Our December fixture against Kilmarnock has been selected for live coverage on Premier Sports.
The match will now take place on Friday 20 December. Kick off is 7.45pm.
The game was originally due to be played on Saturday 21 December.
Our December fixture against Kilmarnock has been selected for live coverage on Premier Sports.
The match will now take place on Friday 20 December. Kick off is 7.45pm.
The game was originally due to be played on Saturday 21 December.
The women of steel emphatically overcame a first-half Hamilton advantage, netting with the final kick of the ball before securing their place in the Quarter-Final of the Sky Sports league Cup on penalties.
Experienced Hamilton captain Megan Quinn broke the deadlock seconds before the half-time break and looked to have been the decisive moment in the game until summer deadline day addition Laura Berry drilled home a magnificent volley with the final kick of the ball to force the game into extra-time.
The intensity of the first Lanarkshire derby since Hamilton’s relegation to SWPL2 shone through in the latter stages of the game, as both sides battled fatigue in the closing stages of the contest. The derby day bragging rights had to be settled by a penalty shootout, with Motherwell stopper Rebecca Cameron performing heroics in goal, parrying two Accies spot kicks clear of the target to confirm the women of steel’s place in the last-eight of the Sky Sports League Cup.
Head Coach Paul Brownlie named two changes to the starting XI that comfortably cruised past Queens Past at Ochilview last weekend. Gill Inglis and Mason Blyth-Clark both returned to the starting line-up, as Laura McCartney missed out through illness and Amy Sharkey on international duty with Scotland under-17s. Sienna McGoldrick and latest addition Sophie Black also missed out through appearances in the Scottish international ranks.
Despite impressive displays against title-chasers Glasgow City and Queens Park, the hosts struggled to replicate their previous performances, as neither side recorded any significant chances of note in the first 45-minutes. Then, Accies skipper Quinn broke the deadlock moments before the half-time break.
As the second-half resumed, Motherwell slowly regained their composure in the final third of the pitch, forcing the visitors into trading possession within their own half. The decisive moment came seconds from the full-time whistle, as Berry latched onto Louisa Boyes’ exceptional chipped through ball before rifling an unstoppable volley into the bottom-left corner to force the game into extra-time.
Penalties soon had to decide the contest, with goalscorer Berry unfortunately powering her spot-kick over the crossbar to give the visitors the early shootout advantage, but Cameron reacted brilliantly twice to parry Keira Ritchie and Josephine Giard’s efforts wide of the target to seal Motherwell’s place in the next round of the Sky Sports League Cup.
Sophie Black completes ML1 switch after penning a season-long loan deal.
The midfielder joins the women of steel on a deal from title-chasers Rangers.
The Scottish youth international makes the switch in search of regular first-team action after rising through the ranks at the Ibrox side. Black made her Rangers debut at only 16-years-old and has continued to impress throughout the clubs youth academy.
“I’m delighted to be at the club,” Barclay said.
“Paul and Leanne have a proven track record of developing young players and providing them with the opportunity of regular first-team football. I want to be the next player to follow in those footsteps, so regular first-team minutes were exactly what I was looking to gain.
“I can’t wait to get started.”
The combative midfielder will add an alternative dynamic to Motherwell’s central options and will provide a valuable and productive competition for places.
‘This is a positive addition to the squad,” head coach Paul Brownlie added.
“Sophie is an exciting young player and someone who we feel can compete and enhance our options across the centre of the pitch.
“We are looking forward to aiding her development this season.”
Stuart Kettlewell reacts to Motherwell’s 2-1 win over St Mirren.
Despite losing an early goal, a Lennon Miller double secured three points which propelled the Steelmen into fourth place.
Motherwell emerged from an action-packed game with a narrow 2-1 win over St Mirren and extended their excellent home form and made it four consecutive home wins.
And although Lennon Miller earned the man of the match award for his all-round display and his two goals, Aston Oxborough had an outstanding 90 minutes. The ‘Well keeper capped his performance with a wonderful penalty save to deny Mark O’Hara and Saints a share of the points.
Add in two sending offs, Dan Casey for the home side and Scott Tanser for the visitors, which reduced the team to 10v10 for the last half hour, and this game had just about everything in terms of entertainment.
Stuart Kettlewell made one significant change, with Moses Ebiye being rewarded for his impact off the bench to earn a starting spot alongside Zach Robinson.
Former ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson returned to Fir Park with a handful of ex-Steelmen in his squad. The starting eleven included Mark O’Hara and Mikael Mandron, while James Scott and Charles Dunne joined Kevin van Veen on the bench.
