Motherwell’s progressed into the cup quarter-finals and a with a thoroughly deserved win over a tired but fighting Kilmarnock.
It might have taken an extra time goal from Moses Ebiye to separate the sides but having pressed the Rugby Park men deep into their own half for most of the game, the tie should have been won long before extra-time
It was a great team performance from ‘Well and after a fairly even opening half hour, the Steelmen dictated play but couldn’t find the killer touch and goal they deserved in the regulation 90 minutes. Despite immense pressure the leg weary Rugby Park men bravely defended their goal, despite being reduced to 10 men for over an hour when central defender Stuart Findlay was sent off.
Stuart Kettlewell resisted the temptation of throwing Tony Watt into the starting line-up, preferring to stand by the eleven that pushed Rangers all the way to the final whistle at Hampden last week.
After their wonderful win over Tromso on Thursday, the Rugby Park players rightly took the acclaim from the huge Ayrshire following prior to the kick-off.
Motherwell fans, meanwhile, were hoping that Killie’s midweek exertions in Norway would leave Derek McInnes’ side exhausted.
However, there were no signs of fatigue in the Killie ranks in the opening stages as play moved from end to end.
After six minutes, Steve Seddon, impressive on the left side, whipped in a cross which found ‘Well wing backs Ewan Wilson and Stephen O’Donnell just beyond the six-yard box but neither of them could get any purchase on the ball as it trundled through to Kieran O’Hara.
The first potential threat on Aston Oxborough’s goal came in the 10th minute, but the Kilmarnock corner was easily defended.
Two minutes later a quick break upfield presented Marley Watkins with a sight of goal but from the corner of the box his low shot flew past Oxborough’s right hand post.
In an open competitive contest the ball was rarely in the middle of the park as both teams pressed towards the opponents penalty area.
A tempting ball from O’Donnell zipped through a packed Killie six yard box before at the other end Fraser Murray’s cross was nodded wide by Watkins.
Gradually, the Steelmen began to dominate possession and as the half moved into the last 15 minutes the visitor’s box was the busier of the two as ‘Well looked the more likely to find the opening goal.
With O’Donnell allowed time and space on the right he delivered a succession of crosses which begged a finish.
His high cross to the back post was clutched by O’Hara at full stretch with Halliday and Robinson rising behind him seeking a touch.
Then another deep cross from the former Scotland international, found Lennon Miller produced a superb touch before his cut back was pushed beyond Wilson by the Killie ‘keeper at full stretch.
Seven minutes from the break Miller’s low corner deflected off a defender forcing O’Hara to smother the ball on his goal line.
In the final minute, Robinson who was having more success in holding the ball up, worked a quick exchange with Wilson and Miller only for the latter to volley the ball wide from 18 yards.
Despite the home side not finding that elusive goal the Fir Park fans showed their appreciation as the team headed up the tunnel at the interval.
The Fir Park men began the second where they left off and at the edge of the visitor’s box Wilson checked back onto his right foot before his drive was clumsily palmed round the post by O’Hara.
Robinson was next to test the Killie ‘keeper but his left foot shot from the edge of the box, with Miller better placed, lacked any power.
Five minutes into the half Kilmarnock were reduced to ten men when Findlay was shown a second yellow card.
With 57 minutes on the clock and his men overworked McInnes made three changes.
Two minutes later and hoping to press home their extra man, Kettlewell made a double substitution with Zimbabwean winger Tawanda Maswanhise making his debut and Watt returning to a largely warm reception from the ‘Well fans.
With the home side camped around the Killie box crosses were still flying across O’Hara’s goal with no takers.
More fresh legs were injected to the home side when Tom Sparrow, Marvin Kaleta and Moses Ebiye were given 15 minutes to find a winning goal.
It almost arrived in the 78th minute when the lively Maswanhise cut into the box and his curling shot was on target until it deflected off Joe Wright’s thigh and sailed over the bar.
With the game edging towards extra time, yet another cross from O’Donnell found Watt at the back of the six-yard box but with a hero’s return beckoning he powered his header over the bar.
An additional six minutes gave enough time for a winner before extra-time but although Motherwell continued to build steadily from the wings the Killie defence held firm.
Six minutes into extra time ‘Well finally made the breakthrough when two of the subs combined for the opening goal.
Former Leicester City youth Maswanhise once again teased the Killie defence before whipping a ball towards the six yard box. And Ebiye, eight yards from goal with a deft header directed the ball inside O’Hara’s right post to the relief of the ‘Well fans.
Until that point the Rigby Park men, understandably, looked content to hang on until penalties.
In a rare advance upfield, Oxborough produced his first save of the game after 102 minutes diving to smother Robbie Deas’ back header.
As Killie upped the tempo in the second period of extra-time, the ‘Well ‘keeper was called into action firstly punching away Matty Kennedys free kick and then getting down to hold Kyle Vassell’s angled drive.
In a grandstand finish from Kilmarnock, Oxborough’s goal survived a couple of scares as Motherwell deservedly booked their place in the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup.
