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The women of steel have maintained a positive start to the 2023/24 SWPL campaign, with back-to-back victories at K-Park preserving an 100% unbeaten home record, and goalkeeper Emily Mutch believes that high squad morale has been key to dusting off the opening weekend defeat to Aberdeen.

“The morale we’ve built in the dressing room has definitely had a part to play in getting results and performances on the pitch,” said Mutch.

“It’s always the same at the start of the season with new faces, it’s going to take time to get together as a squad.

“I think we were all disappointed with the result against Aberdeen. We didn’t do ourselves justice in that game, but I think since then we’ve bounced back and shown what we’re all about.”

Paul Brownlie’s side have since impressed on three successive displays, overcoming Spartans and local rivals Hamilton, with Motherwell cruising to a commanding 4-0 victory in the first Lanarkshire derby of the new campaign.

“Everyone’s buzzing with the result on Sunday,” Mutch explained.

“A derby is always a different game because I think both teams naturally step it up and anything can happen.

“We aimed for three points and I think the fact we got that along with four goals and a clean sheet has definitely given us confidence going forward.”

Motherwell face a sharp return to competitive action against newly-promoted SWPL2 champions Montrose. A somewhat unknown entity for Motherwell, with their only recent meeting with the Gable Endies coming in a 4-0 victory in last season’s Sky Sports Cup.

“We played Montrose last season in the cup, but since then they’ve added a lot of new faces to their squad, just like we have. I think it should be a competitive game of football, and we will definitely be looking to carry on where we left off last week and make it two wins in two.

“It’s the same every game we go into, we’re looking to go out and win. Our wins and performances against both Hamilton and Spartans demonstrated how organised we’ve looked as a unit and has set the standard. We’re just looking to build on that and continue it into this weekend’s game.”

Establishing K-Park as a fortress could be vital in achieving the squads ambitions of a top-six SWPL finish, with a home advantage already proving to be beneficial to the side.

“We all love playing at K-Park”, said the Motherwell stopper.

“I definitely think we’ve settled well and it feels like how a home pitch should feel. The last couple of weeks we’ve seen a good turnout of people coming to watch us and that’s been helped with the season tickets being made available.

“It creates a good atmosphere and on match days at K-Park, there’s a real buzz about the place. I think it’s really important we can keep that up and keep getting good numbers at our games to make it as difficult a place as possible for teams to come and play.

The Well Society this week invited its members to play their part in shaping the direction of the organisation, as it seeks to strengthen its Board.

As the majority shareholder of Motherwell FC, the Society has provision for nine elected members and three co-opted members. With three members currently in post and four members up for re-election or election, they’re hoping to attract a number of strong candidates for the elected spots.

A spokesperson for the Society said: “Our Rules of Association state that part of our role is to encourage and promote the principle of supporter representation on the board. This is an opportunity for all adult members to take an active role in the Society, either by putting themselves forward to serve on the Well Society Board, or casting their vote when the time comes.

“We have recently looked at what our priorities should be, considering what skills and perspectives are currently missing around the table, and placing a particular focus on the need to increase diversity of representation on the Board. We would therefore particularly encourage nominations from women, young people, disabled people and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.”

Paid up members of the Society aged 18 or over, are eligible to put themselves forward. For more information, or to note interest in serving on the board, please email: well.society@motherwellfc.co.uk by noon on Monday 18 September.

GOT A QUESTION?

For more information, or to discuss the role informally, please get in touch with us this week by email or by calling 01698 338009.

FURTHER INFORMATION

You can download the Well Society’s Rules of Association or check out the current Society Board set up.

Dan Casey is your G4 Claims player of the month. 

Winning the award for the first time since he arrived at the club in February, Casey had a month to remember.

He has played every match since his first appearance of the season against Queen’s Park.

Casey was part of the defensive line that limited Hibernian to one shot on target at Fir Park and also was involved in some last ditch defending against St Mirren.

