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Motherwell Football Club have secured the services of defender Jake Carroll for the next two seasons.

The Irish left-back will join from Cambridge United in the summer, adding further competition to the backline.

Carroll, 27, will officially move to Fir Park in June when his contract with United expires.

“Jake has great attributes which will bring a lot to the squad,” manager Stephen Robinson said of the signing.

“He’s quick and he’s a strong defender. But he will come here and have to earn the right to play, as we’ve got competition in his position.

“We’re making a lot of early progress in getting players signed, with Jake joining Declan Gallagher and Liam Polworth in committing early.

“We’re continuing to push to get our business done early, both with players we’ve offered contracts to and with others we have identified.”

Carroll started his professional career with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2011, spending two seasons with the League of Ireland and picking up experience in UEFA Europa League qualifying games against Karpaty Lviv and Hannover 96.

A six-figure move to Huddersfield Town followed, where he also spent time out on loan at Bury and briefly in the Scottish Premiership with Partick Thistle, making 13 appearances.

He then moved on to League Two side Hartlepool United, where he played alongside Trevor Carson and made 73 appearances across two seasons, before switching to Cambridge United in January 2017, where he has played 94 times.

“I’m looking forward to getting started in the summer with the club,” Carroll said.

“I know there’s a lot of competition for places, but I’m coming to be part of the squad and looking to establish myself.”

The women of steel secured their first away win of the season after a tremendous second half performance sealed victory over Stirling University at Ochilview on Sunday.

Sarah Crilly and Claire Adams both grabbed two goals as they put the ‘Well out of sight, before a late consolation for Stirling through Kristina Kim with five minutes to play.

Motherwell started off the game looking the more threatening side. Early chances from Chelsea McEachran and Katie Rice almost saw Donald Jennow’s side get in front.

With just over five minutes played, McEachran found space in the centre of the pitch just outside the box. She let fly from her right foot and the shot was inches away from finding the top right corner of the goal, leaving the keeper routed to the spot.

Rice hit the woodwork moments later which was the closest both sides came to breaking the deadlock. Sarah Crilly burst down the right wing to the byline, cutting inside she tried to find Lori Gardner in the box, the deflected clearance fell to Rice who hit the ball sweetly before it cannoned off the barand eventually cleared.

Motherwell were nearly in again through Gardner, who beat the offside trap and was running in on goal to collect the through ball, but the keeper got there a fraction before her to clear the ball.

There were penalty shouts from the Stirling bench as they felt they should’ve had a penalty with 25 minutes played. Emma Lyons hit the ground from the long free kick, the ref however didn’t seem to agree.

The rest of the half was an end-to-end encounter with both sides looking to go into the break on top. However the defences remained stern and teams would go into the interval with nothing to separate them.

Motherwell replicated the high intensity start which they started the game with after the break, after a couple early half chances they would go on to score two goals in quick succession.

The deadlock was eventually broken with 51 minutes played through a Claire Adams free kick. The long-ranged cross was intended to find a claret and amber shirt in the box, but the defence failed to clear the incoming cross and the ball found the far side of the net.

Sarah Crilly made it 2-0 just four minutes later as she finished off a smart short corner routine. The winger danced past two defenders before finding the far-right corner with a curling shot to leave the keeper helpless.

Adams bagged another goal on 64 minutes straight from another set piece. This time a corner as the keeper failed to collect, the ball bounced into the net unchallenged to further extend the lead.

With the women of steel smelling blood, Beth McLeod came close to adding ‘Well’s fourth as she latched onto a through ball bounding down on the keeper, the Stirling keeper however got down well to make the save.

Crilly bagged another with 16 minutes remaining with a smart half volley finish. She collected Georgie Rafferty’s long ball into the box before bringing it down onto her right foot to strike back across goal and into the bottom left corner. A composed finish from the winger.

Stirling had one of their best chances of the match through Abby Callaghan shortly after, the striker collected the loose clearance and attempted to volley it into the net, she struck a nice connection with the ball but ultimately it floated harmlessly wide.

Shortly after Gemma Mason was superbly denied by Morgan Gunter in the ‘Well goal. Mason seemed to have struck a sweet connection with an ambitious strike and it looked to by heading into the top right corner, but Hunter was equally up to the task of saving the effort by tipping it out for a corner.

Stirling eventually got a goal back with five minutes to play through Kristina Kim, who rose above everyone from the corner to nod into the right-hand side of the net.

The women of steel were able to see out the remaining five minutes of play and secure an important victory to ensure that the three points would be heading back to Lanarkshire for the first time this season.

Next up for Motherwell is Forfar Farmington at Ravenscraig on Sunday 5 May with a 2.30pm kick off.

Motherwell: Hunter, Knox, Rolph, Rafferty, Crilly, Roberts, MacLeod, McEachran, Rice, Adams, Gardner.

Subs: Vincenti, K McManus, Hutchison, Trialist A, Trialist B.

Motherwell travel to Ochilview for a crucial SWPL1 clash with Stirling University on Sunday.

The women of steel are without a win in the league since their opening day victory over Stirling. Donald Jennow’s side will be desperate to end their winless run and stretch their advantage over the bottom side to seven points.

‘Well suffered a harsh lesson in their heavy defeat at Glasgow City last week and they will have to do without their skipper Kerry Montgomery, who was sent off midway through the second half.

The next seven days will bring fixtures against the side in bottom and the side in second bottom spot, two matches that will have a big say in whether Motherwell can challenge further up the table or face a fight for survival.

Kick-off is at midday at Ochilview in Stenhousemuir.

