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The women of steel rounded off the 2023/24 SWPL campaign with their third straight victory and eleventh consecutive unbeaten game to secure a seventh-place finish in a narrow 0-1 victory over Dundee United at Foundation Park

The women of steel travelled to the city of discovery with the understanding that victory over the Tangerines would mathematically secure a seventh-place finish ahead of nearest league rivals Aberdeen. Player of the Year Louisa Boyes netted the solitary goal moments before the half-time break, as Motherwell head into the forthcoming campaign on a high.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie made four changes from the side that cruised to their third Lanarkshire derby victory under the K-Park floodlights midweek. Emily Mutch returned in the Motherwell goal, with Kayla Jardine, Brooke Nunn and Murron Cunningham all returning to the starting XI.

Despite Dundee United requiring a victory to escape the automatic relegation-place, Motherwell started firmly on  the front foot, with goalscorer on the previous meeting Jo Addie almost netting within the opening few minutes. Latching onto the ball from a corner, Addie tried to pick out the near side of the goal, but the defender couldn’t convert from close-range.

Morgan Cross almost netted soon after after shifting the ball onto her stronger right-foot, but the forward’s audacious effort was equally-matched by an excellent reaction save.

The breakthrough came three-minutes into stoppage time, with Boyes expertly escaping her marker to find space yards from goal, and the midfielder calmly placed a low effort into the centre of the United goal.

As the second-half resumed, chances from Berry and Anderson tested the United goal, but with Aberdeen conceding twice to Spartans and Hamilton three-behind Montrose, both sides were content to play out the remaining minutes with ease.

The women of steel now head into the forthcoming campaign with confidence and momentum in the pursuit of a top-six finish, as an eleven-game unbeaten run concludes the 2023/24 SWPL campaign in style.

Motherwell suffered defeat in their final matchday of the 2023/24 SPFl campaign after St. Johnstone narrowly secured their Premiership Status after a closely-fought meeting at Fir Park.

Nicky Clark broke the deadlock with a composed finish from close-range, with the midfielder prodding home a whipped delivery across the face of goal. Adam Sidibeh capitalised on defensive in-decision to double the Saints advantage moments before the half-time break.

Theo Bair’s missed first-half penalty set the tone for the afternoon with the Steelmen able to only merit a late consolation through striker Mosses Ebiye.

Stuart Kettlewell made three changes from the side which disappointingly lost to Hibs in midweek. Bevis Mugabi started in place of Dan Casey to form a back three, while Harry Paton and Davor Zdravkovski came into the midfield.

With no other option than a win to avoid a relegation play-off, Craig Levein sent out his team to play on the front foot.

The Saints almost found themselves ahead within the opening few minutes. It would have been fortunate after Nicholson’s clearance rebounded off the back of Clark sending the ball high towards the net until Kelly produced a marvellous double save, clawing the ball back before completing the clearance with his feet as Graham Carey raced in on the loose ball.

Kelly had to beat another powerful drive from Cammy Macpherson before a water break midway through the half.

Motherwell struggled to find their rhythm as the first-half progressed, but were given a lifeline back into the game shortly after.

Georgie Gent’s corner into a packed box struck a hand and referee Colin Steven didn’t require a VAR check to confirm his decision to award a penalty.

Bair stepped up but similar to his missed spot kick at Dens Park, his low effort to the left allowed Dimitar Mitov to palm the ball off his line before Gent blasted the ball high over the bar.

Motherwell’s misfortunes persisted and in added time, Saints doubled their lead. Mugabi misread a bouncing ball at the edge of the six-yard box and with Kelly stranded, Sidibeth stooped to nod the ball into the net and leave his side two up at the break.

Motherwell looked livelier in the second-half, with Spittal’s corner reaching Miller’s head, but Mitov’s reaction save kept the scoreline intact.

With 15 minutes remaining and a last attempt to take something from the game Luca Ross came on to make it a three man attack with fellow sub Moses Ebiye.