Against Kilmarnock, he scored his first Motherwell goal, twisting and turning in the penalty area before blasting home from Brodie Spencer’s cutback.

He also won Motherwell a penalty as he found himself in the forward areas once again. His defensive solidity has meant he is now ranked 3rd highest in the league for interceptions.

On deadline day, manager Stuart Kettlewell says Motherwell have more signing to announce and that it is unlikely anymore business will be completed thereafter. 

Kettlewell is happy with his squad and insists that he likes to get his business done ahead of the deadline.

Assessing his teams’ start in the league, Kettlewell says he is happy with how they have performed but knows they can improve even further.

The manager provides and squad update ahead of the match on Sunday and says Hearts’ departure from Europe has no impact on his preparations for the match.

He may have only turned 17-years-old but Lennon Miller is taking everything in his stride. 

Recently called up to Scotland’s Under 19 squad, Miller talks about playing above his age group and the influence manager Stuart Kettlewell has had on his development thus far.

Oli Shaw has joined the club from Barnsley on loan until the end of the season, subject to international clearance. 

The striker joined The Tykes at the end of the January window 2023 for an undisclosed fee, having been Kilmarnock’s top goalscorer the season prior.

He has made four appearances for Barnsley this season and joins up with Stuart Kettlewell for the second time in his career.

The 25-year-old played under current boss Kettlewell in Dingwall with Ross County.

A Scotland Under 21 international, Shaw began his footballing journey with Hearts before switching to Hibernian.

He came through the ranks at Easter Road and made his first-team debut in 2015 against Montrose. Shaw moved to the highlands in 2020 having scored 12 goals for the Hibees.

Netting on nine occasions with Ross County, he joined Kilmarnock and helped them gain promotion back to the top flight, winning a player of the month award in the process.

“With the injuries we have had to deal with in the forward areas, it was evidently clear we needed to strengthen before the window shut,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“We identified Oli as a target earlier in the window and feel now is the correct time to get him on board.

“I know him personally and know his attitude towards the game. He wants to impress from the off and get regular minutes under his belt. That’s the determination we need from him.

“Oli is an excellent player who I feel can offer us skill and improvement in the forward areas. With hard work, he could flourish this season.”

Scottish forward Morgan Cross has joined the club on a permanent deal.

From Stateside to Strathclyde, Cross returns to Scottish football following a five-year spell at the University of South Alabama, where she netted 23-times in 89-appearances under a full scholarship at the Jaguars.

A spell at Coventry United in the Barclays Women’s Championship; the second tier of English football followed, with the Dunfermline-born striker set to enhance Paul Brownlie’s side for the forthcoming season.

“I’m really excited to have joined Motherwell,” said Cross.

“I’m looking forward to this new challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”

The 22-year-old has also received international recognition, featuring for the Scottish national team at U15, U16 & U17 age categories, with Cross netting a hat-trick against Croatia.

The striker will be the 12^th new acquisition for the women of steel this season.

“We are absolutely delighted to bring someone with Morgan’s quality to the football club,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“I have no doubt these attributes will be invaluable to the squad moving forward.”

Cross will be eligible for this weekend’s home meeting with Montrose and will wear the no. 16 jersey.

Following a physically demanding week, with the women of steel facing three back-to-back league tests, Paul Brownlie’s side return to action looking to replicate the performance that saw them cruise past local rivals Hamilton in the first Lanarkshire derby of the new campaign.

Striker Carla Boyce merited a place in the SWPL team-of-the-week, with the forward named as the ‘star player’ after netting a prolific hat-trick at K-Park.

Motherwell will face a somewhat unknown entity in Montrose, with the newly-promoted side looking to earn their first SWPL points after suffering four opening league defeats.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The women of steel have dusted off their opening weekend defeat to Aberdeen, impressing on three successive displays, picking up two victories over both Spartans and Hamilton.

The hosts will be looking to keep their unbeaten home record intact, with Brownlie’s side yet to concede in East Kilbride, whilst finding the target on five occasions.

