Match report: Motherwell 2-1 Saints

Saints started brightly however, Motherwell took the lead on 20 minutes when Tawanda Maswanhise ghosted in at the back post to head home a Marvin Kaleta cross.

Tom Sparrow doubled the Fir Park sides lead on 34 minutes when he arrowed a low strike into the far corner of the net to put the visitors in control.

However, Saints were handed a lifeline just before the hour mark when following a VAR review they were awarded a penalty for a handball by Andy Halliday after the midfielder had blocked a Graham Carey shot. Nicky Clark stepped up to take the penalty and he sent Aston Oxborough the wrong way to half the deficit.

Saints pushed for an equaliser and in the first minute of stoppage time they thought they had levelled the match when Sanders bundled home a Carey corner. However, the goal was ruled out by VAR for a handball by the Saints defender.

Saints are back in action in a fortnight following the international break as they welcome Kilmarnock to Perth, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were back on their travels this afternoon as they headed to North Lanarkshire to take on Motherwell at Fir Park. There were two changes to the Saints starting eleven from last weekends 2-1 home defeat to Hearts as Josh Rae and Matt Smith came in to replace Ross Sinclair, who missed out due to injury, whilst Benji Kimpioka dropped to the bench. There was also a place on the bench for new signing Božo Mikulić after the defender had secured his work permit this week. Motherwell lost 2-1 to Rangers in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden Park last Sunday and they made one change to their starting eleven as Tom Sparrow came in to replace the suspended Liam Gordon.

Before the match got underway there was a minute’s silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday tomorrow.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos got the match underway for the hosts and they created the first chance of the match in the first minute. A good cross into the Saints box by Dan Casey picked out Stamatelopoulos however, the header from the forward was comfortably held by Josh Rae.

PHOTO: The players observe a minute’s silence for Remembrance Day

On 2 minutes Adama Sidibeh was fouled out wide on the right by Kofi Balmer. Both Graham Carey and Matt Smith stood over the free kick however, it was taken by the former as his delivery into the Motherwell box was headed behind for a corner by Ewan Wilson.

It was an open start to the match and shortly after The Steelmen created two chances in quick succession. Firstly, Wilson blasted an effort over and then shortly after Tawanda Maswanhise dragged his strike wide.

Saints were awarded another free kick on 7 minutes after Carey was fouled by Andy Halliday. Smith took the free kick and his delivery into the box was only cleared as far as Carey who sent a low teasing ball across the face of the Steelmen’s goal however, no one in a Saints shirt could get on the end of it as the ball went behind for a goal kick.

Carey got another sight of goal on 11 minutes as following great build-up play Clark slipped the ball to the midfielder but he couldn’t test Aston Oxborough in the Motherwell goal with his effort.

PHOTO: Barry Douglas and Marin Kaleta

The Fir Park side created a chance of their own 4 minutes later as Lennon Miller picked out Halliday just outside the box however, Rae was equal to his effort as the Saints keeper comfortably saved the strike low down to his right.

However, Maswanhise headed the hosts in front on 20 minutes. A long ball forward by Steven Seddon played in Marvin Kaleta down the right and the on-loan Wolves right-back controlled the ball before sending over a cross which picked out Maswanhise at the back post who nodded the ball into the net.

The Steelmen created a good chance to double their lead on 26 minutes as Seddon sent over an inviting delivery into the Saints box which Stamatelopoulos got on the end but the header from the Australian forward went over the bar.

Play quickly switched to the other end as a minute later Clark headed the ball to Smith and the midfielder unleashed a shot which was fumbled by Oxborough. Sidibeh then looked to latch onto the loose ball however, Wilson was able to clear the danger before the Gambian forward could connect with the ball.

On 33 minutes Rae made a brilliant block to deny Stamatelopoulos as Motherwell pushed for a second. However, a minute later The Steelmen doubled their lead as Maswanhise picked out Tom Sparrow and the Welsh midfielder took the ball into the area before unleashing a low strike that went into the far corner of the net.

With 9 minutes of the first half remaining Sparrow played in Maswanhise who unleashed a shot which went wide of the target.

PHOTO: Sven Sprangler and Tom Sparrow

Then just before half time Carey did well to cut inside from the right, past Wilson and into the box before seeing his effort saved at the near post by Oxborough.

Simo Valakari made a double change at half time as Andre Raymond and Lewis Neilson came on to replace Matt Smith and Jason Holt.

10 minutes into the second half a ball over the top by Seddon played in Sparrow who brilliantly brought it down before firing well wide of the target.

Then on 57 minutes there was a VAR review for a potential penalty for Saints following a handball by Halliday, who blocked Carey’s shot. Referee Ross Hardie was called to review the incident on the monitor by VAR official Greg Aitken and he decided to award the penalty to Saints. Clark stepped up to take the penalty and the Saints captain sent Oxborough the wrong way as he rolled his effort just inside the post and into the corner of the net.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark scores his penalty

Motherwell tried to restore their two-goal advantage on 62 minutes however, Halliday blasted his effort well over from just outside the box.

Saints made a change on 66 minutes as Benji Kimpioka came on to replace Adama Sidibeh.

Saints were now pushing for an equaliser and on 71 minutes Neilson played in Carey down the right and he fizzed a good ball across the face of the Well goal however, no one in a Saints shirt could get on the end of it as the hosts cleared the danger.

With 14 minutes remaining Saints introduced Makenzie Kirk into the action as the young forward came on to replace Nicky Clark.

Motherwell got a great chance to end the game as a contest on 81 minutes when Kaleta went on a mazy run before picking out substitute Tony Watt however, the former Saints striker blasted his effort over the bar.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka and Steven Seddon

Saints made another change on 86 minutes as Božo Mikulić came on to make his Saints debut, replacing Barry Douglas.

4 minutes of stoppage time was added on at the end and it looked like Saints had rescued a point in the first minute of added on time when Jack Sanders bundled home a Carey corner. However, following a VAR review the goal was ruled out for handball by the Saints defender.

Saints had the hosts camped in their own half as they pressed for an equaliser in the final minutes however, on 94 minutes The Steelmen hit Saints on the break as a through ball from substitute Harry Paton played in Miller. The Well captain then squared the ball to Davor Zdravkovski however, the substitute blasted his effort into the side netting as Motherwell saw the game out to secure the 3 points.

Motherwell: Oxborough, Seddon, Balmer, Sparrow (Paton 82’), Halliday (Zdravkovski 68’), Stamatelopoulos (Watt 68’), Casey, Kaleta, Wilson, Miller, Maswanhise (Ebiye 76’)

Unused Substitutes: Hegyi (GK), Robinson, Koutroumbis, Friel, Tavares  

Booked: Balmer

Scorers: Maswanhise (20’), Sparrow (34’)

Saints: Rae, Cameron, Sanders, Holt (Neilson 45’), Clark (Kirk 76’), Carey, Wright, Sidibeh (Kimpioka 66’), Smith (Raymond 45’), Sprangler, Douglas (Mikulić 86’)

Unused Substitutes: Hepburn (GK), Essel, Keltjens, Franczak  

Booked: None

Scorer: Clark (58’ pen)

Referee: Ross Hardie

VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 4,306

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Kyle Cameron and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos