Motherwell defender Tony Vaughan headed a late equaliser to deny Dundee United
victory in the battle of the Bank of Scotland Premier League basement sides.
The result left the home side bottom but prevented the Arabs opening a
four-point lead in the relegation battle.
The prospects of First Division champions Falkirk being allowed to groundshare
until their new stadium is completed still look slim but a crowd of more than
9,000 was evidence that both sets of supporters were treating this match with
importance.
There was no shortage of entertainment either as both sides produced football
worthy of the top flight.
Stephen Pearson gave Well an early lead which was cancelled out by Charlie
Miller just after the restart but Vaughan's intervention was needed to prevent
Jim McIntyre's goal from becoming the winner.
The opening minutes saw James McFadden plant a header off the top of his own
crossbar and Pearson make a goal-saving tackle after Jim Paterson beat the
offside trap and laid the ball back invitingly for Derek Lilley.
The Scotland Under-21 international then went one better at the other end by
opening the scoring in the 11th minute, converting from close range after the
United backline had failed to cope with a free-kick that had been headed on by
striker David Clarkson.
The game could not sustain its quality at such a frantic pace but there were
still chances for both sides before the break.
Derek Adams volleyed over from the edge of the box before he was the victim of
a late tackle from Craig Easton which earned the United midfielder a 33rd-minute
booking.
David McCracken followed him into Hugh Dallas' notebook five minutes later for
barging McFadden over before he could fire in a shot but not before Miller had
come close to an equaliser.
The former Scotland international showed skill to begin a move that saw him
play a one-two with McIntyre to get into a shooting position, but the resulting
effort had neither the power nor placement to beat goalkeeper Steve Woods.
Miller again came close to putting his side back on level terms when he headed
a Paterson cross from the left narrowly over.
Andy Tod was booked for decking Clarkson with an arm and Vaughan was also
cautioned for some hot-headed recriminations.
The half ended with another escape for Motherwell when Danny Griffin fired
wide from the edge of the box after the hosts had cleared their lines as far as
the Northern Irishman.
United made a change at the break, with McCracken replaced by Jim Lauchlan,
and it was not long before Miller hit the equaliser.
It was quite a finish as he took control of the ball in the box, slipped away
from challenges and then produced a venomous shot that gave Woods no chance.
There was a let off for the home side straight after when Stuart Duff appeared
to get in McIntyre's way as the ball came to his team-mate in front of goal,
with the Motherwell defence missing.
When the shot did come in it was blocked and when Paterson fired in another,
from a tighter angle, Woods was able to stop it crossing the line.
Woods repeated the trick from the same player before, at the other end, Adams
headed a McFadden cross weakly at Alan Combe and Miller was booked for a crude
tackle on Clarkson.
Adams followed the United men into the book for a foul on McIntyre, by which
time Motherwell had sent on on-loan Newcastle striker Richard Offiong for
Craig.
Tod came close at the other end by heading a Griffin free-kick to the back
post down and just wide before Billy Dodds came on for Lilley.
Offiong saw the ball bounce off his back and off the top of the crossbar but
when he next got into the box team-mate Clarkson was in his way.
But then McInytre applied the coup de grace at the other end. A swift counter
attack saw the striker get into a good position on the left side of the box but
the presence of two defenders prevented him finding Dodds at the back post.
He twisted and turned with the ball still under his control before deciding a
shot was a better option and the ball rocketed past Woods.
United might have thought the precious points were theirs but they reckoned
without Vaughan, who bundled the ball over the line from close range as a ruck
of players challenged for an Adams corner.
Motherwell might have gone on to snatch it but Combe was able to parry an
Offiong header and Tod block a follow-up effort from the substitute.
Teams:
Motherwell: Woods, Corrigan, Partridge, Vaughan, Hammell,
McFadden, Leitch, Adams, Pearson, Craig (Offiong 69),
Clarkson (Lehmann 90).
Subs Not Used: Ramsey, McDonald, Ewings.
Booked: Vaughan, Adams.
Goals: Pearson 11, Vaughan 85.
Dundee Utd: Combe, Duff, McCracken (Lauchlan 45), Tod, Bollan,
Easton, Miller, Griffin (Wilson 88), Paterson,
Lilley (Dodds 76), McIntyre.
Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Latapy.
Booked: Easton, McCracken, Tod, Miller.
Goals: Miller 49, McIntyre 81.
Att: 9,056
Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).
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