Latest News

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

The 22-year-old, who has received international recognition for the Scottish national team at U15, U16 & U17 age categories, impressed scouts on a summer youth tournament in the states and secured the next step in her career as a result.

“Playing across in the US had a huge impact on me as a player,” Cross said.

“My first introduction to women’s football was playing for Central Girls. We played in a summer tournament in Florida and that’s where I was seen by my University coach.

“From there he reached out about the opportunity to play Division 1 football and it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

“One memory that particularly stands out is our 2020 Sunbelt tournament final. We were one-nil down with five-minutes to go and I scored twice to win our second tournament in a row. I’ve never felt an adrenaline rush like it, and I still look back on the game as one of the best I’ve ever played in.

“Playing alongside girls from almost every continent that also dreamed of going professional in the future really helped drive our standards and keep our program successful during my time there.”

A spell at English second-division side, Coventry United followed, but recurring injuries curtailed the 22-year-olds progress in the West Midlands, with Cross unable to find consistency in the English Championship.

“After graduating, I had ambitions to keep playing at a high level and had the opportunity to join Coventry United in the English Championship,” Cross explained.

“I failed to get a consistent run of games due to injuries and receiving a concussion 40-minutes into my first game was definitely not what I envisioned. However, I still really enjoyed my time there and would love to play in England again.

Looking to re-establish a consistent run at senior football, Cross returned to Scotland after five years, with Head Coach Paul Brownlie seeking to enhance his forward line at K-Park.

The Dunfermline-born striker signed on the dotted line, as the women of steel’s 12th acquisition of the summer transfer window, with Cross making her debut in a 3-1 victory over Montrose.

“After a period of five-years being away from home and coming off my first hamstring injury, I felt it was a good time to come back home and be closer to family,” Cross outlined.

“I was attracted to Motherwell because of Paul. We’d previously worked together at Scotland U15s and almost at the National Performance Centre, so I was delighted with the opportunity to play under him again.”

However, historic hamstring injuries resurfaced, leaving the forward out of matchday contention and forced to recover from the sidelines, as the women of steel faced a turbulent run of form.

“The game against Montrose, when I got re-injured and the process since then has been one of the most frustrating and difficult challenges of my career,” Cross noted.

“It’s the longest I’ve been out through injury and not being able to help contribute to the team especially through the current spell has been difficult.

“The recovery process has been slow, but I’m starting to get back out on the pitch, so hopefully I can be back playing very soon.

Defensive indecision and attacking complacency have continued to undermine the early signs of optimism for the women of steel, with the squad picking up one win from five, in a six-nil thriller over Dundee United.

With an international break and a two-week hiatus on the horizon, Paul Brownlie’s side will look to regroup and respond ahead of a crucial tie with Rangers next month.

“I think this season we haven’t always got what we deserved out of certain games,” said Cross.
“I’m certain the team has enough quality to keep creating chances and hopefully we can be more ruthless in-front of goal going forward.

“I would love to contribute however I can to the team, whether that be goals, assists or just working hard for the players around me. My targets for the rest of the season are to get back playing consistently and remain injury free.”

Jon Obika is chuffed to be back playing once again after his long injury lay off. 

The striker got his first start against Dundee at the weekend and although on a personal level their was positives, he says the team are really striving for that victory against Ross County on Tuesday night.

It was another late comeback for Motherwell in their last outing against Dundee, and despite showing strong character once again, the manager would rather see his side manage the game far better than they did.

A trip to Dingwall is next in the cinch Premiership and Kettlewell wants to see his team’s game management improve as they aim to bounce back with a win.

Motherwell travel to the Highlands on Tuesday night to face Ross County.

Kick off is 7.45pm.

How to follow the game

All wheelchair and ambulant supporters should contact the ticket office to purchase.

Tickets are on sale from the ticket office and online. We have been sent physical tickets so no e-tickets are available for this match, postage and collection only. Postage will be available until Thursday 30th November.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Injury Update

Pape Souare and Lennon Miller remain sidelined.

Paul McGinn will be assessed today (Monday) to see whether he can be in contention for his return from a cheekbone injury.

Callum Slattery returns having been suspended for the Dundee match.

Harry Paton will serve the first of his two match suspension for his red card against Dundee.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

It was the late, late show for Motherwell once again on Saturday, as Conor Wilkinson rescued ten men ‘Well a point against Dundee.

