By Paul Marshall
July 23 2003

Motherwell have drawn 0 - 0 with second division part timers Stehousemuir in their second pre season freindly. Motherwell defeated Stenhousemuir 4 - 0 this time last year, does this mean we have went downhill or have Stenny improved ?





Marshall,

Corrigan,

Craigan,

Partridge,

Hammell,

Lasley,

McDonald,

Leitch,

Pearson,

Burns,

Clarkson ( Craig ).


The starting eleven was exactly the same as Saturday’s and we were almost one down on the first minute when a Gaughan shot looped over the bar. But within a couple of minutes we were at the other end and Clarkson forced the home keeper McCulloch into a save.



We actually started the game knocking the ball about a lot better then we did at any time on Saturday, with fewer passes going astray. In 12 minutes Stenhousemuir had an unbelievable escape when Clarkson latched on to a Hammell cross at the back post but managed to hit the keeper twice. At the other end the home side saw McDowall’s shot hit high over the bar following a loose ball from a corner.


We then had a frustrating spell of possession with little to show for it, until in the 35th minute Burns combined with McDonald only to see the keeper turn his shot round the post, he then crashed a volley wide from the corner. On the stroke of half time Burns saw a free kick just clear the bar by inches.


The second half started well for the home side when their striker Brown trundled a shot at Marshall when it looked easier to score from only a few yards out. Ten minutes into the half McDonald whipped in a free kick from the left edge of the box, but McCulloch turned it over for a corner.


We then had two glorious chances when poor defending let in Clarkson and Burns, Clarkson was first but his square ball was booted clear for a corner, then Burns’ cross ball was smothered by McCulloch. In 67 minutes McDowall shot wide from the edge of the box and hen hit another weak shot at Marshall.


This was followed up by a Lasley shot which was smothered by McCulloch, then with ten minutes to go Burns flicked a Lasley cross just wide of the front post. Despite bringing on Craig for Clarkson there were no more real scoring opportunities. The only other incident of note was the strange decision of the pedantic referee to caution Craigan for a foul on Lauchlan with 12 minutes to go.


Thanks to the OFFICIAL SITE for the match report.