Motherwell finally eased themselves into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with
a two-goal victory but were pushed all the way by Second Division Stirling
Albion.
The first of the second-half goals came after 62 minutes when young striker
Lee McCulloch fired a 12-yard shot past Garry Gow.
The second which finished off plucky Stirling was an unlucky break for the
visitors when with four minutes remaining, Gow blocked a shot from Derek Adams
only to see the ball bounce off his own defender, Eddie Forrest and over his own
goal line to finish the tie.
Motherwell dominated most of the play and carved out a whole series of
chances, but Stirling Albion marshalled by two former Motherwell defenders,
player manager John Philliben and Brian Martin, gave little away.
When Motherwell did find a way through, they were denied by former reserve
'keeper Gow or the woodwork.
As early as the 14th minute, with Motherwell pushing towards goal, an inviting
cross from Ged Brannan was met by Jamie McGowan whose looping header scraped the
crossbar before bouncing over.
The visitors' goal had another narrow escape when a curling free-kick from
Steve McMillan took a wicked deflection off Ally Graham before flying inches
wide.
The pressure continued, and McCulloch crossed, only to see Martin mis-kick
allowing Brannan a golden chance to drive a shot across goal and beyond the
post.
While Stirling had mounted occasional threats on the home goal, they were
pressed firmly back into their own area from the start of the second.
Once again, Motherwell came close after 56 minutes when a high cross from
Shaun Teale was met by McCulloch whose header bounced off the top of the
crossbar.
Then, after McCulloch made the breakthrough, Stirling came close to grabbing a
glorious equaliser.
With 69 minutes played, Alex Bone found Steven Nicholas all on his own in the
penalty box. But the youngster delayed long enough to allow Andy Goram to race
from his goal and block the shot.
Goram, under pressure from the media, came to Motherwell's rescue again after
77 minutes when he dived to block a volley from Bone.
But any hopes that brave Stirling had of forcing a replay were killed off with
the unfortunate own-goal four minutes from time.
Teams:
Motherwell: Goram, Doesburg, Teale, McGowan, Nevin, Brannan,
Valakari, Spencer, McMillan (Craigen 64), Coyle,McCulloch (Adams 77).
Subs Not Used: Ramsey.
Goals: McCulloch 63, Forest 86 og.
Stirling: Gow, Paterson (Bell 87), Martin, Philliben, Forest,
Clark, Jackson, McCallum, Graham, Nicholas, Bone.
Subs Not Used: Mortimer, Provan.
Booked: Clark.
Att: 7,244
Ref: B Orr (Kilbarchan).
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