Motherwell sealed their place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final with a narrow last-minute win over Dundee United in an exciting, tight contest.
Zach Robinson’s picked the perfect time to grab the first goal for the club in first half injury time set up the home side, and they might have added a killer second before former Fir Park hero Louis Moult grabbed a stunning equaliser seven minutes from time.
The game looked to be heading for extra-time until, in added time, Moses Ebiye earned a penalty, allowing Lennon Miller to cap an outstanding performance by cooly converting his spot kick to send the team and fans to Hampden in November.
The club’s novel attempts to engage with the community and boost the home support paid off in the stands and ultimately on the pitch as the fans responded to United’s late equaliser by urging the players on to find a winner.
Stuart Kettlewell stood by the same eleven which started at Pittodrie last week. With Tony Watt ineligible to play against his host club, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was fit enough to take his place on the subs bench.
In front of a raucous crowd, ‘Well kicked off and immediately took the play towards Jack Walton’s goal, and the 2,500 United fans in the Tommy McLean stand behind him.
After that though, the play was evenly balanced, with both sides steady in their buildup play.
Aston Oxborough was the first ‘keeper called into action after 15 minutes when he got down low in front of his right-hand post to smother Kristijan Trapanovski’s angled snapshot.
As United began to gain the upper hand, the Steelmen persevered with the high ball to Robinson, who got little joy against former ‘Well defender Declan Gallagher.
On the half hour mark, the Taysider’s earned the first corner, but amid a packed six-yard box, Oxborough comfortably claimed the ball.
Five minutes later, Davor Zdravkovski’s low drive at goal was deflected behind by Ross Graham’s outstretched leg.
As the Fir Park men reapplied the pressure on the United goal, Lennon Miller swept in a tempting free kick from the right only to see Dan Casey power his header wide of goal.
Just when it looked like the first half would end goalless, Motherwell found the all-important opening goal.
Miller’s thumping drive from 12 yards produced a great save from Walton, but when United failed to clear their box, the ball found its way to Robinson on the right of the goal, and he lashed his shot high past the ‘keeper for his first goal in claret and amber.
Before ‘Well could build on that lead, Kettlewell was forced into a change five minutes into the second half when Stephen O’Donnell was replaced by Marvin Kaleta.
That change failed to upset the home side, and good build-up play around the United box finished with Ewan Wilson’s cross being nodded wide by Robinson.
In an effort to get back into the game, Jim Goodwin made a double substitution after 58 minutes, bringing on ‘Well goal-scoring hero Louis Moult, who eventually turned the game United’s way.
Before he got a touch, though, United were lucky not to fall two goals behind.
Kaleta’s low ball into the six-yard area was destined for Miller until Graham stepped in front to concede a corner. When Halliday lofted the flag kick into a packed box, Casey nodded the ball down for Miller, whose side-footed effort through a ruck of players was cleared off the line.
As the United defence started to wilt, a long ball deep into the visitor’s half sent Robinson towards goal, but his finishing drive was deflected behind for yet another corner.
A quick break from the Tannadice men in the 67th minute sent Moult through the middle until Paul McGinn halted his progress to concede a free kick and collect a yellow card.
The Fir Park side needed a second goal to kill off any chance of a Moult-inspired fightback.
And twice the former Steelman came close to silencing the home fans.
Moult’s header from 12 yards brought a routine save from Oxborough. But when the United striker sent Sam Dalby through the centre, it took an amazing save from the ‘Well ‘keeper, as his leg diverted the ball narrowly over his crossbar, to preserve the home lead.
That scare prompted a double substitution from Kettlewell, sending on Tom Sparrow and Moses Ebiye.
Moult was not to be denied, though, and seven minutes from time he fired a half volley high past Oxborough to silence his former fans and set up a nail-biting finish.
Tom Sparrow almost headed home the winner, but Walton got across his goal to push the ball to safety.
Then, as the game moved into the first minute of additional time, ‘Well had the home fans on their feet.
Firstly, Miller’s slide rule pass found Ebiye racing into the box. After jinking past one challenge, Luca Stephenson rashly slid into the striker, and even in the absence of VAR, referee John Beaton had no doubt that it was a penalty.
18-year-old Miller looked the coolest person inside the stadium as he calmly sent Walton the wrong way, tucking the ball into the left-hand corner, and sent Motherwell into the semi-finals.
