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Motherwell suffered 4-2 defeat to Aberdeen on Wednesday night at Fir Park. 

Another poor first half cost ’Well dearly. Two down at the interval to goals from James McGrath and Nicky Devlin, there was no dramatic comeback on this occasion for Stuart Kettlewell’s men.

Even the introduction of Calum Butcher and Mika Biereth at the start of the second half failed to lift the Fir Parkers as they slumped to a miserable defeat.

Two quick goals from McGrath and Luis Duk midway through the second 45 settled any doubts where the points were heading. Theo Bair scored a with 12 minutes remaining and although Beireth claimed his third goal of the season in added on time, it did little to disguise ‘Well’s failings.

The crisp passing and swift attacks that have been the hallmark of their play this season was missing as the no-nonsense Dons defence was rarely threatened.

Reverting to their more familiar formation, ‘Well made two changes from Saturday. Lennon Miller resumed in the midfield after his one match suspension and, after coming off the bench and scoring against Ross County, Conor Wilkinson retained the role of leading the home attack.

After six minutes Bojan Miovski thought he had nipped between Bevis Mugabi and Paul McGinn as they headed towards the ‘Well penalty area but an outstretched toe from the Uganda international squeezed the ball safely back to Liam Kelly.

A couple of quick breaks from the Steelmen towards the visitor’s goal showed promise but too often a poor final ball left Kelle Roos untroubled.

Out of nothing Dons grabbed the lead after 26 minutes.

Nicky Devlin’s hopeful cross into the box should have posed little threat, But after Dan Casey missed it, McGrath nipped in behind Paul McGinn to stoop and calmly nod the ball past a bewildered Kelly.

And with the Fir Park men looking ragged and incapable of retaining possession, relieving the pressure around Kelly’s area, Barry Robson’s men grabbed a second goal minutes before the interval.

McGinn stepped across Miovski to prevent him getting a shot on goal but the ball broke favourably to Devlin who steered it low past Kelly to put the Dons firmly in the driving seat.

The second half was delayed and the players recalled from the pitch as referee Colin Steven required seven minutes to sort out his faulty communication system.

It gave Kettlewell some additional time to work out how the introduction of Butcher and Biereth, at the expense of Bevis Mugabi and Calum Slattery, could change ‘Well’s fortunes.

Butcher’s arrival and charged with shackling Miovski, momentarily tightened up the home rearguard. Although five minutes into his first game since May, the former Dundee United defender picked up a yellow card after using a hand to prevent the Dons striker breaking from the halfway line.

At the other end of the pitch Roos was largely inactive as the game approached the hour mark.

As the referee threatened to lose control of the game, Biereth picked up his first yellow card north of the border. More importantly the official’s inconsistent decisions, served to produce some response in the ‘Well players.

Wilkinson’s lobbed pass through the middle sent Biereth racing towards goal as Roos raced from his line to smother the ball for this first save of the game.

Any thoughts of a ‘Well comeback were erased after 68 minutes when Aberdeen grabbed a decisive third goal. A terrific tackle from Casey prevented Miovski from firing a shot on goal. But as the ball trundled back towards Kelly, McGrath nipped in to squeeze it beyond Butcher protecting the goal line.

Things got worse five minutes later when Duk got his head to Ryan Duncan’s corner to nod the ball past a stranded Kelly and make it 0-4.

Throwing caution to the wind Kettlewell added strikers Theo Bair and Oli Shaw to the action. And with 12 minutes remaining Bair pulled a goal back when his left foot shot from the edge of the box bounced past a diving Roos.

In added time, Biereth collected Harry Paton’s deep cross before sliding the ball across the Dons’ ‘keeper and put a better perspective on the scoreline.

Although the Steelmen showed a bit of fight until the final whistle it was too little, too late on a night to forget.

The manager reacts to tonight’s defeat to Aberdeen.

• Our poorest 90 minutes since February
• Decision making poor
• To get out of this run we need to be together

Signing from Glasgow Women in the summer of 2022, Lucy Ronald quickly established her place at the core of the Motherwell midfield, but a serious injury sustained in the latter stages of the league campaign would suddenly rule the midfielder out of action.

“We were playing Spartans away from home in the league and just before half time my biggest football fear became reality,” Ronald explained.

“Running towards the ball, I took a really unfortunate landing, and I knew instantly it was bad. I was stretchered off and told the knee was just dislocated.

“In the following days, it became apparent that there was a possibility that I sustained more of a serious injury than just the dislocation. It was then decided that I was to go for an MRI scan which confirmed that it was in fact an ACL rupture.”

A physically and mentally demanding challenge for the 21-year-old, as the women of steel prepared to step onto the Fir Park turf against Glasgow Women ahead of an historic Scottish Cup Semi-Final encounter with Rangers at Hampden Park less than a week later.

