[tab:Match report]
Kris Jack at Fir Park
Motherwell put four goals past an impressive Queen’s Park side to progress to the next round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
A fine individual effort from Omar Daley and a debut strike from Henrik Ojaama, either side of a Jamie Murphy brace, put the Steelemen another step closer to a return to Hampden.
Despite losing four goals, The Spiders gave a good account of themselves and on another day could have run Motherwell much closer.
A band of over 600 Queen’s Park fans travelled to Fir Park in search of a giant killing, but despite some great spells of possession and numerous half chances, they could not find a way to break down their hosts. Instead, Motherwell looked more predatory than they have all season at home, and took their four goals well.
McCall’s men could have been ahead as early as the first minute when Omar Daley managed to find some room in the box, but Queen’s goalkeeper Neil Parry made a great block with his legs. Parry was to have a fairly busy afternoon and would pick the ball out of his net in Motherwell’s next attack.
A Queen’s attack broke down at halfway and a lovely channelled ball from Nicky Law set Jamaican International Daley off down the right flank. He rode a challenge from Sean Burns before bustling between Jamie Brough and Ricky Little to fire in off the post from 8 yards. It was a great start to the game for the home side, but didn’t deter Gardner Speirs’ men from putting up a fight.
Brian McBride had a number of chances form distance in the first half that had Motherwell hearts in mouths. His first, an effort which only just cleared Darren Randolph’s cross bar form around 30 yards, was close before he arrowed another from a similar distance right down Randolph’s throat.
The game began to run end to end, as both sides looked to score. Jamie Murphy flashed a ball across the six-yard line which was deflected out for a corner by Little, before Daley was allowed to turn and shoot in the box after good work with Tim Clancy, but his effort deflected in to the arms of Parry.
Down the Cooper End, Meggat headed just over from an Anderson free kick, before Craig Smith spurned the best chance of the first half when he dragged his shot wide when given acres of room in the box.
Where Queen’s Park’s inaccuracy let them down, Motherwell’s eye for goal saw them prosper, as they took a two goal lead on twenty minutes. Jamie Murphy picked the ball up in the centre circle and strode forward. Where usually he would drop a shoulder and continue his run, he looked up and rattled a rip-snorter past the diving Parry from around 30 yards.
It was perhaps a tad harsh on the Hampden side who still looked ready to battle, but they should have been 3-0 down moments later when Bob McHugh created a chance for himself. The diminutive forward wriggled his way in to the box and took a touch too much as his delayed shot was saved by the onrushing Parry.
If that was a let off for Queen’s, Ian Watt and David Murray provided the same for the ‘Well.
Winger Watt went on an unchallenged run in to the box, only to blast wide when an effort on target seemed more likely. Murray then got on the end of a deep cross which both Clancy and Randolph dithered at, but his effort rolled along the six-yard line with no takers.
Motherwell were just about good for their lead at the break, but found themselves under the cosh for the first twenty minutes of the second period. McBride, Longworth and Watt all had chances to bring Queen’s back in to the game. Jamie Longworth brought a stretching diving save from Randolph with a daisycutter of a drive from 25 yards, as they looked to come in to the ascendancy.
In a bid to shake things up, Stuart McCall brought on debutant Henrik Ojaama and Chris Humphrey for Ross Forbes and Bob McHugh and the impact was immediate.
With almost his first touch of the ball, Humphrey bounded down the right wing, got to the bye line and cut back for the Estonian Ojaama. The new signing was inches away from connecting, but as the ball ran behind him, Murphy rammed home his second of the game from close range. It was a cruel blow to Speirs’ side, as up until then, Queen’s Park had looked more likely to get the next goal.
However, the fatigue of their part time legs was evident for all to see, and they couldn’t cope with the running of Humphrey, Murphy, Ojaama and the third substitute Steven Lawless who was introduced in place of Daley.
Lawless was unlucky not to bag a second cup goal of the season when Murphy’s lofted pass allowed him a shot, but the legs of Parry thwarted the pint-sized hitman. A fourth goal did come though, and it was a beauty from the right boot of new boy Ojaama.
Once again, Humphrey burst past his man on the East Stand side and chipped the ball back to the Estonian. His first touch was to chest the ball away from goal, before composing himself and blasting the ball high in to the net from sixteen-yards.
It was sensational debut goal and put the gloss on a competent performance from ‘Well who progress into the 5th Round draw due to take place on Monday.
[tab:As it happened]
Press Association at Fir Park
90mins – The final whistle is blown by the referee.
89mins – Assist by Chris Humphrey.
89mins – GOAL – Henrik Ojamaa:Motherwell 4 – 0 Queen’s Park Henrik Ojamaa finds the back of the net with a goal from close range to the top left corner of the goal. Motherwell 4-0 Queens Park.
88mins – Effort on goal by Jamie Longworth from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
87mins – Shot from outside the penalty box by Tom Hateley goes wide right of the goal.
86mins – Tom Hateley takes a short corner.
86mins – Substitution Paul Gallagher replaces Martin McBride.
86mins – Effort from deep inside the area by Jamie Murphy misses to the left of the goal.
84mins – Sean Burns takes a corner.
81mins – Steven Lawless takes a shot. Save by Neil Parry. Corner from the right by-line taken by Tom Hateley, Stephen Craigan takes a shot. Save made by Neil Parry.
79mins – Tim Clancy is caught offside. Neil Parry restarts play with the free kick.
76mins – Corner taken by Martin McBride, save made by Darren Randolph.
75mins – Martin McBride restarts play with the free kick.
75mins – Substitution Steven Lawless on for Omar Daley.
75mins – Substitution Sean Burns replaces David Murray.
75mins – Tim Clancy challenges David Murray unfairly and gives away a free kick.
