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Motherwell faced Falkirk on Saturday afternoon, in a behind-closed-doors friendly match at Dalziel Park, with the game ending 2-2.

Gary Oliver and Ross McIver were on the scoresheet for Falkirk, with Blair Spittal and Callum Slattery grabbing the goals for Motherwell. Liam Kelly was back in action and he saved a penalty with three minutes to go.

Falkirk got themselves off to the best possible start after just 90 seconds. Oliver found himself on the ball in the right hand area of the box before finishing past Kelly.

However, Motherwell brushed the early goal off and began to create chances straight after. Jon Obika’s finish clipped the outside of the left hand post before nestling in the side netting.

A scuffed clearance from the Falkirk stopped presented Stephen O’Donnell with the chance to header the ball back across goal for Obika but the Falkirk backline managed to recover just in time.

The equaliser would come on 20 minutes. Obika pounced on a stray pass on the halfway line and carried the ball goalwards. Options to his left and his right, he fed Spittal who finished with his left foot into the corner. 1-1.

Slattery was next to have a go when his strike from 25 yards was powerful but was straight down the line of the keeper who got two hands behind the effort.

On 32 minutes, Joe Efford caused the Falkirk full-back issues as he got to the byline before firing a low cross into the box that found Obika, he connected well but his shot just went wide.

Two minutes later, Falkirk had a great chance. Calvin Miller looked to be offside however the linesman kept his flag down, he raced through on goal and Kelly had to make an excellent stop at his near post. The Scotland keeper couldn’t hold it and Bevis Mugabi tracked back and slid in, colliding with the post in the process, to clear the danger.

On 51 minutes, the Motherwell forward line pressed the keeper on the ball as he tried to play out from the back however the keepers’ pass landed at Spittal’s feet and his shot was a comfortable save.

Motherwell took the lead on 63 minutes. The Falkirk winger committed to taking on too many players before losing possession. Slattery picked up the loose ball, carried and drilled low into the bottom corner from 20-yards. 2-1.

Obika showed some excellent work on 70 minutes. He carried the ball from in his own half, on the edge of the box chopped the ball back onto his right foot and got a shot away, albeit was a comfortable save.

On 77 minutes, Falkirk equalised. A cross into the box wasn’t deal with and McIver was on hand to knock home at the back post.

Ewan Wilson struck the post with ten minutes left. He beat two defenders before firing low at goal but couldn’t beat the woodwork.

Motherwell continued to press for the third goal. O’Donnell’s cross was only half cleared and Nathan McGinley kept a volley low but it was blocked by the defender in the six-yard box.

On 87 minutes Falkirk were awarded a penalty. A trip in the box meant Miller had the chance to get his second. However, Kelly was quick to guess correctly and saved down to his bottom right.

The match ended 2-2 with preparations stepping up as we begin our 2023/24 season against Elgin City next Saturday in the Viaplay Cup. You can buy your tickets online.

Motherwell will face several pre-season tests prior to the opening weekend of the SWPL1 calendar.

The women of steel will start their pre-season programme against SWPL2 promotion chasers Gartcairn on Sunday 9th July before a midweek encounter with Scottish Cup champions Celtic on the 12th.

Boroughmuir Thistle and Hearts will be the opponents the following week, with both matches taking place on the 16th and 21st July respectively.

The programme will conclude with a triple header against East Fife, SWPL1 champions Glasgow City and Dundee United on the 23rd, 26th and 30th of July.

“Preparations are well underway for season 2023/24,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Players reported back last week with a real sense of excitement. The sessions have been intense so far, and the application has been first class.

“Throughout pre-season, training and matches will be designed to push the squad to their maximum. I look forward to updating supporters on our progress over the pre-season period.”

All matches will take place behind closed doors.

The fixtures for our upcoming 2023/24 Elite CAS Under 18 season are now available. 

Kick-off times and venues for our matches will be communicated throughout the season, with supporters welcome to attend all matches.

All matches can be found online.

We begin our season against Hearts on Friday 28 July at home before travelling to Celtic on Friday 4 August.

The youngsters will take on Kilmarnock on Friday 15 December before the league shuts down for a winter break.

They will return to action on Friday 12 January against Hamilton Accies.

Our final round of fixtures will occur on 23 February before the league split happens.

Please note, current times on the website are not accurate, with kick-off times still to be arranged between each club.

All fixtures are subject to change.

Laura McCartney has made the permanent switch to ML1 from Rangers.

The centre-midfielder had been on loan at Motherwell for the last two seasons however is yet to feature due to injury.

Fresh off the back of a full recovery, McCartney now joins the women of steel as she looks forward to her return to action.

