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Motherwell were eliminated from the Youth Cup on Tuesday afternoon, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ross County. 

Torran Lambie’s penalty was the difference between the sides in a match that saw plenty of action.

That action started after just four minutes. Zack Tomany managed to get on the end of Mikey Booth’s corner; however, the winger’s header went just wide of the post.

Three minutes later, Ross County’s Calum Brown forced a good save from Jack McConnell in the Motherwell net after the Staggies broke forward.

Jakub Leszcynski went nearest next for County, with the forward muscling his way past the Motherwell defender but shooting wide.

Tomany went close again on 14 minutes. The winger picked up the ball on the left-edge of the box, cut inside, and curled an effort on target, but Jayden Reid was on hand to tip over the bar.

On 28 minutes, the best chance of the game arrived. Arran Clark fed a lovely ball in behind for Zander McAllister; the midfielder continued his run and poked the ball past the on-rushing keeper. The ball rolled towards goal, but the Ross County defence got back in time to scramble clear.

Five minutes later, captain Booth curled the ball around the wall from a free-kick and found the inside of the post with the keeper beaten.

Motherwell stopper McConnell was called into action on 40 minutes when, at the end of a Ross County counter, Leszcynski unleashed a strike towards goal, but the keeper got a strong fingertip to the effort to keep the ball out.

The second half was somewhat quieter. But on 52 minutes, the match-winning moment arrived. Left-back Andrew Arnott was punished for diving in to block a shot in the area. The full-back’s attempt at the block ended up in him colliding with the County player, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Substitute Lambie stepped up and, despite McConnell going the right way, converted. 0-1.

That goal sparked Richard Foster into making some alternations to his side, with the introduction of Nathan Lawson.

It almost had the perfect impact instantly after conceding. Rocco McColm fired just wide of the post, when a cross into the area eventually fell for the midfielder.

Lucas Weir and Robbie Hunter were introduced to the action, and it was the former who came close with a header on 70 minutes from a glancing header.

Weir again went close four minutes later, when he held the ball in back to goal, swivelled, and got a shot away, which was saved.

Ultimately, their efforts would come to nothing, and Ross County held onto the win, progressing to the fourth round of the Youth Cup.

“It’s been a disappointing day,” Richard Foster said.

“Firstly, you always want to progress in the cup. We haven’t achieved that, and that’s a sore one to take.

“But secondly, our performance wasn’t there. We saw in flashes some spark from individuals, but nowhere near the level I know these players can reach.

“There was a lack of fight and energy. That’s something we have addressed openly in the dressing room after the game.”

Motherwell: McConnell (GK), Williamson, Gillies, Marshall, Arnott, McAllister (Forrest 61′), Booth, McColm, Tomany (Weir 61′), McLean (Hunter 61′), Clark (Lawson 52′). 

Motherwell subs: Friel, Creer, Thomson, Forrest (61), Lawson (52′), Hunter (61), Weir (61). 

Tawanda Maswanhise is in the latest Zimbabwe squad. 

The Warriors will continue their AFCON qualification group, after opening their campaign with two 0-0 draws last month.

Zimbabwe take on Namibia in a double header in South Africa. They play on 9 October and 14 October. Namibia were beaten in both of their September matches, against Kenya and Cameroon.

• Namibia v Zimbabwe 
• Wednesday 9 October 
• 2pm Kick Off 
• Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg

• Zimbabwe v Namibia 
• Monday 14 October 
• 5pm Kick Off 
• Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg

Motherwell travel to Easter Road on Saturday 5 October to face Hibernian in the William Hill Premiership. 

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Team News

Dan Casey is suspended for this match after his red card against St Mirren. Jair Tavares is ineligible to play, due to facing his parent club.

Shane Blaney and Johnny Koutroumbis edge closer to full fitness and are doubts for this game.

Callum Slattery, Harry Paton, Jack Vale, Ross Callachan and Sam Nicholson remain out for this game.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

The Steelmen have started their 2024/25 campaign in a very positive manner. Back-to-back wins against Dundee United and St Mirren have ensured that momentum is in Motherwell’s favour. It’s five wins in six games for Stuart Kettlewell’s side.

Lennon Miller has added goal involvements to his game of late, notching three goals in the last two games.

Motherwell’s last win over Hibernian came just over a year ago, when Mika Biereth sparked the game into life as he came off the bench to score and assist in a 2-1 win.

Opposition Report

Hibernian are on five points after six games in the league season. The Hibees have one win in their opening seven competitive fixtures, having played the old firm on three occasions.