74mins – Shot from just outside the area by Michael Daly misses to the left of the target.
70mins – Assist on the goal came from Chris Humphrey.
70mins – GOAL – Jamie Murphy:Motherwell 3 – 0 Queen’s Park Jamie Murphy gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Motherwell 3-0 Queens Park.
70mins – Henrik Ojamaa takes a shot. David Anderson gets a block in.
69mins – Tom Hateley challenges David Anderson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Richard Little.
69mins – Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Hateley by Ian Watt. Indirect free kick taken by Nicky Law.
68mins – Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Tom Hateley, clearance by Richard Little.
68mins – Substitution Craig Smith goes off and Michael Daly comes on.
66mins – Substitution Chris Humphrey on for Ross Forbes.
66mins – Substitution Henrik Ojamaa joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robert McHugh.
65mins – Tom Hateley restarts play with the free kick.
65mins – Booking Richard Little receives a caution.
65mins – Omar Daley fouled by Richard Little, the ref awards a free kick.
63mins – Craig Smith has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
63mins – Foul by Robert McHugh on James Brough, free kick awarded. Richard Little restarts play with the free kick.
62mins – Corner taken by Martin McBride, Header by Richard Little from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
59mins – Ian Watt has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide left of the goal.
57mins – Unfair challenge on Jamie Murphy by Paul McGinn results in a free kick. Darren Randolph takes the direct free kick.
55mins – Ross Forbes takes a shot. Save made by Neil Parry. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ross Forbes, save made by Neil Parry.
54mins – Ian Watt produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
51mins – Ian Watt concedes a free kick for a foul on Ross Forbes. Stephen Craigan takes the indirect free kick.
50mins – The assistant referee flags for offside against Omar Daley. Richard Little takes the free kick.
48mins – Jamie Longworth takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph. Martin McBride takes a corner.
47mins – The referee blows for offside. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.
46mins – Stevie Hammell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Longworth. Martin McBride takes the free kick.
45mins – The referee gets the second half started.
Half Time – The referee blows for half time.
45mins – Martin McBride restarts play with the free kick.
45mins – Booking Jonathan Page booked for unsporting behaviour.
45mins – Jonathan Page concedes a free kick for a foul on David Murray.
44mins – Richard Little challenges Omar Daley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Stephen Craigan restarts play with the free kick.
42mins – Shot from just outside the box by Martin McBride misses to the left of the target.
41mins – Martin McBride produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.
40mins – Richard Little takes the free kick.
40mins – Booking Ross Forbes is shown a yellow card.
39mins – Foul by Ross Forbes on Ian Watt, free kick awarded.
38mins – Ian Watt has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
35mins – Craig Smith challenges Stephen Craigan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.
34mins – Shot from 18 yards by Ian Watt. Blocked by Stevie Hammell.
33mins – Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ross Forbes from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Jamie Longworth.
31mins – Foul by David Anderson on Tom Hateley, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ross Forbes.
31mins – The offside flag is raised against Craig Smith. Stevie Hammell takes the indirect free kick.
28mins – The official flags David Murray offside. Free kick taken by Darren Randolph.
27mins – Martin McBride takes a shot. Save made by Darren Randolph.
26mins – Unfair challenge on Craig Smith by Jonathan Page results in a free kick. Martin McBride takes the free kick.
24mins – Robert McHugh takes a shot. Save by Neil Parry.
24mins – The offside flag is raised against Craig Smith. Free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.
23mins – The referee penalises Omar Daley for handball. Neil Parry restarts play with the free kick.
21mins – James Brough fouled by Robert McHugh, the ref awards a free kick. Neil Parry takes the free kick.
20mins – Assist on the goal came from Stevie Hammell.
20mins – GOAL – Jamie Murphy:Motherwell 2 – 0 Queen’s Park Jamie Murphy grabs a goal from a long way out to the top left corner of the goal. Motherwell 2-0 Queens Park.
18mins – A cross is delivered by Ian Watt, David Murray takes a shot. Darren Randolph makes a save.
17mins – Short corner taken by Ross Forbes.
15mins – Daryll Meggatt produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
14mins – Nicky Law gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Anderson. Free kick taken by Richard Little.
13mins – Omar Daley takes a shot. Save by Neil Parry.
10mins – Stevie Hammell concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Little. Free kick taken by Neil Parry.
9mins – Inswinging corner taken by Ross Forbes from the right by-line, Daryll Meggatt manages to make a clearance.
4mins – Assist by Nicky Law.
4mins – GOAL – Omar Daley:Motherwell 1 – 0 Queen’s Park Omar Daley finds the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Motherwell 1-0 Queens Park.
3mins – Martin McBride produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.
3mins – Foul by Robert McHugh on Daryll Meggatt, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Daryll Meggatt.
1mins – Omar Daley takes a shot. Neil Parry makes a save.
1mins – The referee gets the game started.
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:
“I thought Queen’s Park were excellent from the first minute to the last. They would have been disappointed losing the early goal but they kept at it.
“In the second half, they looked like the team who were going to score. For their whole attitude and the way they played, great credit goes to them.
“We did all right in patches but all that was missing for Queen’s Park today were their shooting boots. We can’t allow Inverness to have as many pot-shots at our goal next week.
“We had a couple of influential players in Steve Jennings and Keith Lasley missing today and we got the job done. But I think all the credit should go to Queen’s Park, they were excellent.
“We are through to the next round and there were some edgy games elsewhere but everything should be about Queen’s Park, who were terrific.”
Queen’s Park manager Gardner Spiers:
“We have a number of good players and I think they did themselves justice today. What we will see tomorrow is a 4-0 defeat and that hurts us.
“It hurts the players and the supporters who I thought were fantastic as well.
“I’m disappointed with the score but certainly not the performance because I thought the guys were excellent.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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