Job done as Highland fling sets up clash with Buddies

Feb 5 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MOTHERWELL finally got their fourth-round tie on at the fifth time of asking – as the rest of Scotland ironically was blanketed with snow!

The lines had to be cleared and coloured orange, and the game was played with a yellow ball or it wouldn’t have gone on at all.

But in the end it was a simple progression for Mark McGhee’s men against the Highland League outfit, and the result was never in doubt.

Motherwell got off to the best possible start when John Sutton met Jim O’Brien’s cross with a bullet header that flew past Andy Reid after just 90 seconds.

Maros Klimpl saw a 20-yard effort saved by Reid and Clarkson saw an effort cleared off the line by Scott Buchan.

And in the final 10 minutes of the half Reid denied Sutton twice, ensuring the half-time score remained at 1-0.

That gave Inverurie hope and after five minutes they were unlucky not to level when Neil McLean’s shot from the edge of the box slipped narrowly past the post.

Minutes later Motherwell doubled their advantage when O’Brien’s cross was headed in by David Clarkson.

Greig Pirie headed a Danny Milne corner wide before Sutton ended the scoring by slamming home a low Stephen Craigan cross to set up a fifth-round clash against St Mirren at Fir Park on Saturday.

MOTHERWELL: G. Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, O’Brien (McGarry, 72), Klimpl (D. Smith, 69), Lasley, Fitzpatrick, Sutton, Clarkson (Murphy, 61). Subs (not used): Krysiak, Malcolm.