Martin Boyle continues to be an integral figure to this Hibernian team. With five goals in the opening ten games, he will be one to keep an eye on come Saturday.

The hosts got the better of Stuart Kettlewell’s side last time out. Now manager David Gray was interim after Nick Montgomery’s departure at the time, overseeing the team to a 3-0 win in the capital.

Douglas Dickie has resigned from his positions as Vice Chairman and Director of the club.

Comments from Douglas:

I am, with regret, announcing my resignation as Vice Chairman and Director of Motherwell Football Club Ltd with immediate effect.

In doing so I wish to thank all of the present and former staff of all departments of the Club, with whom it has and was a pleasure and privilege to work with. I would also extend that thanks to all my fellow Club Board Directors with whom I have served.

I feel I need to outline the circumstances of my departure.

I have held the position of Vice Chairman of the Club for some 8 years and also as Joint Chair of the Well Society for around the same time. I also successfully fulfilled Chairman’s duties during the then Chairs illness back in 2017 and indeed was doing so up until now in this transition period.

It is also important to note that myself, the then Chairman Jim McMahon and Club Director Tom Feely were instrumental in the complicated negotiation of the Club into fan ownership from the previous owner Les Hutchison.

Currently I am heavily involved in all aspects of the football club, working with our Chief Executive, all major departments, football, finance, commercial, ground infrastructure and I also involve myself with a number of ongoing projects within the Community Trust. During that time I have built up a mutual respect and relationship with all.

Off the field I have also built a strong relationship with all our major partners including senior figures within NLC and NHS Lanarkshire, interested commercial investors and fellow individual significant shareholders. I am also currently leading a team working on a major strategic stadium project.

I consider my 8 years serving as Vice Chairman as a success in that along with my then fellow Directors we have guided the Club through very uncertain times, Covid etc. managing to support all departments and staff whilst maintaining our SPFL Premiership Status, we helped support our football staff on our successful “home grown” policy, we have played in 2 National Cup Finals, had our European adventures and as I write looking forward to another Cup Semi Final. We also supported the growth of the Women’s Team and moved them firmly to under the Club’s banner.

Most importantly due to the prudent management by the recent Club Board, the Club is on a sound financial footing, the best for around 25years. This is now for others to take up and add to as outlined within the Well Society’s recently published Plan For Growth. I look forward to the much welcomed new investment coming to the Club under the owners’ pledges within the Plan.

Given all the above I therefore found it surprising to be told I was going to be sent a pack by a sub – committee of the Well Society Board inviting me to attend an interview by this committee to assess my suitability to go forward as an Executive Board Director. I have since been sent the pack.

The pack contained instructions for the interview process together with the roles and responsibilities of an Executive Board Director. This sub-committee does not contain anyone, a far as I know who, has sat on a football club Board of Directors.

I believe people who know me personally both within and outwith the game will fully understand, due to my own self respect and concern on the way forward, why I will not be entering into the interview process and I now consider my position untenable. I am also sure that the remaining 29% of the shareholders of the Club will be asking who in the process is looking after their interest.

I will reflect now on over 40 years of my family association with the Club and I have indeed been very proud and have considered it a privilege to serve the Club as Vice Chairman as did my late father in his many roles.

I end by wishing Motherwell Football Club all the success going forward, a Club I walked into some 57 years ago as a young 6 year old fan. I will of course continue supporting the Club from the stands.

Douglas Dickie 

The club wishes to thank Douglas for his service and wishes him the very best for the future.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos made the brave move to Scotland in July from Newcastle Jets. The Australian striker quickly caught the headlines due to his impressive goal record and uniquely long name.

But his move to the other side of the world came off the back of what he calls his ‘best season in football.’ Going back to the early stages of his career, Stamatelopoulos quickly built up a package of minutes on the pitch from a young age.

“I scored my first professional goal after four first-team appearances,” he said.

“Hindsight is a great thing. I was playing for my hometown club, and I had played a lot for the Under 23s before moving up. It was a great time for me.

“I then played more games the year after and then got a bit injured, just because I wasn’t used to the pace. After that, I moved to Western United and didn’t play a lot. It’s the hardest thing to deal with as a footballer.

“People underestimate how hard it is when you don’t play and when you can’t build rhythm. If I could change anything, it would have been to stay somewhere that I was playing consistently. But it’s my journey!”

The Australian international may have had a fast start to life as a first-team player, but he was quickly learning that not everything about being a player is good. It was at his second club, Western United, where he wasn’t a regular feature on the pitch, and so began a chain reaction of moves.

