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Motherwell wrapped up their pre-season preparations with a commanding 0-7 victory over Fleetwood Town at Poolfoot Farm on Sunday

A selection of players etched their name onto the scoresheet, with Carla Boyce, Kaitlyn Canavan, Jo Addie, Kaela McDonald-Nguah, Tara McGonigle and a Bailley Collins brace ensuring a positive conclusion to the 2023/24 pre-season schedule.

Head Coach, Paul Brownlie made six changes to the side that suffered defeat to defending SWPL1 champions Glasgow City last week, with Rebecca Cameron, Hannah Cunningham, Katie Rice, Kaitlyn Canavan, Tara McGonigle and Morgan Hay all returning to the starting XI.

Looking to build momentum ahead of our opening SWPL1 match with Aberdeen, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, with Boyce breaking the deadlock in the early exchanges.

Latching onto the ball on the left, the striker floated a composed finish over the head of the keeper that sailed through the box before nesting into the bottom corner.

The women of steel soon doubled their advantage midway through the first half, with Canavan expertly escaping her marker to convert Collins’ low delivery from the right.

Moments after the restart, the visitors added a third in quick succession. Canavan turned provider after rounding the goalkeeper before picking out Collins, who calmly placed her shot into the bottom-left corner.

As the second half resumed, Motherwell picked up from where they left off, racking up their fourth of the afternoon. Rice’s dangerous delivery from the right ricocheted through a number of players in the box before eventually reaching the feet of Addie at the back post, who fired home on the half-volley.

Motherwell continued to flood the opposition penalty area, and were soon awarded a penalty after substitute Gill Inglis’ cross struck the arm of a defender in the box, leaving the referee no alternative but to award the spot kick. McDonald-Nguah stepped up and drilled an unstoppable strike beyond the reach of the keeper.

McGonigle got onto the scoresheet as the second half progressed, firing home Louisa Boyes cross from the right, earning her first non-competitive goal for the club in the process. 6-0.

Collins picked out the bottom-right corner in the latter stages of the game for her second and Motherwell’s seventh of the afternoon in what proved to be a prolific day on the Fylde coast.

Brownlie’s side will now look ahead to the opening weekend of the SWPL1 campaign, with a trip to Balmoral stadium to face Aberdeen.

A trip to the Fylde coast awaits, as Paul Brownlie’s side look to conclude their 2023/24 pre-season campaign in style, with Fleetwood Town the hosts at Poolfoot Farm training facility this afternoon.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

Motherwell will be looking to put the finishing touches on their pre-season preparations, as next weekend’s opening league meeting with Aberdeen approaches. The women of steel have encountered a variety of opposition and playing styles throughout this pre-season campaign, with tests against Gartcairn, Celtic, Boroughmuir Thistle, Hearts, East Fife and defending champions Glasgow City all building towards the opening weekend of the SWPL1 campaign.

The visitors will be looking to replicate the performance that ensured a comprehensive 9-0 victory over East Fife last month, with Fleetwood providing an unknown entity and a unique test for the squad.

Motherwell will be travelling with a lightened squad, as Amy Anderson, Georgie Rafferty, Eve Donald & Lucy Ronald all recover from injury, whilst Laura McCartney, Lori Gardner, & Kayla Jardine remain unavailable for this afternoons encounter.

Fleetwood

The hosts secured a top-six finish in North West Women’s Regional League last season, finishing in fifth-place, eight points shy of Salford City FC Lionesses in second.

The Cods have been proactive in their preparations for the forthcoming campaign, with a 3-2 victory over Chorley Women building upon a narrow 2-1 defeat to Preston North End in a behind closed-doors friendly at Bamber Bridge the previous week.

The manager reflects on an opening day draw with Dundee.

• Tricky conditions
• Theo Bair having an impact
• A real togetherness at the club

Motherwell kicked off the 23/24 cinch Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Dundee

Debutant Theo Bair netted just before half-time but his goal was cancelled out by Lyall Cameron’s second half header.

Persistent rain before the game caused tricky conditions and this was reflected in the bulk of the first half play.

Blair Spittal went closest for the Steelmen with a powerful left footed shot which was superbly palmed away by McCracken. Wilkinson and Miller both tried their luck with shots from outside the box but both had the same outcome: well over the bar and not troubling the goalkeeper.

The deadlock was finally broken just before the break. Stephen O’Donnell was played in down the right by 16-year-old Lennon Miller and his pinpoint low cross as expertly finished be Bair for his first goal in Motherwell colours.

The rain continued throughout the second half and just as Motherwell looked to be on top, Dundee levelled through Cameron. An in-swinging cross deep to the back-post found the Dundee midfielder who lost his man and nodded past Kelly.

