Motherwell fought back in a storming second half to claim a 9th win under Stuart Kettlewell’s remarkable run as boss. And in another fabulous run Kevin van Veen rounded off his fabulous season with a couple of goal scoring records.
His goal after five minutes made it 11 games on the trot breaking both the club’s record run of scoring in 10 consecutive games held by Hughie Ferguson for over a century and the SPL one claimed by Mark Viduka 22 years ago.
And in memorable season for van Veen and ‘Well fans, the striker’s tally of 25 league goals also hoisted him to runner up to Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi.
His early strike should have unsettled a relegated United but instead Jim Goodwin’s gutsy side responded with goals from Jamie McGrath and Steven Fletcher.
But having looked down and out the Steelmen put the United defence under extreme pressure in the final 30 minutes. Blair Spittal’s equaliser paved the way for Max Johnston’s winner eight minutes from time.
There was a colourful carnival atmosphere inside a sun-drenched Fir Park as Motherwell set about making certain of ending the season 7th in the cinch Premiership.
The Fir Park fans showed little sympathy for their counterparts in the Tommy McLean stand, a predicament they might have faced themselves but for the astonishing run of form since Kettlewell took over the manager’s job.
With ‘Well’s central impressive defensive pairing Dan Casey and Calum Butcher still injured, it meant a rare home start for Bevis Mugabi and Shane Blaney. Free from any pressure of relegation, there was also a starting debut in midfield for 16 year-old Lennon Miller.
Jim Goodman’s men, on the other hand, faced mission impossible having to consign Motherwell to a heavy defeat while hoping Ross County faced a similar thrashing at Rugby Park.
Without a Tom Cruise type hero in their ranks and facing ‘Well’s goal scoring marvel, the Tannadice side never stood a chance of avoiding the drop to the Championship.
And it took van Veen less than five minutes to grab his 29th goal of the season and write himself into the record books.
Sean Goss dispossessed Glenn Middleton wide on the left and his low pass sent the Dutch striker racing towards goal. Having side stepped the advancing ‘keeper van Veen took time to steady himself from a tight angle to hammer the ball into the far corner of the goal.
That forced United to be even more adventurous and Middleton almost redeemed himself after 10 minutes but his drive 16 yards from goal was well blocked by Liam Kelly.
As the Tayside men pressed ‘Well deep into their own half more chances came their way.
Kelly twice left his line again to deny Middleton and then bravely at Kiernan Freeman’s feet. When that forced the ball back to Steven Fletcher, the former Scotland striker thought he had fired home the equaliser but Paul McGinn popped up on the goal line to clear.
At this stage, play was almost entirely contained in the Motherwell half but after 24 minutes the home side created a opening to double their lead. Van Veen fed the ball out to Stephen O’Donnell and by the time the full back whipped a cross to the back of the six-yard box, the ‘Well striker had raced to meet it only to guide his header back beyond the ‘keeper and his back post.
United’s commitment to attack was rewarded after 28 minutes when they were awarded a penalty following VAR intervention. Mugabi’s handball in the home box went unnoticed until referee Steven McLean was invited to review play on the touchline monitor.
That resulted in the ref pointing to the penalty spot and for the second time on his visit to Fir Park, Jamie McGrath struck his penalty kick low and under the right arm of the diving Kelly.
Five minutes later ‘Well passed up a terrific opportunity to regain the lead. This time van Veen was the provider clipping a delicate cross onto the head of the unmarked Mikael Mandron but 10 yards from goal he directed the ball well off target.
Instead, it was United who came close to taking the lead just before the interval. Freeman’s lofted cut back was met by the towering Fletcher but his downward header hit the outside of Kelly’s left hand post.
However, it took the Tannadice striker only three minutes into the second half to find the net. Peter Pawlett raced down the left and when he laid the ball across the box to the unmarked Fletcher he gave Kelly no chance confidently stroking the ball past the ‘keeper.
That sparked some much need life into the home side and the somewhat subdued ‘Well fans.
A Goss corner had the players packed in the visitor’s box and when the ball broke to Blair Spittal his thumping volley took a defection for another corner. Once again it found its way to Spittal and his floated ball into the six yard box was met by Mugabi. His powerful header looked certain to cross the line until Newman produced a fabulous one handed save to force the ball out.
The United ‘keeper then reacted quickly to block a shot from Mandron which took a wicked deflection on its way to goal.
The pressure on the visitor’s goal was intense and James Furlong was unlucky with a low effort which hit the foot of the post.
Having gained the momentum, Kettlewell made a triple substitution, after 63 minutes bringing on John Obika, Max Johnston and Callum Slattery.
Obika immediately had a strike just wide of goal but the equaliser was only delayed until the 69th minute.
A slick exchange between Obika and van Veen at the edge of the box set up Spittal and he drove the ball beyond Newman to make it 2-2.
Four minutes later the Fir Park fans were on their feet as Jonhston hammered the ball low across a packed goal line and into the corner of the net. But the celebrations were curtailed as ref ruled it out for an offside in the build-up.
Goss then had a chance to make it three when he raced through a static defence. But rather than finish it himself he elected to try and set up van Veen but from a tight angle he could only force a save from Newman.
With ten minutes reaming there was still a sense among the home stands that a winning goal was on the cards.
And it duly arrived in the 82nd minute after a steady build up involving half a dozen players around the United box. The delivery from Furlong across goal was tempting and Johnston gladly accepted sneaking in to powerfully head home as Motherwell recorded yet another win and end the season on a high.