“I was absolutely heartbroken to miss out on the opportunity, as it’s been my dream since I was a little girl to play at Hampden,” Ronald said.

“It was the toughest month I’d ever experienced as a player and as a person, missing out on both Hampden and Fir Park.

“It really has taken me awhile to accept that it happened and is in the past. However, I’m also an incredibly determined person and will do everything in my power to get that opportunity again.”

Even at 21, the youngster has had a wealth of experience in the women’s game, captaining Glasgow Women at only 18 and has since become an integral part of the Motherwell squad, playing through the majority of her maiden season in claret and amber.

However, the road to recovery is a daunting process for any player, and Ronald acknowledged that the severity of the injury and the expected duration on the sidelines was tough to comprehend.

“I was aware of the time scales attached to ACL injuries. Having witnessed many teammates go through it in the past, I knew how long the process would be.

“I think I was a little bit in denial waiting for the results back and praying that it wasn’t as severe as an ACL, so overcoming the initial shock of knowing what’s in store was really hard.

“I have never really sustained any injury in my career before, let alone one as severe as an ACL injury and the thought of being unable to play the sport I love was obviously the hardest pill for me to swallow.”

With teammates Murron Cunningham and Laura McCartney both recently returning from severe long-term injuries, that collectively amounted to almost three seasons on the sidelines, Ronald expressed the importance of having those with related experiences to aid the recovery process.

“There’s obviously a lot of worry and nerves of the unknown at what exactly the process involves and preparing for the surgery as well, Ronald noted.

“I do think with this kind of injury, you don’t really know what it’s like unless you’ve gone through it yourself, so the reassurance that everything I was feeling was totally normal has been really good for me.

“Having the girls there who have experienced it before was great, as I could fire any question at them, and they were more than happy to help. They’ve been such a good support system to me.”

Despite the sharp conclusion to the campaign, that restricted Ronald from the women of steel’s final eight fixtures, her exceptional displays throughout the season were soon rewarded, as the midfielder was deservedly named the women’s player of the year.

“That was amazing for me personally, to receive the award was really special,” Ronald said.

“It was a special moment for me and my family and the perfect lift just before my surgery, I’m very grateful for the recognition.

“As much as my season ended in the worst way possible, I also had a really positive season and I hope one day I’ll look back at it and be grateful for all that happened.

With Motherwell Women back in action and looking to secure the final top-six place, that narrowly escaped their grasp last season, Ronald is hopeful of making a return to action sooner rather than later, but is cautious not to make an impulsive return.

“[The process] has definitely had its ups and downs so far as expected,” Ronald outlined.

“I knew the journey was never going to be easy and there would be many setbacks along the way. I’m now at a stage where I am building up my strength to start running which is quite a lengthy and frustrating process.

“The days in the gym myself are long and lonely at times, but it’s always motivating when you start to see improvements. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself for my return at this stage, I’m taking every day as it comes and will see what happens, but I would love to feature at some point towards the end of the season.”

Refreshed and rejuvenated following the brief international break, the women of steel return to action this weekend looking to replicate their recent displays in East Kilbride, with Aberdeen the visitors at K-Park on Sunday.

Motherwell coasted to an exceptional 6-0 victory over Dundee United in South Lanarkshire, but struggled to replicate that dominance on the road, as a frustrating defeat to Hearts in the capital stalled the sides hopes of establishing a consistent run of form ahead of the forthcoming international break.

A return to K-Park will be a welcome change of scenery for the hosts, who have maintained the fourth best home record in the league so far – racking up four wins from five this season.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The women of steel will be aiming to redeem themselves following an opening weekend defeat to Aberdeen at Balmoral Stadium, as Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s brace could only shorten Aberdeen’s commanding three-goal advantage.

Motherwell have proven to be a formidable force at home, netting 14-times and conceding twice across the opening five home ties so far, ensuring victories over Spartans, Hamilton, Montrose and Dundee United.

Kayla Jardine will return to the matchday squad after representing Scotland throughout their UEFA European Championship Qualifying campaign in Albania, with the youngster netting against both Iceland and Belarus whilst featuring in a closely-fought encounter with Serbia.

Aberdeen

It’s been a frightful October for Aberdeen, who have struggled to break their run of five consecutive defeats in all competitions. The visitors have conceded 25-goals across that spell, with heavy defeats to Hibernian, Celtic and narrow defeats to Dundee United and Glasgow City.

The Dons sit level on points with Paul Brownlie’s side in seventh, but trail on goal-difference, as both sides target the elusive final top-six place in the SWPL league table.

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. Kick-off is at 4PM.

Charlie Aitken will be inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame.

Born on 19th July 1932 in Gorebridge, Charlie Aitken dipped into amateur football after he left secondary school at the age of 15.

An inside right with Gorebridge Victoria, he moved to Arniston Rangers where he played at the heart of the defence and caught the eyes of Motherwell’s scout Mr John Robertson.