Georgie Rafferty will remain doubtful for Sunday’s match whilst Laura McCartney & Lucy Ronald continue their return from long-term injuries.

Montrose

The Gable Endies reached the SWPL for the first time in the clubs history after achieving back-to-back promotions. The SWPL2 title-winning side cruised to a 13-point advantage over closest-rivals Gartcairn, but have since found life tough in the top-division.

The visitors have suffered four successive defeats to Celtic, Hibernian, Aberdeen and Partick Thistle, with the Angus side conceding 20-times since their promotion from SWPL2. Jade McLaren netted the sides only league goal in a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen at Links Park.

Ticket information

Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £8
• Concession – £3
• Under 11s – Free to enter.

*Concession tickets apply to those over 65, and to 12–17-year-olds, with full-time students also eligible with a valid matriculation card.

Additional information – no pets allowed within K-Park.

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.

New signing Brodie Spencer has been named in the Northern Ireland Under 21 squad. 

The Northern Irish will kick off their UEFA Euro Under 21 qualifying campaign in this round of games.

Spencer and the squad are in action twice, against Luxembourg and Ukraine.

Azerbaijan, England and Serbia are also in Group F.

They will face Luxembourg at home before travelling to Ukraine.

Northern Ireland U21 v Luxembourg U21

Thursday 7 September 

Mourneview Park Stadium

Ukraine U21 v Northern Ireland U21

Tuesday 12 September

Futbalový štadion NTC Poprad, Slovakia 

It’s time to vote for your G4 Claims player of the month for August. 

Callum Slattery, Blair Spittal, Paul McGinn and Dan Casey are all up for nomination.

To vote, head over to the Motherwell Facebook page.

Games in August

• Dundee 1-1 Motherwell
• Motherwell 2-1 Hibernian 
• St Mirren 1-0 Motherwell
• Motherwell 2-1 Kilmarnock

Please note, statistics below are taken from cinch Premiership games only.

Callum Slattery

At the heart of everything at the moment, Callum Slattery is continuing to be a critical part of the Stuart Kettlewell era.

The box-to-box midfielder has been involved in both defence and attack. He has made 16 interceptions and 13 successful dribbles from the middle of the pitch in three games.

Registering five shots, he was also involved in the first goal against Kilmarnock, where he had a give and go with Spittal before firing the cross into the box.

Still yet to win a player of the month vote in his time at Motherwell, Slattery has produced a fine month of performances.

Blair Spittal

Spittal has played every minute of every game this month.

Involved in the move that led to Dan Casey’s goal against Kilmarnock, he also setup Harry Paton for his last minute winner against Kilmarnock on Saturday, beating his man to the byline before cutting it back for the Canadian.

The midfielder has, similarly to Slattery, been involved in all areas of the pitch. He has had six shots and five shot assists in three games and boasts a 75% pass accuracy rating in August.

Paul McGinn

Often labelled as ‘Mr Consistent’, McGinn is up for nomination also.

He has made 100% successful dribbles this month, nothing an 80% pass accuracy record at the same time.

McGinn has been excellent at recovery runs in defence and has won 78% of his loose ball duels.

Against St Mirren, he was deployed at left-back due to injury, once again proving his utility on the pitch.

Dan Casey

Back for his second spell, Dan Casey has settled back into familiar surroundings. He has played every match since his first appearance of the season against Queen’s Park.

Strong and commanding at the back, he prevented Hibernian from registering a shot on target until stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty kick.

Casey kept Motherwell in the cup tie against St Mirren when Toyosi Olusanya raced through on goal. The Irishman somehow made it back to get in the defensive block.

The centre-back put in a man of the match worthy performance against Kilmarnock in the most recent game. He netted his first goal in Motherwell colours when he smashed home from Brodie Spencer’s knock back to draw the game level.

He then won Motherwell a penalty when he got the ball before Danny Armstrong to present Motherwell with the opportunity of taking the lead in the game.

He is currently 3rd highest in the league for interceptions and won 77% of his defence duels in the league so far.