And in added time, it was Ebiye who turned home another cross from Gent, to leave Motherwell with a late consolation to conclude the 2023/24 SPFL campaign.

Stuart Kettlewell’s gives his reaction to the 1-2 defeat to St Johnstone.

• Disappointing end to season
• Reassurance on club vision
• A busy summer ahead

The city of discovery will await the women of steel this weekend, as Motherwell prepare for the final challenge in their quest to finish at the top of the split, with victory in the season finale securing a seventh-place finish in the 2023/24 SWPL table.

The visitors travel to Dundee with the understanding that a solitary point would ensure a place ahead of nearest rivals Aberdeen on goal-difference.

Chelsie Watson’s 95^th-minute winner at the Balmoral stadium last weekend opened up a two-point advantage over the Dons prior to a third successive Lanarkshire derby victory this season after two convincing four-goal victories over Hamilton across both sides of the river Clyde.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The hosts have firmly taken the post-split fixtures in their stride, maintaining an exceptional unbeaten run of 10-successive games. Five straight home victories throughout that spell have propelled the women of steel to the top of the split.

Victory in the Granite City last weekend ensured the women of steel’s momentum in achieving a seventh-place finish remained firmly within their own hands ahead of a highly-anticipated encounter with SWPL survival hopefuls Dundee United.

Striker Morgan Cross deservedly earned a place in the Scotland U23s squad to face Denmark in a double-header of friendlies this month after impressing in recent weeks, including a brace against Hamilton on Wednesday evening.

Dundee United

The hosts sit precariously above the automatic relegation spot, one point ahead of Hamilton who travel to face Montrose on the final day of the season.

Five points from their last four SWPL encounters have noticeably aided the Tangerines survival hopes after a run of 15-straight league defeats.

Ticket information 

Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £5
• Concession – Free to enter
• Under 11s – Free to enter

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 from Foundation Park at 12PM.

Jack Vale has enjoyed his stint in ML1 and has even hinted at wishing he joined the club earlier in the season. 

Vale reckons all the building blocks are in place here at Motherwell and thinks the club will go onto good things next term.

Stuart Kettlewell takes time to reflect on what has been a hectic season. The manager’s biggest learning point has been that the club along with all staff and players must stick together through the lowly points.

Kettlewell reflects on the VAR controversy from Wednesday night’s cinch Premiership with Hibernian.

Motherwell will round off their cinch Premiership campaign on Sunday 19 May against St Johnstone at Fir Park. 

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under

Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.

Ticket Office open from 9am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.

Our season finale against St Johnstone will be shown live on our pay-per-view streaming service. 

The match will be available for £11.99.

You will be able to purchase online.

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

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

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Injury Update

Callum Slattery and Jon Obika will miss this match.

Andy Halliday will be assessed prior to the match.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell’s 3-0 defeat in Edinburgh ended their hopes of finishing 7th in the table. That loss was only their third in eight games.

The Steelmen could still move up a place into 8th, but would need to win and hope Hibernian lose to Livingston.

These two sides have faced off on three occasions this season, with all three ending in draws.

Opposition Report

St Johnstone come into this game fighting for their Premiership lives. They are currently 11th, in the playoff position with nearest rivals Ross County two points ahead.

The two played against each other on Wednesday night, which ended in a 1-1 draw with the Perth side scoring in stoppage time to keep them in the fight.

It was a clean sweep for Dimitar Mitov, who collected 11 accolades at the club’s player of the year event. including the player of the year and the players’ player of the year. That has rounded off what has been a successful season for the shot stopper, where has missed only two games.

Motherwell successfully rounded off their final home game of the season in emphatic style, twice overcoming early setbacks to cruise to their third Lanarkshire derby triumph of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

Melissa Reid broke the deadlock for the visitors shortly after kick-off, with Morgan Cross restoring the scoreline moments later. Chole Muir regained Hamilton’s advantage, with an accurate finish on the half-hour mark. Morgan Cross netted her second of the game minutes after the second-half restart to draw the women of steel level for the second time.

