Given Motherwell’s recent costly habit of conceding game turning goals as the referee checked his watch, it was understandable that most in the away enclosure feared the worst as Inverness were awarded a corner in the last minute of added time.
But apprehension and anxiety were transformed into unbridled joy seconds later as the ball was returned to the opposite end of the pitch to nestle in the net only yards from the Motherwell travelling support.
The corner was cleared only be returned high into the box. A couple of headers later and McManus eased the danger and found Ainsworth in the clear beyond the angle of our 18 yard box. Johnson started a sprint from the edge of the ‘D’ and at full pace forty yards from Williams’ goal he met Airnsworth’s inch perfect pass with an excellent touch. The ‘keeper took station 20 yards from his goal but our man drove low to with the game with his second touch. The game ended five seconds after the restart.
Courtesy of MFC TV
After a poor first half we were on the back foot for most of the second. Ripley was by far the busier ‘keeper and he kept us in the game with a few fine saves. Ainsworth’s fortunate opener and Vigurs’ penalty brought the game to life but if there was to be a winner the home side were favourites. Until the final seconds!
The smile on McGhee’s happy face as he joined with his players after the whistle reflected his pleasure not only at the win but at the continuation of the season changing run of victories that has seen Motherwell move from 11th to 4th in a couple of months. The haunting fear of involvement in the play-off has been replaced with the probable comfort of a top half berth and the outrageous outside chance of a European place.
McGhee’s former boss was right when he made the famous “Football, bloody hell!” remark.