[tab:Match report]
Alan Temple at The Tulloch Communities Stadium
A late Tom Hateley free-kick secured a 3-2 win for Motherwell in an enthralling encounter against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Caley took an early lead through David Davis but a Shaun Hutchinson header ensured the sides went in level at the break.
With 13 minutes left on the clock the home side looked to have secured a vital three points in their relegation battle, as Andy Shinnie fired home an excellent solo effort.
But a minute later Keith Lasley responded with a wonder-goal, smashing a superb strike past Ryan Esson from all of 25-yards. And with full-time approaching Chris Hogg was sent off for a professional foul, before Hateley converted the subsequent free-kick.
And with Celtic drawing at home to Hibs it means the Steelmen are now three points clear in second spot in the SPL.
Stuart McCall was forced to shuffle his pack for the first time in six outings after Steve Jennings succumbed to a back injury on Friday. Jennings’ place was taken by the returning Hutchinson, with Tim Clancy moving to right-back and Hateley shifting forward to play in his preferred central midfield slot.
Former Fir Park boss Terry Butcher made three changes from the Caley Jags’ recent 1-1 draw with Dunfermline, with Graeme Shinnie, David Proctor and Nick Ross making way for Chris Hogg, Josh Meekings and Shane Sutherland.
Caley have endured a torrid start to the season, languishing at the foot of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. Indeed, Butcher’s men had only won one of their last six matches.
Yet the home side produced an industrious opening which belied their lowly league standing. And within four minutes they were ahead. David Davis picked up a loose ball 25 yards from goal and proceeded to curl a lovely low effort past Darren Randolph.
Motherwell’s usual fluid passing game was failing to click in the opening stages in the Highlands against a very energetic Caley Thistle.
Greg Tansey, who lashed a drive against the woodwork when these sides met on the opening day of the season, was next to threaten, but his powerful drive was straight down the throat of the grateful Randolph.
As the half-hour approached Meekings left Steven Hammell crumpled on the turf with a reckless challenge, which – rather leniently – only produced a yellow card from Crawford Allan. Hammell was not so lucky, having to be withdrawn following the shocker of a challenge. Ross Forbes replaced the stricken left-back.
Randolph had to save smartly moments later, after Andy Shinnie spun neatly in the box and drove a decent effort on goal. Thankfully it was straight at the big Irishman once more.
The ‘Well custodian was undoubtedly the busier of the two keepers in the first period, and he had to be alive again after 34 minutes to parry away a typically dangerous effort from the lively Tansey.
Despite struggling to create many clear cut openings in the first half Motherwell equalised with their first moment of truly incisive quality. Tom Hateley, free on the right flank, delivered an exquisite whipped cross which Hutchinson rose highest to nod home.
Moments later Jamie Murphy hit the crossbar with a cross-cum-shot which utterly bamboozled a flapping Ryan Esson.
With the ‘Well enlivened by the leveler they almost went in at half-time with a lead, as some magical Murphy endeavor cut Caley open. The former Scotland under-21 star flew past the booked Meekings with pace and power, before beautifully curling a right-footed effort towards goal. Unfortunately for the visitors it went the wrong side of the post.
Caley were the more lively of the two sides as the second half began. Shane Sutherland had the first real chance of the second period, blasting over the bar after some neat build-up play from the powerful Gregory Tade.
Tade was involved again as the home side went tantalizingly close to grabbing the lead. A slick one-two set the Frenchman free, with just the goalkeeper to beat, but he smashed his shot against the underside of the bar.
The former Raith Rovers striker was denied again with twenty minutes to play. A looping corner fell kindly to Tade in the box and his drive had to be parried away by an alert Darren Randolph.
The home side took a deserved lead on the balance of second half play as Andrew Shinnie danced past a couple of challenges before sliding a consummate finish low, giving Darren Randolph no chance.
It would be a fleeting lead for the Highlanders. Minutes later Keith Lasley, who lashed home a screamer in this fixture at Fir Park earlier in the season, fired home another stunner. The ‘Well stalwart surged forward before launching a right-footed shot into the top-corner, past a sprawling Ryan Esson.
With both sides chasing a winner in a remarkable contest Jamie Murphy managed to turn Chris Hogg on the half-way line. The 22-year old surged towards goal and was hauled down by Hogg, who was ultimately given his marching orders.
And from the resulting free-kick Tom Hateley, via a deflection, fired home a spectacular 87th minute winner, reminiscent of his dramatic winner at St. Mirren Park.
It could have been four in injury time, as Murphy found an unmarked Michael Higdon on the penalty spot, but his volley trickled past the post.
There was to be one more nervous moment for the visiting support, as David Davis fired in a long-distance piledriver, but it flew wide of Darren Randolph’s right-hand post – ensuring the Steelmen would make the long trip back to Lanarkshire with all three points.
[tab:As it happened]
Kris Jack at The Tulloch Communities Stadium
Full Time: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 Motherwell 3! Smashed and Grabbed!
90+2 Mins: Well hearts in mouths as a Davis shot flashes inches wide.
90+1 Mins Could have been 4-2. Daley’s ball to Murphy finds it’s way to Higdon, but ball is slightly behind him and shot goes narrowly wide.
87 Mins: GOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!! Tom Hateley with a trademark free kick from 25 yards, may have been deflected, but nonetheless nestles behind Esson. 3-2 Motherwell!!
85 Mins: Hogg sent off for bringing down Murphy on edge of the box. Dubious if it was a goal scoring opportunity, but Hogg is off. Free kick imminent.
81 Mins: GOOOOOOOOOAL Keith Lasley responds in fantastic fashion, blootering the ball in from all of almost 50 yards! (actually about 25 yards.) 2-2.
77 Mins: Goal ICT. Johnny Hayes run finds Andrew shinnie, who bustles through to poke past Randolph for 2-1. Hard to say it’s not deserved.
70 Mins: Tade’s point blank effort brings a magnificent stop from Randolph. Instinct more than anything.
55 Mins: Tade takes ball on chest before rattling the bar from just inside the box. Big let off for ‘Well, a lick o’ paint form going behind.
45+1 Mins: Jamie Murphy roasts Meekings on the left, but his shot glides just past Esson’s far post. Close to going in with halftime lead.
44 Mins: Jamie Murphy bamboozles everyone with a cross-cum-shot which strikes the bar, with Esson none the wiser.
40 Mins: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL. From Hateley’s corner return, Shaun Hutchinson buries a header beyond Esson. 1-1.
31 Mins: Tade knocks down for Shinnie, whose turn and shot is gathered at second attempt by Randolph.
25 Mins: Meekings puts in a horror challenge on Steven Hammell and gets away with a booking as opposed to what could have been a red.
19 Mins: Tansey hits a decent effort right at Randolph after good work from Tuffey and Foran.
4 Mins: Goal ICT. David Davis finds the bottom corner after the free kick was cleared. Randolph at full stretch but unsighted. 1-0 Caley.
[tab:Reaction]
Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Terry Butcher:
“The boys are stunned in the dressing room. I’m just sick. We were rampant. We dominated both halves, they scored from three efforts, we’ve had a laughable sending-off and we haven’t got anything from the game.
“We’ve played a lot worse than that and won. We have dominated a team that is second in the league. We should have won this match comfortably.”
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:
“If we had come away with a point, we’d have been pretty pleased. I feel for Inverness because they put everything into it and merited more than a defeat.
“We weren’t at our best, but there are loads of ways to win football games. You need luck, which we got at the end, you need to fight and battle. Sometimes it can be silky soccer, sometimes it can be just determination.
“A point for us today would have been just about right.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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