In the latter stages of the game, lifelong Well fan Amy Anderson fired Motherwell into the ascendency for the first-time, with Jo Addie scoring the decisive fourth in the final few minutes of the game to secure the women of steel’s third Lanarkshire derby victory this season.

Head coach Paul Brownlie made four changes to the side that overcame a late Aberdeen resurgence to secure the three points with the final kick of the ball at Balmoral Stadium last Sunday. Rebecca Camron replaced Emily Mutch in the Motherwell goal, with Bailley Collins, Brooke Nunn and Sarah Gibb all returning to the starting XI.

Motherwell almost picked up immediately from where they left off in the Granite City after starting firmly on the front foot. Anderson came close to breaking the deadlock within the opening two minutes after drilling a dangerous right-footed effort from the edge of the box off the crossbar.

Motherwell’s early momentum soon faced an early setback, as the visitors found the breakthrough. Reid escaped her marker before picking out the bottom-left corner with an accurate finish across the face of goal.

Motherwell’s’ attacking efforts persisted and the equaliser soon materialised less than 10-minutes later. Brooke Nunn’s whipped delivery sailed invitingly across the face of goal, and Morgan Cross rose the highest in the box to power home a precise headed effort.

Hamilton restored their advantage shortly before the half-time break, with Muir latching onto Justine Strain’s through ball and placing her strike into the bottom-right corner from close-range.

Four minutes into the second-half, Motherwell netted their second equaliser of the game, with Cross bulleting Katie Rice’s floated delivery into the top-right corner, with her second header of the game.

In the latter stages of the game, lifelong Well fan Amy Anderson found space in the Hamilton penalty area before dispatching a composed right-footed shot into centre of the Hamilton goal.

In the latter stages of the game, Jo Addie secured the three points after converting Kayla Jardine delivery across the face of goal.

Motherwell’s final away game of 23/24 ended in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Hibernian at Easter Road.

Myyzian Maolida opened the scoring from a controversial spot kick before Martin Boyle netter either wide of half-time.

Both sides took a while to settle into the game but it was arguably the visitors who created the better of the early chances.

Georgie Gent threaded an excellent ball through the Hibs defence but Paul Hanlon recovered well to thwart San Nicholson.

The two combined again moments later but this time Wollacott in the Hibernian goal quite easily saved the midfielder’s header.

Hibs started to turn the screw and were denied the opener when Martin Boyle’s sot from range was deflected off the post.

Moments later the home side took the lead. A ball was fizzed into Maolida and he flicked it onto the hand of the onrushing Stephen O’Donnell. Referee Iain Snedden wasted no time in pointing to the spot and the Comoros International sent Liam Kelly the wrong way.

Maolida was again involved at Hibs doubled their lead minutes later, as he raced down the left and curled a cross in for Martin Boyle to steer home.

Stuart Kettlewell looked to his bench  or an answer, bringing on Harry Paton for Andy Halliday at the break but within ten minutes they found themselves three down. Lewis Stevenson’s cross from the left was knocked clear as far as Martin Boyle who cut inside and powerfully fired past Liam Kelly.

Motherwell started to play some nice football, with some neat passing combinations in midfield but it lacked a cutting edge.

When they finally did carve open the Hibs defence, allowing Theo Bair to expertly slot into the net, the linesman’s flag went up and Sam Nicholson had drifted inches offside.

The Steelmen huffed and puffed but, a chance for Moses Ebiye aside, the Hibernian goalkeeper was rarely troubled and the Steelmen headed back to Lanarkshire empty-handed.

Stuart Kettlewell’s reaction to Motherwell’s 3-0 defeat at Easter Road.

• Overall performance was poor
• Harsh penalty decision
• Pulling together for Sunday