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“A huge thank you from me to the supporters.

“Even for me getting my kids on the pitch, the reaction was perfect. We’ll see you next season.”

Motherwell fought back in a storming second half to claim a 9th win under Stuart Kettlewell’s remarkable run as boss. And in another fabulous run Kevin van Veen rounded off his fabulous season with a couple of goal scoring records.

His goal after five minutes made it 11 games on the trot breaking both the club’s record run of scoring in 10 consecutive games held by Hughie Ferguson for over a century and the SPL one claimed by Mark Viduka 22 years ago.

And in memorable season for van Veen and ‘Well fans, the striker’s tally of 25 league goals also hoisted him to runner up to Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi.

His early strike should have unsettled a relegated United but instead Jim Goodwin’s gutsy side responded with goals from Jamie McGrath and Steven Fletcher.

But having looked down and out the Steelmen put the United defence under extreme pressure in the final 30 minutes. Blair Spittal’s equaliser paved the way for Max Johnston’s winner eight minutes from time.

There was a colourful carnival atmosphere inside a sun-drenched Fir Park as Motherwell set about making certain of ending the season 7th in the cinch Premiership.

The Fir Park fans showed little sympathy for their counterparts in the Tommy McLean stand, a predicament they might have faced themselves but for the astonishing run of form since Kettlewell took over the manager’s job.

With ‘Well’s central impressive defensive pairing Dan Casey and Calum Butcher still injured, it meant a rare home start for Bevis Mugabi and Shane Blaney. Free from any pressure of relegation, there was also a starting debut in midfield for 16 year-old Lennon Miller.

Jim Goodman’s men, on the other hand, faced mission impossible having to consign Motherwell to a heavy defeat while hoping Ross County faced a similar thrashing at Rugby Park.

Without a Tom Cruise type hero in their ranks and facing ‘Well’s goal scoring marvel, the Tannadice side never stood a chance of avoiding the drop to the Championship.

And it took van Veen less than five minutes to grab his 29th goal of the season and write himself into the record books.

Sean Goss dispossessed Glenn Middleton wide on the left and his low pass sent the Dutch striker racing towards goal. Having side stepped the advancing ‘keeper van Veen took time to steady himself from a tight angle to hammer the ball into the far corner of the goal.

That forced United to be even more adventurous and Middleton almost redeemed himself after 10 minutes but his drive 16 yards from goal was well blocked by Liam Kelly.

As the Tayside men pressed ‘Well deep into their own half more chances came their way.

Kelly twice left his line again to deny Middleton and then bravely at Kiernan Freeman’s feet. When that forced the ball back to Steven Fletcher, the former Scotland striker thought he had fired home the equaliser but Paul McGinn popped up on the goal line to clear.

At this stage, play was almost entirely contained in the Motherwell half but after 24 minutes the home side created a opening to double their lead. Van Veen fed the ball out to Stephen O’Donnell and by the time the full back whipped a cross to the back of the six-yard box, the ‘Well striker had raced to meet it only to guide his header back beyond the ‘keeper and his back post.

United’s commitment to attack was rewarded after 28 minutes when they were awarded a penalty following VAR intervention. Mugabi’s handball in the home box went unnoticed until referee Steven McLean was invited to review play on the touchline monitor.

That resulted in the ref pointing to the penalty spot and for the second time on his visit to Fir Park, Jamie McGrath struck his penalty kick low and under the right arm of the diving Kelly.

Five minutes later ‘Well passed up a terrific opportunity to regain the lead. This time van Veen was the provider clipping a delicate cross onto the head of the unmarked Mikael Mandron but 10 yards from goal he directed the ball well off target.

Instead, it was United who came close to taking the lead just before the interval. Freeman’s lofted cut back was met by the towering Fletcher but his downward header hit the outside of Kelly’s left hand post.

However, it took the Tannadice striker only three minutes into the second half to find the net. Peter Pawlett raced down the left and when he laid the ball across the box to the unmarked Fletcher he gave Kelly no chance confidently stroking the ball past the ‘keeper.

That sparked some much need life into the home side and the somewhat subdued ‘Well fans.

A Goss corner had the players packed in the visitor’s box and when the ball broke to Blair Spittal his thumping volley took a defection for another corner. Once again it found its way to Spittal and his floated ball into the six yard box was met by Mugabi. His powerful header looked certain to cross the line until Newman produced a fabulous one handed save to force the ball out.

The United ‘keeper then reacted quickly to block a shot from Mandron which took a wicked deflection on its way to goal.

The pressure on the visitor’s goal was intense and James Furlong was unlucky with a low effort which hit the foot of the post.

Having gained the momentum, Kettlewell made a triple substitution, after 63 minutes bringing on John Obika, Max Johnston and Callum Slattery.

Obika immediately had a strike just wide of goal but the equaliser was only delayed until the 69th minute.

