Motherwell needed a very late goal to take three points from a determined Peterhead side at Fir Park. A first win of the campaign is secured.
With the game level at the break Motherwell camped in the visitors’ half for the second period and battled against a packed blue wall. It seemed that a second penalty shootout was on the way before the 90th minute winner robbed Peterhead of a point. A lack of guile in the ‘Well attack was balanced by wholehearted commitment and in the end the just reward arrived.
There were six changes to the Motherwell line up as the manager prioritised spreading game time among his squad. Matty Connolly got his long delayed debut in goal and half of the outfield players were given a first taste of the perfect Fir Park surface.
The new approach means four across the back with the ‘keeper as often out of his area as in it. The players are yet to master this set up and any break from the opposition causes a bit of panic. Peterhead discovered this to their benefit and took the lead after nine minutes when Jack Brown came through the middle before flicking the ball beyond Connolly.
The visitors had a couple of excellent chances before the break. Pawlett forced a clearance off the line and a short pass inside his area embarrassed the young ‘keeper before a scrambled clearance.
Motherwell equalised with a powerful shot from the energetic Longelo on the left. Surely the Premier side would now see the way to victory?
Jens Berthel Askou used all five substitutes starting with a couple as the second period got underway and the game was played out in the Cooper end half.
Motherwell passed and prodded but there were few openings created. There was a reluctance to go down the wings as play broke down in the last third. A few half chances came and went as the crowd became increasingly aware that the clock was running down.
With 90 minutes on the stadium clock Callum Slattery delivered a cross with the outside of his right foot and Lukas Fadinger headed home. The game was won.
The players are due credit for sticking to their task. We can only hope that they find a way to offer more threats on goal at Stenhousemuir on Saturday.
Motherwell 2 Peterhead 1
Attendance 2,657
Team: Connolly, Koutroumbis (O’Donnell 79) , McGinn, Gordon, Longelo (Wilson 45), Watt, Slattery, Fadinger, Sparrow (Maswanhise 54), Just (Halliday 45), Sule (Stamtelopoulos 54)
Tuesday 15 July 2025
