tops throughout the season.

The club also displays prominent child protection messages around Fir Park, as well as information on how to report concerns. Motherwell will also promote important child protection messages through their social media and digital channels.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership between our academy and the Child Protection Committee,” Suzanne Reid, Head of Commercial & Marketing at Motherwell FC, said.

“The particular focus this year will be on keeping children safe online, especially on social media.

“Our academy players and coaches will work to spread the message of internet safety across our local area.”

For more information, go online.

Contacts
Childline – 0800 1111 (free 24 hour service), childline.org.uk
Parentline  – 08000 28 22 33 (free to call 9am-9pm Mon – Fri and 9am-12pm Sat – Sun)
CELCIS Protecting Children– celcis.org/our-work/protecting-children
Think u Know –  an education programme for children, young people parents and workers – thinkuknow.co.uk  

Hampden bound. The women of steel secured their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup after a comprehensive 0-4 victory over Glasgow Women at Cliftonhill on Sunday.

An early first-half penalty had Motherwell ahead at the break before a quickfire second from Carla Boyce saw the women of steel in the ascendency midway through the second half.

A precise effort from Lauren Doran-Barr was quickly followed by a well-placed header from Boyce who secured her hat-trick with the final few minutes to spare.

Assistant Manager, Leanne Crichton made two changes from the side that cruised to a 1-3 victory over Aberdeen at Cormack Park last weekend. Captain Gill Inglis and Louisa Boyes both missed out with Kayla Jardine and Kodie Hay returning to the starting XI.

The visitors wasted no time in breaking the deadlock after striking in the early exchanges. Niamh Noble’s quickly-taken throw was controlled by Tiree Burchill, who shifted the ball onto her stronger right foot before being hauled down under a late lunging challenge. The referee rightly awarded the spot kick which Boyce coolly dispatched into the bottom left corner.

Neither side posed much of an attacking threat as the half-time whistle loomed, with both sides struggling to settle into the occasion.

Nevertheless, Motherwell soon found a vital second. Strikes from Burchill and Kayla Jardine ricocheted across the face of goal, before falling kindly to Boyce at the edge of the box, and the striker accurately picked out the bottom left corner for her second of the afternoon.

Not long after the hour mark, it was three. Glasgow failed to clear their lines, with the ball drilled towards the direction of Doran-Barr, who connected perfectly on the half-volley, and her strike sailed past the keeper before hitting the bar and nestling into the bottom corner.

With the final few minutes ticking by, Motherwell netted a decisive fourth to seal their place at the national stadium.

Kodie Hay’s perfectly-weighted delivery from the right flashed across the face of goal, and Boyce calmly nodded home from a few yards out to earn their place in the semi-finals.

Motherwell will now await their opponents in the next round, with a place in the Scottish Cup final at stake.

“Massive moments in the game have went against us today, which is very frustrating.

“We don’t want to be glorious losers. We came close but we now go into the break and look forward to the next game.”

Stuart Kettlewell’s impressive unbeaten start as Motherwell boss came to an end as Rangers fought back from a goal down to eventually emerge comfortable winners from an enthralling match, as ‘Well played the final 15 minutes with 10 men.

On the back of two consecutive home wins the Fir Park men headed into this mid-day cinch Premiership clash in a confident mood especially after Kevin van Veen gave them the perfect start with his 18th goal of the season. And although James Tavernier equalised midway through the first half, the Steelmen were still very much in a position to produce a shock at the break.

Even after Fashion Sakala put the visitor’s ahead, ‘Well showed great resilience with Bevis Mugabi forcing an equaliser. However a quick double from Todd Cantwell and Malik Tillman, allied to Callum Slattery’s red card, undid Motherwell’s early promise and contribution.

Following a two week break since their win over Ross County, Kettlewell resisted the temptation to freshen up his side, making only one change with Dean Cornelius coming in for the injured Jon Obika.

From the kick-off ‘Well opted for a high press with Liam Kelly intent on sending the ball deep into the Rangers’ half.

And within three minutes the home side had made the dream start.

Sean Goss curled the ball over the visitor’s back four into the path of Max Johnston who quickly sped towards the right hand side of the box before firing the ball low across Allan McGregor’s goal. It was begging a touch which Van Veen duly supplied stabbing the ball home to silence the Rangers’ fans packed behind the goal.

As the Motherwell players closed down the space and harried for possession, Michael Beale’s men had no rhythm to their game and posed little threat on the home goal.

Indeed, it took a tough challenge from Ben Casey after 20 mins, which earned him a booking and provided Tavernier with the first opportunity to whip the ball into Kelly’s area.

That came to nothing but two minutes later the Rangers’ captain netted the equaliser after a couple of poor decisions from the Fir Park men.

Callum Slattery may have got a touch of the ball but his sliding tackle on John Lundstram at the corner of the box cost him a yellow card and a free kick.

Having curled one home from an identical position against Livingston, Kelly should have been more aware as Tavernier lined up to take the free kick. But the ‘Well ‘keeper showed too much of his goal to his right and the Rangers captain accepted curling the ball low into the corner with Kelly sprawling to keep it out.

The Rangers’ fans expected that to be the lift their side needed but an onslaught failed to materialise as Kelly was asked to produce only a couple of saves before the interval.

The first came in the 33rd minute when Casey’s headed clearance found Lundstram 25 yards from goal and his low shot on the volley forced a good reative save from Kelly to beat the ball away. Other that the ‘Well stopper had only a routine save to hold a low drive from Ridvan Yilmaz.

Motherwell were prepared to give possession to their opponents and attack on the counter with speed and three minutes from half time a quick through ball released Van Veen. But as he headed unchallenged towards McGregor his heavy first touch allowed the ‘keeper to collect the ball and leave the game level at the break.

That changed within a minute of the restart when the Ibrox side took the lead.

Tavernier sent an inviting ball across Kelly’s goal and Sakala rose highest to power his header into the net much to the relief of the away fans behind the goal.

Four minutes later the Steelmen almost came up with a quick reply. Van Veen chased a hopeful ball out to the touchline before before turning and whipping a pass into the path of Casey galloping unchallenged towards goal but the ball was too far in front of the central defender.

With 53 minutes played Kettlewell decided that more height was needed in the heart of the home defence sending on Bevis Mugabi for Paul McGinn.

And it proved to be an inspired substitution – at the other end of the park. Van Veen’s tenacity forced Lundstram to concede a corner. James Furlong then floated the ball into a packed box and as the visitors failed to clear the danger in their six-yard box, Mugabi forced the ball low past McGregor.

The Rangers’ ‘keeper was almost caught out three minutes later when he raced out of his box to cut out a long ball. But Van Veen got there first and his delicate lob over the stranded McGregor floated just wide of goal.

It was end to end action and two minutes later Rangers were back in front.

A low ball into the box found efforts from Kent and Colak blocked by Kelly but when the ball rebounded to Cantwell he slammed it high into the net.

There was still a sense that the Fir Park men might reply with another equaliser but it was the visitors who scored again to ensure all three points were heading back to Govan.

This time it was the Gers’ subs who made an impact Morelos cutting the ball back to Tillman who hammered the ball high past Kelly from 15 yards for a spectacular finish.

Although Mikael Mandron and Ross Tierney were brought on in the hope of recovering the situation, ‘Well’s cause was made impossible when Slattery was shown a second yellow reducing the home side to 10 men for the final 15 minutes.