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A valiant display from the women of steel almost ensured an historic result in East Kilbride, but title-chasers Celtic narrowly edged to victory at a frost-covered K-Park on Wednesday evening.

Desperate to atone for their comprehensive 6-0 defeat to the Glasgow-side in October, Motherwell tactically nullified Celtic across both halves, with countless goalscoring opportunities evading the visiting goal. However, the breakthrough failed to materialise, as Celtic capitalised upon Motherwell’s attacking complacency, netting twice against the run of play, with Caitlin Hayes and Amy Gallacher both adding their name to the scoresheet.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie made three changes to the side who suffered defeat to Hibs in the capital last weekend, with Jo Addie returning to partner Chelsie Watson in the Heart of the Motherwell backline and Sarah Gibb featuring alongside Amy Anderson and Katie Rice in the midfield.

Goalkeeper Rebecca Cameron made her competitive Motherwell debut after last featuring for the women of steel ironically against Celtic in a pre-season friendly in the summer.

The shot stopper was immediately called into action, as Gallacher escaped the offside trap before drilling a close-range effort across the six-yard box, but Cameron reacted sharply to produce an exceptional late block.

Moments later, Motherwell almost found the breakthrough. Katie Rice’s whipped free-kick midway through the Celtic half accurately picked out Murron Cunningham at the back post, with the defender’s looping header teeing up Addie within the six-yard-box, but before the centre-half could react, Daugherty’s forceful challenge left the defender on the frozen surface.

Optimistic penalty pleas were soon dismissed, with Cunningham’s close-range rebounded effort also denied by the Celtic stopper.

Despite a positive opening to the game, Celtic soon broke the deadlock against the run of play. A floated corner kick from the right sailed invitingly across the Motherwell penalty area, with Hayes bulleting home a direct header.

As the second half resumed, the hosts quickly regained their rhythm, with Gill Inglis almost netting an equaliser. The Motherwell skipper and Kayla Jardine combined on the right-hand side, with the experienced defender chipping a dangerous delivery across the face of goal, but once again the women of steel were unable to capitalise on a vital moment in the game.

Motherwell continued to threaten the Celtic penalty area, with their consistent attacking patterns of play, as Morgan Cross’ chipped through ball narrowly evaded the lurking forwards in the Celtic six-yard-box.

The pacey forward soon sliced through the Celtic backline, capitalising upon the high defensive line to race through on goal, but a perfectly-timed tackle from Hayes salvaged a crucial moment in the game for the Glasgow-side.

With the women of steel continuing to flood the Celtic half in search of an equaliser, Celtic caught the hosts on the counter-attack, netting a decisive second to secure all three points in a closely-fought evening in Lanarkshire.

Paul Brownlie’s side will face a sharp return to action when they travel across the River Clyde to local rivals Hamilton, with the second Lanarkshire Derby of the season on the horizon.

With Motherwell coming into the game five games unbeaten, the performances had been encouraging but the result had been missing. 

Prior to the Tuesday night match against Ross County, the Highlanders were 11th with the Steelmen directly above them in 10th. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

If there were any pre match nerves in the stands, that wasn’t reflected on the pitch.

Andy Halliday, Blair Spittal and Theo Bair had Motherwell leading 3-0 by the break, despite missing a number of chances. They continued to blow County away in the second half, with Spittal and debutant Jack Vale adding to the tally.

A 5-0 win ahead of a Friday night trip to Greenock in the Scottish Cup fills everyone associated with the club with optimism and encouragement.

Kayla Jardine, Sophia Martin and Laura Berry have been called up to Scotland’s Under 19 squad ahead of a double-header of friendlies against Wales.

Jardine, who has competed internationally for Scotland at U15, U17 and U19 level, has retained her place in the squad, with Martin and Berry both returning to international action following the U17 MIMA cup in Murcia, Spain.

Scotland will travel to Wales ahead of the opening matchday on the 21st of February, with the second following on the 23rd at Colliers Park, Wrexham.

Scotland U19 v Wales U19

• KO: 15:00PM
• Wednesday 21 February
• Colliers Park

Scotland U19 v Wales U19

• KO: 12PM
• Saturday 24 February
• Colliers Park

Motherwell take on Greenock Morton in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup at Cappielow Park on Friday 9 February. 