With both teams making a positive start, it was an incident-packed opening spell to what was a great game.
In the eigth minute, Oxborough raced from his goal to brilliantly spread himself and divert Toyosi Olusanya’s low finish before the Saints’ striker was then flagged offside.
A minute later, the ‘Well’keeper was beaten as the visitors opened the scoring. Elvis Bwomono’s low ball across the box found Phillips, who, with a smart turn, fired the ball low inside the left-hand post.
The Fir Park men might have equalised six minutes later. O’Hara’s slack pass was intercepted by Ebiye, but after working his way into the box and from a tight angle, he lashed the ball into the side net when he should have at least tested the ‘keeper.
Three minutes after that, though, ‘Well did find the back of the net.
Halliday’s deep corner was intended for Casey at the back of the six-yard box. But when the central defender was bundled to the ground by Marcus Fraser, referee Lloyd Wilson had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.
And for the second consecutive game, Miller looked confident and composed as he slotted the ball high into the ‘keeper’s left-hand corner to level the scores.
The visitor’s response was a hook shot from Olusanya, which flew narrowly past the post as play continued to race from end to end.
‘Well’s set pieces posed a threat on the Buddies goal, and Miller’s wicked inswinging corner forced Ellery Balcombe to palm the ball over his bar under pressure from Ebiye.
On the half hour mark, the Saints’ ‘keeper was busy again. This time Halliday’s corner did find Casey, and his downward header was palmed around his right-hand post by Balcombe.
A minute from halftime, Fir Park grabbed the lead. Stephen O’Donnell’s burst into the box was blocked, but when the ball rolled out to Halliday on the right, he pulled it back to Miller. Despite being surrounded by Saints players, the teenager found enough space to stab the ball beyond the diving Balcombe and inside his post.
The eight minutes of additional time before the interval was the signal for the Paisley side to lay siege on the ‘Well goal in search of an equaliser before halftime.
And it looked certain to arrive when Killian Phillips, four yards from goal, glanced his header down and set to bounce over the line until Oxborough produced a stunning save, diving low to his right to claw the ball away from his goal.
A couple of minutes into the second half, the ‘Well keeper equalled that with another stunning stop to preserve his side’s lead.
Oxborough did well to push the ball across his line and then watch Casey sliding towards the post and block Phillips thumping effort. And although the ‘Well defender was adamant that he blocked the shot with his chest, the referee’s decision to award a penalty for handball was backed up by VAR.
That also earned Casey a red card, but as ‘Well faced the challenge of being reduced to 10 men, Oxborough gave the team and fans a boost, diving far to his right to get both hands on O’Hara’s spot kick and push the ball to safety.
Kettlewell immediately sent on Kofi Balmer to fill the gap at the back, with Ebiye being sacrificed.
However, numerical parity was restored on the hour mark when Scott Tanser picked up his second yellow after a needless challenge on O’Donnell.
Stephen Robinson then decided to ring the changes, bringing on Kevin van Veen in the hope of finding an equaliser.
However, it was Miller who had the chance to net his hat-trick when, under pressure from Gogic, he side-footed Wilson’s tempting cross over the ‘keeper from 10 yards.
With 20 minutes remaining of an absorbing game, Kettlewell made a triple substitution, bringing on Marvin Kaleta, Tony Watt, and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.
The final change for the Steelmen arrived when Tom Sparrow joined the action for the final seven minutes or so and the sub contributed to what would have been a decisive third goal.
Two minutes from the end of the regulation 90, Sparrow won the ball at the edge of the box before feeding Paul McGinn wide on the right. His cross towards the six-yard area was met by the diving frame of Stamatelopoulos, who was denied his first goal for the club as his header produced another superb save as this time Balcombe dived across his goal to beat the ball away.
That left Saints eight additional minutes to find an equaliser, but the Fir Park men controlled the game until the end to deservedly earn another three points.
Full-back Brannan McDermott has joined Lowland League side Broomhill on loan until January.
The 18-year-old played a part in the friendly match against Livingston at Fir Park in July, and also made his competitive debut for the club against Edinburgh City in the Premier Sports Cup.
McDermott heads out to Broomhill, in what is his first loan move in his career.
Good luck, Brannan.
Having impressed with Falkirk in the second tier of Scottish football, Billy Davies brought Martyn Corrigan to Fir Park in 2000.
Not even Corrigan could have foreseen this as the start of an eight-year relationship with the club, and nobody could have predicted that he would become a Hall of Famer.
But that’s exactly what happened. And despite his stint playing for Motherwell lasting eight years, he now has a lifetime contract with the club in terms of his love and admiration for the place.