Mika Biereth netted his fifth of the season in the early stages of the match.

It’s now 11 games without a win for the Steelmen however back-to-back draws in the last two have moved them up to eighth in the table.

Opposition Report

Derek Adams returned for his third spell in charge after Malky Mackay vacated the manager’s role. This will be Adams’ third match in charge of the Staggies, with a draw and a win already under his belt.

Simon Murray has found his goalscoring touch once again this season, the striker currently has ten in all competitions.

It was a lively 3-3 draw last time out between the two sides, with Wilkinson and Luca Ross scoring two goals in stoppage time to get a point in the match.

High on confidence and feeling re-energised after taking a point from Celtic Park, Motherwell returned to North Lanarkshire looking to follow up on their recent positive result. 

It all looked to be going well when Mika Biereth fired his side in front with just six minutes on the clock. It was the first time Motherwell had lead a game since September.

However, Dundee netted a four minute double to turn the game on it’s head before the interval.

With the second-half underway and the Steelmen probing, Bevis Mugabi leaped the highest to head home from a Blair Spittal cross just after the hour mark.

Back on level terms, and Fir Park rocking, Motherwell looked to take control of the game until VAR had a second look at a Harry Paton challenge, where the Canadian subsequently seen a red card awarded.

Dundee looked to have won the match with minutes remaining when Robinson fired home.

With ten men and time running out, Oli Shaw and Georgie Gent combined to setup Conor Wilkinson to score in the 97th minute for a worthy point in ML1.

A never say die ten-man Motherwell conjured up another injury time goal for a share of the points in a six goal thriller.

It looked like a disappointing defeat until the sixth minute of added on time.

As ‘Well chased a long overdue winning goal, the Tayside men snatched what looked like the winner two minutes from time when Zach Robinson was given time to pick his spot beyond Liam Kelly from 12 yards.

However, with almost the last kick of the game, Conor Wilkinson slammed a left foot drive high past Trevor Carson, allowing the Fir Fans to celebrate a hard fought point that looked beyond them

When Mika Biereth claimed his fifth goal of the season after only six minutes, the Steelmen looked on course to end their winless run.

However, they only held the advantage for 20 minutes or so, when a quickly taken double from Lyle Cameron and Owen Beck had Dundee ahead at the interval, as the Fir Park fans aired their disapproval.

When Bevis Mugabi nodded home the equaliser in the 67th minute, ‘Well seemed set for another grandstand finish until Harry Paton’s red card reduced them to ten men for the final 20 minutes.

Calum Slattery’s one match suspension was an easy fix for Stuart Kettlewell. After coming off the bench and grabbing the equaliser at Celtic Park last week, Jon Obika made his first league start supporting Mika Biereth in the home attack.

The Fir Park pitch was a green oasis in a snow covered town, encouraging both sets of players to quickly warm to the perfect playing surface, which produced end to end action.

And after both defences were given an early test with curling free kicks, ‘Well made the breakthrough.

Blair Spittal tried to play a 1-2 at the edge of the Dundee box. But when his path was blocked the ball broke to Biereth, who immediately smacked it low and in off Trevor Carson’s right-hand post.

Incredibly, that strike provided Motherwell with the opening goal for the first time since September.

With Callum Butcher and Obika offering an assured first touch, Motherwell players looked to have restored some confidence in possession.

A quick exchange between Biereth and Spittal sent the Arsenal loanee racing down the right touchline. With Obika waiting beyond the six-yard box, though, his cross was easily cut-out by former ‘Well ‘keeper Carson.

As the half progressed, though, Dundee pressed the home side deep into their own half and two quick goals from the Taysider’s around the half hour mark, changed the game.

After 29 minutes the Fir Park men had two attempts to clear Beck’s corner. When the visitor’s fired a third ball towards goal it deflected high into the air, sailing over the defensive line leaving Cameron a simple task of heading the ball down and beyond the helpless Liam Kelly.

Worse was to follow five minutes later. Zak Rudden chased a long ball to the byeline before cutting it back to Beck, allowing the Liverpool loanee time to switch the ball to his left foot before smashing it past Kelly from eight yards.

From then until half-time the Fir Park men looked increasingly nervous as the Dens Park side threatened to extend its lead, as the ‘Well fans loudly aired their disapproval.