Kick off is 7.30pm.

How to follow the game

You can buy tickets online.

We have an allocation of approximately 3,000 and will be accommodated in the ‘Wee Dublin’ end and sections F and G of the main stand, on a first come basis.

The Wee Dublin end is uncovered.

The Cooper Bar will open from 3pm for drinks only. Buses have now sold out. Online tickets will be available until kick-off on Friday.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Injury Update

Barry Maguire and Jon Obika remain doubts for this match.

Callum Slattery has underwent surgery for his knee injury but will remain missing for the rest of the season.

Stephen O’Donnell is preparing for the birth of his child so his situation will be monitored day-by-day.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

It would seem Motherwell have turned a corner in the run of form.

Their last defeat came on Christmas Eve against Rangers. Since then, they have went six games unbeaten with a resounding 5-0 win over Ross County in their last match on Tuesday night. The result moved the Steelmen up to eighth in the table and only a point off Dundee.

Theo Bair has scored in his last five league games, firing home on six occasions.

A 3-1 win over Alloa Athletic seen Motherwell progress to this stage of the Scottish Cup. Blair Spittal scored a double with Georgie Gent also opening his account for the club.

Opposition Report

Morton have won two matches in the Scottish Cup to get to the fifth round. A comfortable 4-0 win in third round over Bo’ness United was followed by a 2-0 win over Montrose in the previous round.

Morton had also been on a poor run of form but have since hit a hot streak, starting back in November. Six wins in their last nine league matches has catapulted Morton up the cinch Championship table. They are now in the promotion playoffs as Dougie Imrie’s side continue to look up the table.

Robbie Muirhead has been leading the line for January manager of the month Imrie and has already recored 14 goals this season. He has four goals and one assist in January.

George Oakley remains a goal threat also, he has 10 goals for the campaign. Oakley has just won the cinch Championship player of the month for January having netted four goals, including a hat trick, during the month.

There are a couple of familiar faces within the Morton ranks, with former Motherwell men Robbie Crawford and Darragh O’Connor applying their trade in Greenock.

Motherwell’s confidence and momentum in-front of goal was evident throughout an exceptional five-star victory over relegation rivals Ross County.

Desperate to atone for the dismal defeat in Dingwall last December, the Steelmen made a whirlwind start to the game. Two quickfire goals from Andy Halliday and Blair Spittal had Motherwell in dreamland, with Theo Bair also denied twice by the County ‘keeper inside the first 22 minutes.

By the time Bair scored from the penalty spot, for the fifth consecutive league game, the match and the three points were in the bag. It took until the final five minutes of the second half for Kettlewell’s men to add two more, with an incredible second for Spittal and a first for debutant Jack Vale.

That meant the Fir Park faithful could not only enjoy the team’s most emphatic win of the season, but see the Steelmen move six points clear of County and rise to 8th place in the league table.

Stuart Kettlewell kept to the same starting eleven that produced a fine performance on Saturday against Kilmarnock and should have ultimately had three points to show for their efforts.

Former ‘Well player Derek Adams returned to Fir Park with County three points and one place behind the Steelmen.

Even at this stage of the season, this was regarded as the proverbial ‘six-pointer’ for two teams desperate to climb away from the relegation play-off spot. And with both teams finding wins hard to come by, an open competitive game was anticipated.

That was made clear within the first minute when there was action in both boxes.

Motherwell though, quickly established the general pattern of play within the first half as they surged relentlessly towards the County goal.

It took the Steelmen only eight minutes to make the breakthrough. Spittal and Bair combined on the left before picking out Halliday in the box, who lashed home his first goal for the club and set the home side on the road to a terrific win.

Five minutes later, it was almost a rerun of Saturday’s goal. Spittal split the visitors defence allowing Bair to angle his run towards goal, but George Wickens stood firm to beat away the striker’s effort.

Simon Murray had a chance to fire home an equaliser for the visitors, but Liam Kelly got his body firmly behind the low shot.

After 20 minutes, Bair was again thundering through the centre of the County backline, but as he tried to round Wickens, the keeper bravely dived at his feet to push the ball away.

