Clarkson’s goal earns Motherwell crucial win

Mar 19 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

SUPERSUB David Clarkson sealed a vital win for Motherwell with a controversial late winner against Dundee United.

Both sides had chances in the opening five minutes. Motherwell’s John Sutton turned Garry Kenneth and sent a shot just wide. At the other end, Jon Daly headed a Paul Caddis corner just over the bar.

Caddis’s cross was then nodded on by Paul Dixon but Lee Wilkie headed over the bar from close range.

United ’keeper Lukasz Zaluska was forced into action to save from Cillian Sheridan after the striker had combined well with Sutton.

With 26 minutes gone, Motherwell opened the scoring. Maros Klimpl released Jim O’Brien down the left and he crossed for Sutton to prod the ball home from close range.

Sheridan could have doubled their lead in 40 minutes when he was released by Stephen Hughes and calmly drew Zaluska before slotting the ball under him – only for the notorious Fir Park pitch to slow the ball long enough for Kenneth to get back and clear off the line.

United made a double change at the break, with Danny Swanson and Francisco Sandaza replacing Daly and Prince Buaben.

And it paid off as the visitors drew level within five minutes of the restart. Caddis’s corner was knocked down by Wilkie for Sandaza to rifle home from close range.

United were on top now and were unlucky not to take the lead in 60 minutes.

Danny Swanson’s curling shot from 20 yards looked to be heading to the top corner until Graeme Smith got across to make a stunning one-handed save.

Within a minute, Smith was back in action to save from Caddis.

Motherwell scored the winner in 75 minutes in controversial circumstances.

It looked like Klimpl had pulled Swanson down in the box but referee Iain Brines waved play on and the game raged down to the other end, where O’Brien’s cross from the left picked out Clarkson.

The striker’s initial effort spun into the air but the ball fell kindly for him and he sent a looping header over the stranded Zaluska.

Motherwell could have added a third goal after a sweeping move involving Hughes, Paul Quinn and Clarkson but Sutton could only poke the ball wide from 12 yards.

Motherwell: G. Smith, Quinn, McLean (Fitzpatrick, 85), Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, O’Brien, Klimpl, Hughes, Sheridan (Clarkson, 69), Sutton. Subs (not used): Krysiak, Lasley, McGarry, Malcolm, Murphy.