The Opposition

Stirling University have experienced a challenging start to the 2019 season.

Craig Beveridge’s side have managed just a single point from their first seven league encounters and they’ll be all too aware of the importance of avoiding becoming cut adrift at the foot of the table.

In their last league outing, Stirling held firm against cup double winners Hibernian for 70 minutes, but would eventually fall to a 3-0 defeat.

Goals have been scarce for the team in green so far this term, they have managed just three in the league while conceding 21 times.

Position

Stirling University: SWPL1 – eighth – one point

Motherwell: SWPL1 – sixth – five points

What They Said

Motherwell head coach Donald Jennow feels the first round of league fixtures have been a mixed bag for his side.

The women of steel sit in sixth after seven games played and Jennow has urged his squad to strive for improved consistency as the second round begins against Stirling.

“We have performed well at times and been punished for mistakes on other occasions,” he said.

“In the second round of fixtures we need to strive for more consistency.

“If we can do that then we should be able to pick up more points.”

A late strike from David Turnbull, adding to his earlier goal and others from Gboly Ariyibi and James Scott, gave Motherwell a 4-3 victory against Dundee.

Goal scorers David Turnbull, James Scott and Gboly Ariyibi speak as Motherwell claim a late, late win over Dundee.

“I thought in the end we got what we deserved in a superb game.”

Stephen Robinson hails his side, and the impact of youngsters, in the 4-3 win over Dundee.

Motherwell grabbed a deserved last-minute winner to claim all three points in a 4-3 win over Dundee.

David Turnbull’s second of the match at the death ensured a home victory for Stephen Robinson’s men, and left the visitors in peril at the foot of the table.

A topsy-turvy game saw Dundee take the game to their hosts, with the advantage swinging back and forth throughout.

Martin Woods grabbed the first for the Dark Blues, slotting home a penalty after Gboly Ariyibi was ruled to have fouled in the area with 11 minutes gone.

Just seconds later, Motherwell were back level. Turnbull’s deflected strike from the edge of the area levelling the scores.

There were 22 minutes on the clock when Dundee went back in the lead. Ethan Robson’s curling shot from Scott Wright’s pass beating Mark Gillespie.

Again, Motherwell immediately got back on level pegging. The ball sat up perfectly for James Scott, who netted his first goal for the club in his first senior start at Fir Park.

After a breath pause for breath, the ‘Well took the lead five minutes into the second half. Ariyibi did brilliantly to adjust his body to fire past Seny Dieng and also get his first goal at Fir Park.

But, such was the game, Dundee were level within two minutes. Nathan Ralph got the run on the defence from a corner, powering his header into the net.

Alex Gorrin then saw red for a second bookable offence, allowing the game to briefly settle before both teams started to trade blows.

Then, in stoppage time, Turnbull composed himself brilliantly to volley home from close range after the ball came back off the crossbar.

Stephen Robinson says Motherwell will have to step up to match the intensity Saturday’s opponents Dundee will bring.

The Dark Blues are fighting to stay in the Ladbrokes Premiership and the manager says his team will have to earn the right to play against a difficult opponent.

Motherwell host Dundee in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Saturday.

Here’s the game previewed.

What’s at stake

Motherwell are in the hunt for seventh spot in the league, fighting it out in a mini league with St Johnstone and Livingston.

St Johnstone have the upper hand with a three-point advantage over the ‘Well, with Livi two points further behind the Steelmen.

For Dundee, it’s all about getting the win. Defeat could potentially leave them nine points from safety with nine points left to play for.

The form guide

Motherwell have one win from their last five, but maintain a formidable home record in 2019 which has seen the team win five and lose one in the league.

Dundee have lost their last eight matches in the league. Their last win came at Livingston in February.

Team news

Trevor Carson, Craig Tanner, Ross McCormack and Christian Mbulu remain sidelined.

Get your tickets in advance

Tickets are available online now or from the Fir Park ticket office. You can also pay at the gate.

Our ticket office at Fir Park will be open on Saturday from 10am until kick off at 3pm.

A family ticket for one adult and two children aged 15 and under is available for £28, or £24 in the John Hunter Stand.

The cheaper price on all tickets is for our John Hunter Stand for home supporters.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Away fans will be housed in the South Stand and can pay at the gate.

Sitting in the John Hunter stand?

We’re trialling extra entrances to get into our busy John Hunter stand.

If the queue looks too big at the five turnstiles in operation, we’re also got turnstiles seven and eight in the Cooper Stand. You’ll then be able to enter the East Stand through our walkway as directed by steward.

Watch it live

If you’re based outside of the UK/Ireland, you can watch a live stream of the game direct from Fir Park.

To sign up for our service, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk and choose your package. Subscriptions to see live games start at just £12 a month.

If you’re in the UK or Ireland but can’t make the game, there’s also live audio commentary available on our service. Our domestic subscriptions cost £6 a month and also get you full game replays.

Dundee are the visitors to Fir Park on Saturday, as the Ladbrokes Premiership season races to its close.

Here’s the game previewed in numbers.

Six

Dundee sit six points from their nearest rivals, occupying bottom spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership going into Saturday’s game.

Jim McIntyre’s men have lost their last eight matches in the league, scoring three and conceding 18.

Eight

Motherwell are now eight games unbeaten against the Dark Blues, a run which stretches back to October 2017.

The Steelmen have won seven of those matches, drawing one.

44

Motherwell have amassed 44 points so far in the 2018/19 campaign, just five short of the tally we finished the season with last year.