Motherwell manager George Stevenson convinced him to join the club in 1949 and he went on to make his debut in 1951.

He was called up to National Service as a gunner in the Artillery in Cyprus before returning home in 1954.

Having quickly worked his way back into the first-team after just two weeks of being back in the country, Aitken resumed his career in the claret and amber.

In his first game back, a Scottish Cup semi final match against Celtic, Aitken scored a last minute header to earn his side a replay.

2023 Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Ancell arrived in the Motherwell dugout and made Aitken a regular feature in his side.

Aitken would go on to rack up appearances for the club in the subsequent seasons and lifted silverware in 1965. Beating Dundee United over two legs, the Steelmen lifted the Summer Cup.

His 17 years of loyalty and service was publicly acknowledged in 1967 when Aitken was awarded a testimonial match at Fir Park against Rangers. The likes of Ian St John and John Martis returned to take part in the match to celebrate Charlie Aitken.

In the 17 years at Fir Park, he made 314 appearances, scoring 38 goals in the process. He was named the Motherwell Supporters Association ‘Player of the Year’ on two occasions and his remarkable stamina and fitness meant he was the only Well player ever to play in all 34 league games in a season. A one club man and a true legend of the game.

Charlie passed away on 12 January 2008, aged 75 but he will forever be remembered as a member of the ‘Ancell Babes’ and for his long lasting service to our club. That’s why it’s only right, he takes his place in the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.

We will never forget those who have forged the path to where the club sits at present day. Some with us and some sadly not, we want to come together to celebrate the proud history we have at Motherwell Football Club.

This year, the event will take place at Dalziel Park Hotel on Friday 17 November, with host Tam Cowan inducting five new names.

If you would like to attend our night of celebration, tickets cost £66 for adults and £30 for children under the age of 12 are on sale now.

You can buy tickets for the dinner online or contact the commercial department on 01698 338011.

Please note than some of the colourful language on the night may not be appropriate for young children or those easily offended.

Georgie Gent arrived on loan from Blackburn Rovers in the summer, and has since gone on to play his first minutes of first-team football. 

The full-back says he is loving his time up here so far and is trying to keep his down down to earn even more minutes on the park.

Brodie Spencer is your G4 Claims October player of the month. 

Edging out Stephen O’Donnell and Harry Paton in the fan vote, Spencer picks up the award for the first time since his arrival in August.

The Huddersfield Town loanee and Northern Ireland international has caught the eye of the Motherwell supporters, ever since he was thrown straight into the starting 11 in the unfamiliar position of left-wing back.

A right-wing back by trade, Spencer has adopted the new position as his own and has provided attacking quality and defensive reinforcement in his time so far in ML1.

Stuart Kettlewell reflects on the last gasp draw against Ross County. The manager was frustrated at his side’s performance and mentions that the players themselves, acknowledge they should have been better. 

Despite this, Kettlewell was delighted with the effort and desire shown by everyone to not give up and wants to see that level of performance for the full 90 against Aberdeen.

The manager talks about the planned of minutes of certain players, particularly those who have just recovered from serious injury. He also talks about Aberdeen and what his team need to do and show to overcome them.

We can confirm that Pape Souare has sustained a serious ankle injury in training last week.

The Senegalese full-back picked up a serious ankle injury with associated fracture that will prevent him from featuring for a minimum of four months.

Speedy recovery, Pape.

With a family fun day taking place outside the stadium prior to the game, and a bring a friend for a fiver scheme in operation, nobody attending the game could say they didn’t get their money’s worth. 

Aiming for their first points in four games, Motherwell arrived to face Ross County off the back of three weeks without any matches.

It was tightly contested first half, with neither side fully kicking into gear. Brodie Spencer went close, hitting the post with a header from a Stephen O’Donnell cross.

Motherwell began to pick up the pace at the start of the second half, but found themselves one down thanks to an Eamonn Brophy finish, although County winger Victor Loturi looked to have handled the ball in the build up.

Simon Murray made it 2-0 with just 15 minutes remaining, finishing off a free flowing move from the visitors.

Stuart Kettlewell had options on his bench, something that hasn’t been the case all season, and turned to Conor Wilkinson, Mika Biereth and Luca Ross to spring his team into life.

Having been out for nine weeks through injury, Biereth welcomed himself back into the action almost immediately, latching onto a Blair Spittal through ball and won a penalty kick for his side. He subsequently sent Ross Laidlaw the wrong way, 1-2.

County restored their two goal lead through Loturi on 83 minutes, which looked to have sealed the points for the Staggies.

But, in what we have become accustomed to seeing of late, Motherwell produced a fightback in the latter stages of the match. Wilkinson narrowed the deficit on 88 minutes before 17-year-old Luca Ross scored his first professional goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time to salvage a very late point.