“There is no doubt due to Laura’s circumstances of injury, that the last two season’s have been incredibly frustrating,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“However, she has returned to training and is fully focused on a strong season on the pitch this term.

“Laura was one of my first signing’s at Motherwell, on loan, and that’s because I fully believe in her ability.

“I look forward to seeing her back on the pitch in competitive matches.”

After eight years, head groundsman Paul Matthew is leaving the club.

Prior to his arrival in May 2015, Fir Park had a reputation for a poor playing surface.

Matthew has led a revolutionary turnaround of the Fir Park turf which, in 2017/18 season, seen it voted as the best playing surface in the Scottish top league.

Year after year, Matthew and his team worked tirelessly through the summer months, ensuring we had a pitch that would survive a gruelling 10-month season, with an ever growing fixture list.

Also in his tenure, Motherwell became only the fourth Scottish Premiership club to have a hybrid pitch installed, which seen the pitch rebuilt from the ground up.

In doing so, drainage was improved, whilst the famous Fir Park slope was also lessened.

Alan Carlin will now make the step up to head groundsman immediately, having worked as deputy head groundsman at the club for the last two years and has 17 years worth of experience at Rangers.

“First off, I want to thank Paul,” Alan Carlin said.

“He has been a pleasure to work with and I am proud of what we have achieved together.

“I’m honoured to be given the trust and responsibility of head groundsman. There has been a high standard created here and I will do my upmost to maintain that standard.”

The club wants to thank Paul for his outstanding contribution in his time here and wishes him the very best in his future career.

Highly-rated Goalkeeper Rebecca Cameron has joined the club from St. Johnstone for the 2023/24 season.

An impressive SWPL2 campaign saw the Perth shot-stopper named Saints Player of the Year, and Cameron has since put pen to paper to join Paul Brownlie’s side for the forthcoming season.

“I am delighted to have signed for Motherwell,” Cameron said.

“I’m excited for a new challenge and am looking forward to the season ahead. I can’t wait to get started.”

“Rebecca will add extra quality to our goalkeeping department,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“She had an outstanding campaign last season with St. Johnstone. I’m delighted to get her on board.”

Cameron becomes Brownlie’s fifth summer signing.

Our head of goalkeeping Neil Alexander has done it all as a player in his 26-year long career. 

An international, league titles and European finals all came along whilst he was between the sticks but getting to that level of fitness is harder than some might think.

Often misconceived, a pre-season for a goalkeeper can range from general cardio work that outfield players do to specified goalkeeping drills that involve precise movement.

But the end goal is the same, to maximise performance of the players when it comes to a match day.

Alexander talks us through how the training has changed with the advancement of sports science, the adaptability that is required as a coach to meet the needs of each keeper in his jurisdiction and where our goalkeepers are at in terms of their own individual goals for the season ahead.

Goalkeeper Katie Andrews has joined Gartcairn on loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old shot-stopper, who joined Motherwell in 2021, will continue her development with the SWPL2 side this season.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Katie,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Gartcairn narrowly missed out on promotion last year in a very competitive league, so this will be the perfect environment for Katie to develop.”

“We are looking forward to seeing her progress.”

Kayleigh Bargathi has re-joined Glasgow Women on loan for the 2023/24 season.

The 18-year-old, who made her first-team debut last season, will continue her development at the club after making 13 appearances in the previous campaign.

“We are encouraged with Kayleigh’s progression so far,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Extending her spell at Glasgow will allow her the opportunity to play regular first-team football.

“I am excited to see how she gets on this season.”

Conor Wilkinson is the first new face at Fir Park for the 2023/24 season subject to international clearance. 

Leaving Walsall in the summer, the Irish Under 21 international striker joins the club on a two-year deal.

28-year-old Wilkinson started his professional career at Millwall. He has played and scored in the National League, League Two and League One and has featured in the Championship down south.

Wilkinson made over 70 appearances for Leyton Orient, notching 20 goals in the process and has also turned out for Portsmouth, Newport, Bolton, Barnsley and Gillingham in his career.

“Joining Motherwell is a great feeling,” Conor Wilkinson said.

“I’m six foot three and I think people can get the wrong idea about the type of player I am because of that.

“I’m not a target man, I like to get on the ball and show people what I’ve got.

“To get the deal done is great and it now allows me to get down to business and focus on the season ahead.”

Conor Wilkinson becomes Stuart Kettlewell’s first new face of the summer window.

“It’s no secret that we’re light at the top of the pitch,” Stuart Kettlewell added.

“Conor has imagination on the pitch and to have that in your team, is exciting.

“He is someone who we have tracked for a while and been looking to get signed as soon as possible.

“With the experience he has, there is no doubt in my mind, that he will add firepower to the team.”