The interval allowed the ‘Well boss time to instil some much needed confidence and organisation into his players.

However, Dundee remained the livelier and after Dan Casey was booked for holding back Cameron, Kelly was asked to produce the first save of the game, getting his body firmly behind |Luke McCowan’s 20 yard drive.

In the 59th minute and out of nowhere Motherwell had a great chance to level. Paton and Spittal combined at the edge of the box to send Obika through on goal but from an angle he dragged his left foot shot beyond Carson and a foot outside his far post.

A couple of corners from Spittal kept some pressure on the Dundee defence and in a packed goalmouth Carson was grateful to grab a deflected effort on his line.

Conor Wilkinson was then given the last half hour to make his presence felt in the home attack.

But it was Bevis Mugabi who almost levelled the game. Striding forward unchallenged the Uganda international unleashed a terrific drive from 35 yards which Carson palmed over his cross bar.

The central defender was not to be denied and when Spittal slung a cross towards the six-yard area Mugabi’s header powered the ball beyond the ‘keeper to make it 2-2.

Motherwell had no sooner sent on Theo Bair and Georgie Gent when they were reduced to 10 men for the closing 20 minutes.

Harry Paton was initially shown a yellow card for a tackle McCowan, but after a VAR review, referee Iain Sneddon decided it was worthy of a red card.

After that Motherwell seemed more determined to find a winner.

A poor clearance gave Wilkinson a half chance but his effort sailed high and wide of goal.

The ‘Well substitute was much closer four minutes later when his measured low drive from 20 yards sped just beyond Carson’s left hand post with the ‘keeper sliding across his goal to make sure it wouldn’t sneak inside the post.

With five minutes of regulation time remaining Oli Shaw replaced Biereth as Kettlewell made one final push for a winner.

A minute later, though, it was Dundee who found the decisive third goal.

Robinson found himself unmarked 12 yards from goal and he calmly stroked the ball into Kelly’s left hand corner to leave the home side staring at another home defeat.

But in the sixth minute of additional time, Motherwell fought back once again. Oli Shaw brilliantly leaped and subsequently flicked on a Liam Kelly goal kick, Georgie Gent knocked the ball back to Shaw who dipped eloquently past the onrushing defender before finding Wilkinson with a inch perfect pass, the number 99 rattled the ball into the near post to earn a vital point.

Stuart Kettlewell reacts to the 3-3 draw with Dundee.

• Performance wasn’t good enough
• Red card decision
• Look again to Tuesday

It’s December and the countdown to Christmas has already begun. If you’re struggling to think what to get for the Motherwell fan in your life, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Gift membership of the Well Society is back!

Adult membership is available at the discounted price of £50, whilst Junior Steel membership is £25.

Junior Steel membership (0-15 years old)

Sign up your wee one and they’ll receive:

• A Welcome Pack including Junior Steel certificate and keyring
• An ‘I Own MFC’ scarf exclusive to Junior Steel members
• A personalised birthday card
• A personalised Christmas card

All this plus a chance to be a mascot on matchday!

You can purchase a Junior Steel membership online.

Adult membership

Adult members also receive goodies, as well as the knowledge that they’re helping represent the interests of the community in the running of the club. Members are entitled to:

• A Welcome Pack including Certificate of Ownership, keyring and pin badge
• One share in the Well Society, giving you a vote on Well Society issues and a say on some club matters
• An opportunity to shape the strategic direction of the Well Society and the club
• Be added to the weekly newsletter list

Adult membership is available to purchase online.

If you have any queries drop us a line, give us a call on 01698 338009 or contact the Well Society using our contact form.

Gift membership entitles the recipient to one year’s membership of the Well Society, after which they will be invited to renew.

November player of the month Shane Blaney is pleased to back in the team and playing regularly. 

The Irish centre-back has started the last four games and has been instrumental in the backline. Blaney says the game time has allowed him to get match sharp and feels like he is reaping the rewards as a result.

Stuart Kettlewell is more than pleased with the result at Celtic Park last weekend, however believes it’s only a good result in isolation. 

The Motherwell manager wants his time to capitalise on that result and kick on ahead of a busy month.

Kettlewell goes into detail around the feeling in Fir Park, amongst players and staff, to detail that the club is still fully together.