Two minutes later and the ‘Well doubled their lead. Good interchange of play on the left between Halliday and Georgie Gent allowed Spittal to drag the ball into the corner of the box before firing a powerful drive across the keeper and in off his far post.

Bair and the Fir Park faithful thought he had grabbed number three when he collected a wonderful long ball from Stephen O’Donnell before blasting it high past Wickens, only to be ruled out for offside.

Yet another chance came Well’s way in the 33rd minute, but after doing well to reach the visitor’s byline, Harry Paton made the wrong choice trying to pick out Spittal when Bair was free at the opposite end of the six yard box.

The Canadian striker was not to be denied a goal for his first half efforts, and when his fellow country man Paton was tripped within the 18-yard-box, Bair collected the ball to hammer home the resultant penalty and find the net for his sixth goal in five league games.

Motherwell started the second half in the same fashion but had to replace Halliday with Lennon Miller after only four minutes.

It made little difference to the hosts intention to add a fourth goal, which almost arrived after 53 minutes.

A swift break down the right ended with O’Donnell laying the ball inside to Bair, but after taking a touch at the edge of the box, the striker blasted the ball high over the bar.

Bair had another chance to add to his tally after 73 minutes. Once again Spittal was the provider and as Bair faced the advancing ‘keeper he looked to have netted, but his cute dink over Wickens bounced just past the post.

With 15 minutes remaining, Kettlewell made a triple substitution bringing on debutant Adam Devine, Shane Blaney and Sam Nicholson.

The former Hearts man made an immediate impact, with Bair testing the ‘keeper inside the six-yard box before heading the ball across goal, allowing Nicholson to join a melee with two County defenders in-front of goal.

Nicholson then turned provider, working his way towards the penalty area before laying the ball across to Gent, whose thumping left foot drive forced a fine diving save from the County stopper.

Ten minutes from time, Bair left the field to a standing ovation as Jack Vale came on aiming to mark his debut with a goal.

However, it was Spittal who claimed his second with a stunning strike, curling the ball high past Wickens from 25 yards.

Vale was not to be outdone, and in the final minute, the Blackburn Rovers loanee latched onto Spittal’s pass, nudging the ball past the advancing ‘keeper for a comprehensive and highly impressive win.

Harry Paton tells us how he is looking forward to all the games that February has to offer. He believes the team are playing well and the rewards will come if they continue like they have been.

He is enthusiastic about the news faces at the club and has enjoyed seeing his fellow Canadian teammate Theo Bair flourish in recent weeks.

In North Lanarkshire the child protection committee, are getting involved in Safer Internet Day on 6^th February.

For Safer Internet Day today, celebrations across the UK are focusing on online issues that matter to young people, including:

• the changes they see online
• new and emerging technology
• managing influence

1. Inspiring change.

Technology has the power to change all our lives. Let’s celebrate all the amazing ways technology is shaping the world we live in, whilst also working together to ensure children and young people can stay safe in an ever changing online world.

By having fun, working together, and engaging with the online issues young people care about the most, we can all create a safer internet for the future.

2. Establish a safe space.

The online world can change how we think, feel and act – positively and people to learn and talk about potentially sensitive topics. For ideas visit here.

3. Be ready to respond to safeguarding concerns.

While discussing their online lives, it is possible that children and young people will raise concerns about things they have experienced online. Make sure you are up to date with your school or setting’s safeguarding procedures and, for further advice, visit here.

4. Know where to get more information or help.

Remember that there’s plenty of help and advice available if you need more information about anything online safety related.

The UK Safer Internet Centre’s ‘Need Help? page contains further information on reporting specific concerns to organisations outside of your school/setting saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/need-help

The Professionals Online Safety Helpline is a free helpline offering advice and support to all members of the children’s workforce on any online safety issues.

5. Kickstart conversations that last all year round

The online world is changing all the time, but talking with young people about their online experiences can help you understand what’s going on. Kickstart the conversation today but make it a regular habit all year round.

You can access top tips on how to keep yourself, or your child, safe online by visiting Homepage – UK Safer Internet Centre.

To understand some young peoples views about the benefits and challenges of using social media please watch this short video.