Late goal robs 'Well of crucial win

Apr 30 2008

MOTHERWELL were held to a 2-2 draw by Dundee United on Saturday as the race for the UEFA Cup slot continued.

The Fir Park club twice went ahead through Chris Porter headers, only to be pegged back by a Stephen Craigan own goal and a late leveller by Lee Wilkie.

But Motherwell are a point ahead of United in third place, with two games in hand.

Inside the opening five minutes, ’Well keeper Graeme Smith was at full stretch to claw over a scorching 30-yard drive from Willo Flood.

Motherwell took the lead somewhat against the run of play in 17 minutes.

Stephen Hughes collected a crossfield ball wide on the left and swung in a cross which was nodded on by David Clarkson for Porter to head home.

Chances were scarce in the first half but Bob Malcolm sent a free-kick inches wide for ’Well, while Darren Dods’ header was off-target from a Flood corner for the visitors.

But on the stroke of half-time a Morgaro Gomis cross from the left was headed back into the six-yard box by Noel Hunt and the luckless Craigan steered it past keeper Smith instead of over his own bar.

Within five minutes of the restart, Motherwell were ahead again when Ross McCormack fired in a free-kick from the bye-line, and although it may have been going in, Porter made sure with a powerful close-range header.

Motherwell could have stretched their lead midway through the half when Marc Fitzpatrick released Clarkson on the right and he sent McCormack through but keeper Lukasz Zaluska smothered his cross at the near post, with Porter waiting to pounce.

Five minutes from time, Fir Park was stunned when a Danny Grainger throw-in from the right was headed into the air by Dods and Wilkie nodded the ball in at the far post, with keeper Smith badly out of position.

Motherwell could have snatched all three points in stoppage time when Clarkson took advantage of a Sean Dillon slip and drove at the heart of the United defence before laying the ball off to Keith Lasley but the midfielder fired inches wide of the right post.

Motherwell: G. Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Clarkson, Hughes (Fitzpatrick, 46), Malcolm, Lappin (B. McLean, 88), Porter, McCormack (Lasley, 84). Subs (not used): Daniels, McGarry, D. Smith, Murphy.