“I was only 20 when I moved to Western,” the 25-year-old said.

“The guy who was playing in front of me was the A-League’s second-top scorer ever, and in that season, he tied for the golden boot. It was hard for me to not play as a centre forward; my coach would try to play me in different positions, but it just didn’t suit me.

“I moved to Newcastle Jets; they had another striker who was playing, so I was playing out of position again. After I left Adelaide, I didn’t play as a centre forward until last season!

“Then I moved to Greece. I went to the second division there for the purpose of playing games. The Coach wanted me as a striker; I played there for the first 10 games and scored seven goals. I then moved to my second team, and I didn’t play there either.”

Having been played out of position and with frustration levels building, Stamatelopoulos returned home for his second spell at Newcastle Jets. At this point, he got his wish. Playing up front, through the middle, the Australian began to show the world what he could do by scoring 17 goals in 25 league games. And it was off the back of this goal-scoring spree that his move to Scotland came about.

“It was the best season I’d ever had,” he stated.

“But, for me, it wasn’t a surprise. I knew I could do that; it was just about getting the opportunity. I’ve always wanted to play in Europe and go as high as I possibly can.

“I spoke to people who had been at Motherwell before. Scott McDonald was one of them. He basically told me to go for it; he said it was a family- and community-driven club. I was with him for one and a-half years at Western.

“One thing that is important to me is the national team and representing my country. I want to be playing at the highest level and scoring goals, so I have a better chance of getting in the squad.”

Unfortunately for Stamatelopoulos, his life in claret and amber didn’t start too strongly. Having been named in the starting lineup for his first game since signing, the striker limped off in the first half against Rangers at Hampden. Scans confirmed a thigh problem and indicated he would be missing for a couple of months.

“It was brutal, but it’s football,” he said.

“What are you going to do? People get injured all the time. It’s on me as well because I didn’t have the greatest preparation coming into here.

“If you get too emotional, it would be towards your own detriment. People don’t realise how hard the game can be in that sense. I take it as it comes.”

With that spell on the sidelines marked at an end by his return to the pitch on Friday night against Dundee United, Stamatelopoulos is now ready to kick on from his strong season last year, especially with somebody very close to him arriving in the country.

“I don’t want to make the same mistake as when I first came in,” the striker explained.

“I’ll build up, and I’ll hit the back of the net soon. Last year was a massive year, ticking off personal and footballing milestones. My family knows what I can do and has stuck with me; it doesn’t stop now.

“My wife gave birth to my son Leo on the 23rd of July, and I flew to Scotland three days later. It was hard for me, but it was worse for her. It’s been two months, but they arrived this week. It was hard because we were so far away; it’s a day on a flight to see them.

“The time difference made it hard to talk, but I’m thankful my in-laws and parents have helped her so much back in Australia.

“I feel like if I didn’t get injured and I was playing, it would have been a little bit easier. You know, on a game day I’d just be worried about football. But when you’re injured, there’s lots going on in your head.

“Now they’re here, it’s just gung-ho football because I know I can take care of them when I’m at home, and I can focus on playing when I’m at the stadium.”

It was a jam packed match against St Mirren in the William Hill Premiership, with Motherwell looking to make it five wins out of six. 

And despite a decent start in the match, it was the Paisley side who opened the scoring through Killian Phillips. That was only the start of the action.

Marcus Fraser was caught holding Dan Casey in the box. With the referee awarding a spot kick, Miller dispatched with ease to level the game.

The 18-year-old wasn’t done there. Miller worked his way past a defender before volleying low into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to his side. Despite claims of handball from the St Mirren players, the goal stood and the game was turned around.

But the good feeling didn’t last too long into the second-half. In the first attack, Casey was adjudged to have handled the ball on the line, stopping a guaranteed goal in the process. The Irishman saw red and was given his marching orders.

Aston Oxborough stepped up to the plate however, tipping Mark O’Hara’s penalty onto the post.

With a man advantage, St Mirren couldn’t capitalise quickly. They would rue that as Scott Tanser was shown his second yellow of the day for a tackle on Stephen O’Donnell. Suddenly, it was 10v10.

Miller and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had chances, but neither could convert. With a total of 16 minutes stoppage time in the match, eventually time was called and the Steelmen could celebrate another win in North Lanarkshire.

Dylan Wells has joined Edinburgh City on loan until January. 

The young midfielder makes the switch to the League Two side, having made six first-team appearances for Motherwell.

Good luck, Dylan.

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.