Excellent Motherwell Play Gets No Reward

One up!

The scrappy beginning gave no clue as to the quality which we were to reveal later on. For fifteen minutes there was little between the teams as the referee had to stop the action time and time again for trivial fouls on the treacherous surface. The rain lasted all afternoon and the surface water did not make the passing game easy.

Motherwell adjusted to the conditions and set about the job in hand. We overwhelmed the Kilmarnock midfield for the rest of the game and they had to chase shadows as our passing game clicked into gear.

The opener came from David Clarkson and a fine effort it was too. Excellent work from the hard working Lasley gave rise to the chance and from around sixteen yards on the right side of the box he slotted a right footed shot beyond Combe. It seemed as though the floodgates would open and there were a couple of bagatelle sessions in the Killie penalty area when it seemed likely that we might find the second.

A second hald attack

The chances kept coming with Lasley, McGarry from a free kick and Ftzpatrick with a header threatening the goal. Nish produced the only chance for the visitors and he should have done better with an unchallenged header on the six yard line. The half finished when Paterson popped up on the right(!) wing to deliver a cross to Clarkson - it seemed that a touch was all that was needed but it did not come.

Such was the lack of action near Smith's goal that he and Meldrum appeared on the pitch at half time for a warm up. Killie must have felt fortunate still to be in touch.

The pattern continued in the second period and Jeffries felt the need for a double substitution, bringing on Locke and Wales. McGhee countered with McCormack for McGarry.

On the hour Kilmarnock earned their first corner and Lilley headed home to level the game. It was a wake up call and we renewed efforts to score our second. The chances came but were not converted. Clarkson had a couple, Quinn forced a good save, Fitzpatrick tried to steer beyond the keeper at the post, Porter found the side net, and as the game entered the closing minutes Craigan had a pin point header saved after a corner. But no goal came.

The three minute board had been shown and we camped in the Killie area. The ball was forced into the net but Combe had been hindered. Seconds later and we fell to the sucker punch and Dodds finished off a breakaway from the left side of the box.

Killie had three chances and scored twice. We had around a dozen and scored once. It was a heartbreak to lose the game but the team played really well. If we keep up this standard we will win many more than we will lose.