’Well back on track

Oct 2 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL ended their four-game losing streak with a hard-fought win over 10-man St Mirren.

Both sides created opportunities in the early stages, with Graeme Smith forced to save a Billy Mehmet shot in three minutes, before Mark Howard had to look sharp at the other end to keep out John Sutton’s header 60 seconds later.

Minutes later Saints went on the attack, with Smith saving from Dennis Wyness, who had turned inside Marc Fitzpatrick before firing a stinging angled drive towards goal.

But the Paisley side grabbed the opening goal in 30 minutes when Steven Robb picked out Mehmet, and he kept his composure before sending a bending shot past Smith’s despairing dive.

Howard kept Saints ahead just before the break, somehow turning a ferocious Bob Malcolm free-kick onto the crossbar.

Motherwell drew level three minutes into the second half when a Steven Hammell corner left Sutton with time and space to head into the net.

Howard saved from David Clarkson and Jamie Murphy before Motherwell went ahead in 62 minutes.

Murphy took a short corner to Hammell and his cross was bundled over the line by Malcolm.

Franco Miranda saw a 20-yard effort turned wide by Smith, before Hammell crashed a spectacular volley off the bar.

Saints were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes left following an off-the-ball clash with Sutton.

MOTHERWELL: G. Smith, Lasley, Quinn, Reynolds, Hammell, McGarry, Malcolm, Fitzpatrick, Clarkson (D. Smith, 89), Sutton, Murphy. Subs (not used): Nielsen, O’Brien, Connolly, Forbes, Archdeacon, Hutchinson.