Dundee went on to strike the post twice in the second half however couldn’t add to Cameron’s goal.

Motherwell pushed for a winner, but Lennon Miller’s goal-bound shot from outside the box as deflected inches wide of the post and Bevis Mugabi’s header looped just over the bar.

Next up for the Steelmen is a return to Fir Park to face Hibernian on Sunday 13 August.

Midfielder Adam MacDonald has joined Lowland League side Cowdenbeath on a season-long loan. 

The 17-year-old academy product has joined up with Calum Eliot and his side, with the Blue Brazil having already started their season.

Best of luck for the season ahead, Adam.

As we look forward to the start of the new league season, I wanted to give an update on where the Board has got to with the appointment of a CEO to replace Alan Burrows and some other work we’re undertaking on wider Governance.

When Alan advised us that he intended to take up the role at Aberdeen, all parties agreed that it was sensible to shorten his notice period. At that point, we immediately engaged a Firm with significant experience in both Executive and Sports Recruitment to run an extensive search process.

They provided us with an excellent list of potential candidates but, for a variety of reasons, we were unable to make an appointment in the short term. In April, Derek Weir agreed to take on the role, on an interim basis, as there were several pressing issues that required attention.

Derek is a lifelong Motherwell fan, attended his first game in 1975 and has previously been Vice Chairman and Director of the Club. He has also held a number of Executive and Board roles in Financial Services and other Industries during his 40-year career. He has also been on the SPFL board.

Over the past four months he has worked closely with the department heads, who run the Club on a day-to-day basis, and with the Management and Recruitment teams, as we look to build a competitive squad for the coming season.

The Board would like to thank Derek for taking on the role at an important and busy time for the Club but I would like to offer up my personal thanks to Derek for what he has done. Derek will continue to carry out the role of CEO until a permanent appointment has been made.

We remain engaged with our Recruitment Advisor to make the right, long term appointment for the Club.

Following various discussions with other Board members, the Well Society Board and Derek, we believe that now is a good time to review both the Club and Society Board structures, with a view to strengthening the oversight and adding additional Directors. I know Douglas Dickie will be writing out to members shortly to give an update on the Well Society Board.

There is potentially a legal process that will need to be gone through to amend Company Articles and we are currently in discussions with our Advisors on what steps need be taken. We will give further updates as the process progresses.

It’s been six years since I became Chairman, when we became fan owned, and I think it’s fair to say, last year was the trickiest to navigate through. Three managers over the course of a season was a difficult time for the club and I know, there were concerns amongst supporters when Alan Burrows moved on also. But when we needed your support the most, you were there.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank our fans for their ongoing support. Season ticket sales have been excellent, and we are confident of reaching our target by the time we play our first home game against Hibernian. The Viaplay cup campaign has started well, and Stuart and his team have done an excellent job recruiting new players to replace the departures over the summer.

Speaking with Stuart, his staff and the players, they are all hugely excited for the new season to get underway, as am I. Here’s to a successful and positive 2023/24 season and I wish everyone making the journey to Dundee tomorrow, a safe journey and looking forward to seeing you all at Fir Park for our first home game in the league this season against Hibernian.

Jim McMahon

Chairman

Our first home match in the 2023/24 cinch Premiership, against Hibernian, has been moved to Sunday 13 August. 

Kick-off is 3pm.

The match has been moved due to Hibernian’s participation in the Europa Conference League.

16-year-old Lennon Miller has won the player of the month for July. 

Voted for by you, Miller has caught the headlines in the first four matches of the season.

Starting all four games in the Viaplay Cup, Miller scored two goals and assisted once in the month of July.

He became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer when scored from a half volley against Elgin City in our opening cup game, and scored the opener against East Fife on Saturday.

Catching the eye of many for his silky and mature play in the middle of the pitch, Miller has made his way into first-team football with ease and picks up the first player of the month award for the season.

Motherwell will conclude their 2023/24 pre-season campaign with a trip to the Fylde coast to face Fleetwood Town at Poolfoot Farm training facility on Sunday.

The hosts concluded their 2022/23 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the North West Women’s Regional League, eight points shy of Salford City FC Lionesses in second.

The Cods most recent test came in a narrow 2-1 defeat to Preston North End in a behind closed-doors friendly at Bamber Bridge.

The women of steel’s final pre-season encounter will build upon prior meetings with Gartcairn, Celtic, Boroughmuir Thistle, Hearts, East Fife and defending champions Glasgow City ahead of the opening weekend of the SWPL1 campaign.