Motherwell win - passports out?

Last updated : 28 January 2012 By Firparkcorner

There was a slightly slow start to the game as the sides felt each other out before Murphy sent a bouncing shot just wide.  Haber headed over when he should have scored but good work in the midfield by Law saw him win the ball and feed Ojamaa who lashed the ball beyond Enckelman from an angle. We were flying this point and Hammell hit the bar as we looked to score a second goal when well on top. 

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St Johnstone came back into things though and we had a big let off when Hammell was dispossessed by Sandaza and only a good save from Randolph spared his blushes.  Craig thumped the bar with a free kick but when Hammell was caught out on the half-way line, St Johnstone broke well and Morris hooked home a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half time.

After the re-start we had the better of the first few minutes without doing anything before St Johnstone took control.  Randolph saved from both Davidson and Sandaza but we struck back with a goal against the run of play.  Daley's flick found Hateley who in turn crossed for Ojamaa and after appearing to lose his footing, he recovered to curl a fine shot into the bottom corner.

The goal lifted us and a wonderful shot from Lasley dipped over Enckelman from 25 yards to give us some breathing space.  Sandaza blazed over from close range as the Saints showed their intent to get back into the game and they were handed a lifeline through more bad defending from Hammell.  His poor clearance allowed a cross to be returned into the box where Davidson was deemed, rather softly, to have been fouled and Sandaza converted the spot kick. 

St Johnstone pressed for an equaliser but couldn't create another clear chance so after surviving a couple of scrambles, we held on to claim a vital three points in the race for Europe.