Stephen McMillan and Ged Brannan grabbed two goals in two second half minutes
to set Motherwell on their way to victory against Dundee United at Fir Park.
McMillan broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a superb curling free kick
which beat keeper Alan Combe and crept inside his left-hand post.
And before United could recover Brannan struck to put Motherwell firmly in the
driving seat.
John Spencer fired in a cross from the right and Brannan rose unchallenged to
powerfully head home his first goal for the club and virtually seal the points.
United, who had played well and created numerous chances, plugged away but
eight minutes from time their luck was summed up.
Darren Patterson drove the ball from 15 yards and it rebounded from the
underside of the crossbar onto the line. Motherwell keeper Stevie Woods clawed
the ball away as Billy Dodds raced in looking to force it over the line.
The game produced some good football despite horrendous conditions and after
10 minutes keeper Combe almost paid heavily for a poor clearance which landed at
the feet of Spencer but his attempted lob was blocked by the keeper as he made
amends.
Dodds, inventive throughout, set off on a solo run after 29 minutes before
unleashing a tremendous 25-yard drive. Woods was his equal though diving full
stretch to palm the ball round the post.
Four minutes after the break Dodds was denied again when after good work from
Alex Mathie. His sweet strike looked destined for the top left hand corner but
Woods leapt high to his left and tipped the ball on to the crossbar and behind
to safety.
United paid for that miss when they lost the two goals in two minutes which
set Motherwell up for victory.
But the Tannadice side never gave up the fight and Dodds turned provider after
70 minutes unselfishly passing to young Craig Easton but his shot from six yards
was brilliantly blocked by Motherwell substitute Kevin Christie.
United continued to press but were almost caught by sucker punches but two
good strikes from Simo Valakari and Derek Adams were well blocked by Combe as
United rallied to the end before falling to yet another defeat.
Teams
Motherwell: Woods, McMillan, Brannan, Valakari, Coyle, Thomas,
McCulloch (Adams 75), Doesburg (Christie 45), Teale,
Nevin (May 74), Spencer.
Subs Not Used: Ramsey, Bannister.
Goals: McMillan 55, Brannan 57.
Dundee Utd: Combe, Malpas (Skoldmark 76), Patterson,
Pedersen (Miller 62), Olofsson, Zetterlund (Dolan 62), Easton,
Mathie, Dodds, De Vos, Pascual.
Subs Not Used: Thompson, Gallacher.
Att: 6,001
Ref: D McDonald (Edinburgh).
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