A slick exchange between Obika and van Veen at the edge of the box set up Spittal and he drove the ball beyond Newman to make it 2-2.

Four minutes later the Fir Park fans were on their feet as Jonhston hammered the ball low across a packed goal line and into the corner of the net. But the celebrations were curtailed as ref ruled it out for an offside in the build-up.

Goss then had a chance to make it three when he raced through a static defence. But rather than finish it himself he elected to try and set up van Veen but from a tight angle he could only force a save from Newman.

With ten minutes reaming there was still a sense among the home stands that a winning goal was on the cards.

And it duly arrived in the 82nd minute after a steady build up involving half a dozen players around the United box. The delivery from Furlong across goal was tempting and Johnston gladly accepted sneaking in to powerfully head home as Motherwell recorded yet another win and end the season on a high.

Shane Blaney has had a very complex season. 

Starting by knocking Motherwell out of the Europa Conference League, to then joining Motherwell and battling back from injury to get into the team.

The Irish centre back has had to be patient for his chance in the starting 11 but believes he has shown the correct attitude whilst waiting in the wings.

Motherwell will be travelling to Delden, Holland for a seven day training camp ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Stuart Kettlewell’s men will head to Holland on the 24th June and will return on the 1st July.

The camp has been a popular destination for many football clubs, with Aberdeen, Holland youth international sides, Iceland, Turkey, Macabi Tel Aviv, FC Utrecht, AZ, Real Zaragoza and Club Brugge all visiting in previous years.

We plan to take part in friendly matches during the week.

News on pre-season matches will be announced when they have been confirmed.

The facilities can be found here.

Stuart Kettlewell discusses how is squad is looking ahead of their final match of the season against Dundee United. 

With Dundee United requiring a win and a eight goal swing to move off bottom spot, Kettlewell believes that they will throw the kitchen sink at Motherwell.

The manager has no doubts about motivation for their players as they were disappointed to only come away with a point in their previous match.

Max Johnston has been called up to Scotland’s under 21 squad. 

The dark blues are have two friendly matches lined up next month.

First up for Scotland is a friendly match against Norway on Thursday 15 June.

They will then take on Spain on 18 June with a venue still to be confirmed.

The games will represent the final preparation matches as Scot Gemmill assesses his squad ahead of the first Euro 2025 qualifying match against Spain in September.

Norway v Scotland
Thursday 15 June- K.O 5pm 
Estadi Olimpic Camilo Cano, Spain

Scotland v Norway
Sunday 18 June- K.O 11am
TBC, Spain

Dundee United provide the opposition for our final game of the 22/23 season.

Kick-off is 3pm on Sunday 28 May.

Tickets

Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.

Ticket Office open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility

Ticket Prices

– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under.
– Family tickets would be one adult / senior citizen concession and x2 juveniles.

How to follow game online

The game will be shown on Motherwell TV ppv for £10. Click here to purchase your pass.

The Story of the Match

The Steelmen round off the 22/23 campaign by hosting bottom club Dundee United.

Although the midweek draw with 10-man Livingston was disappointing it meant Stuart Kettlewell ended the season undefeated away from home and keeps ‘Well in the driving seat for seventh place, although they will need to better or match Livi’s score versus St Johnstone.

The visitors looked to have found a bit of form the last time the two sides met at Fir Park as the Tayside club propelled themselves out of the dropzone, but four straight defeats since the split has them staring relegation in the face.

They need a goal difference swing of 8 goals just to make the play-off and hope that Ross County suffer defeat at Kilmarnock.

You’d imagine United will arrive at Fir Park in all out attack mode, something which the Steelmen will need to guard against.

Kevin van Veen has been making all the headlines recently and he wrote himself into the history books with his goal against Livingston midweek, which equalled Hughie Ferguson’s record of scoring in ten consecutive games. The Flying Dutchman is two goals off thirty for the season, and also two goals off being the league’s top scorer.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Motherwell knew a win would secure seventh place in the cinch Premiership when they faced Livingston in their final away match of the season. 

Livingston were a point behind the Steelmen going into the game and Kevin van Veen also knew he was on the brink of history.

The Dutchman wasted no time in levelling Hughie Ferguson’s all-time Motherwell club record set back in 1920, scoring in ten consecutive games and taking his goal tally to 28 in all competitions. He fired home Mikael Mandron’s layback after just three minutes and gave his team the early advantage.

Van Veen was involved again in the action when Livi keeper Shamal George came rushing out his box with his foot raised and clattered into the striker. Var would intervene and eventually sent the stopper off. Livi down to ten just before the break.

However, despite the man advantage, Stuart Kettlewell’s men weren’t able to make the extra player count and would concede with seven minutes to go and the match ended 1-1.

A point a piece, taking the race for seventh place, down the last day.