“There’s only one club for me, and that’s Motherwell,” Corrigan said.
“When I first came to Motherwell, the supporters welcomed me in straight away. We fell in love together. The day I left broke my heart, but that’s football. From the first day to the last, I loved the club.
“Billy Davies was there when I first signed and John Boyle came in. They were trying to build a team that would be successful. I walked into the dressing room and saw the standard of quality of the players in there.
“I had to work really hard to get up to that standard. After Billy left, Terry Butcher came in and he was magnificent for me. He was a winner, a defender and a ball player. He suited me perfectly.”
In his eight years and over 217 appearances, Corrigan played his fair share of cup football. From Hampden to Stranraer and everything in between, there is one moment in particular that stands out.
“The semi-final of the CIS Cup when we played at Hearts at Easter Road,” he explained.
“Halfway through that game, I broke my hand. The physio said I needed to come off; my middle finger was going in the wrong direction!
“I’ve got a strange body, so when I break a bone, I don’t really feel it. I said strap it up because I’m not coming off. I’m playing on. He did that and I played the rest of the game. We won the game and got to the final, which was actually the next game I played.”
Most Motherwell fans will recall that late Marc Fitzpatrick winner well at Easter Road under the lights. The jubilation in the away stand behind the goal was clear to see as thousands of Motherwell fans celebrated with relief and joy that they would get to see their team play in the final.
But the supporters of the club do more than just support and sing. As a player, Corrigan always felt the expectation from the stands, which helped him perform to a higher standard.
“One thing about Motherwell is, it’s always been a family club,” the Hall of Famer said.
“It’s always a group of players who are together and work hard. That’s down to the supporters. They demand that.
“It makes you work harder as a team to please them. In my time there, it didn’t matter who came in; we demanded that standard from everyone.”
With the prospect of playing at Hampden Park in a semi-final now a reality for the class of 2024/25, Corrigan believes the squad now has the capabilities to secure more.
“Hampden was one of my favourite stadiums to play in,” he added.
“The atmosphere when you’re running out onto the park is top class. Whether you’ve played there before or it’s your first time, it’s an honour.
“Obviously some of the boys, like Stephen O’Donnell, have played there numerous times. Andy Halliday has some experience there too.
“It’ll be great to have that experience within the ranks to help the boys who aren’t familiar with that feeling.”
As Corrigan reflects back on his time, he can’t help but recall the special relationship he had with the fans and how much that helped him through the not-so-good moments.
“I remember we played in a semi-final at Hampden against Celtic and I was at fault for the last goal,” Corrigan explained.
“Hampden was full and the fans had come out in their droves. I was the last man who passed the ball back to Graeme Smith and he had to check his run. He saved it because he was making the run wide, so Celtic got an indirect free kick.
“Shaun Maloney scored with the last kick of the ball and they got through to the final. I apologised to all the players because I didn’t realise ‘Buzz’ was making a run to the side. Terry Butcher told me not to worry about it, but I was devastated.
“When we got back to Fir Park, there were 1000 Motherwell fans singing my name. That’s what it’s all about; they were always there for me. I’d cost us a cup final chance and they were singing ‘Kasier, Kaiser’.
“I made sure I came out the following week and did well!”
Now retired from playing and teaching people how to drive a car, Corrigan still finds time to come back to Fir Park to follow the team.
“I’m part of the ex-player supporters club,” he smiled.
“I love going back. I know some of the players and know Stuart Kettlewell really well. I still know David Clarkson, who is there, and Alan McDonald, the kit man. They’re all great guys and there are a lot of good people out with them who are still there.
“It’s always been a great club, and it’s so close to my heart. I wish all the boys all the very best.”
Filip Stuparevic has joined Greenock Morton on loan for the rest of the season.
The forward, who joined in the summer, scored his first Motherwell goal back in the group-stage of the Premier Sports Cup against Clyde.
With four Motherwell appearances to his name, the Serbian joins Dougie Imrie’s side on a loan deal until the end of the season, as he seeks regular minutes.
Good luck, Filip.
Marvin Kaleta reviews the transition from an Under 21 environment, to first-team football. The Wolves loanee made quite the impact in his last match against Dundee United, where he was delighted to give something back to the fans.
The right-back has taken plenty advice from senior pros so far, including Steve Seddon and Stephen O’Donnell.
Striker Mark Ferrie has joined League Two side Bonnyrigg Rose on loan until January.
The 18-year-old has made 12 appearances so far for the Steelmen.
Good luck, Mark.