Motherwell 1 Dunfermline 1
Saturday, 27th Feb 1999SPL:
Gerry Britton (86) 1-0:
A game of two Andy’s - one Goram who saved the day for ‘Well and Andy Smith who was way out of touch for the Pars. The Pars two new men were pitched straight into the battle.
Jason Dair played wide on the right and Jamie Dolan in the centre of midfield alongside Derek Ferguson. Scott Thomson moved forward into midfield and Gavin Johnson was back on the left flank of the defence.
Motherwell were without suspended John Spencer but had Andy Goram back between the sticks.
The weather was horrible with hailstones before the match and swirling downpours during it The temperature was decidedly cold as Dunfermline kicked off into the goal in front of their own fans. The Pars looked well up for the match though as they started with determination and urgency.
The goals were elusive however as Andy Goram pulled off two great first half saves. The first was from a third minute David Graham effort that the keeper saved way down to his left hand Scott Thomson was fighting hard and he got a header on target mid way through the first half only to see Goram save brilliantly low to the left yet again.
Half time: Motherwell 0 Dunfermline 0
The second half was scarcely begun when Motherwell got a messy goal The defence failed to clear a ball that tossed about the Pars penalty box and when Coyle’s close range shot was blocked Lee McCULLOCH was on hand to guide the ball into the goal. This 46th minute goal knocked the stuffing out of the Pars The team’s workrate fell and no one was able to raise the hopes
Coyle missed when it looked easier to score before Motherwell brought Douglas Ramsay on and he brought the first real save from Butler. With five minutes remaining the other sub Ian Ross should have killed the contest but his well struck shot rebounded off Butler’s right hand post.
Dunfermline had brought on Gerry BRITTON for David Graham after 66 minutes and with 86 minutes on the display board a Greg Shields free kick was backheaded passed a helpless Andy Goram. Suddenly relegation felt further away and the Pars finished pushing for the winner Results from Dens Park, Tynecastle and Celtic Park all went in our favour and so there was a net gain of one point on the fellow strugglers.
This was a point salvaged but deserved on their first half performance. Dolan looked a real battler and may be the midfield answer that is needed.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Martin, Chris Templeman, Ian Westwater (GK)
SCORERS: Britton (86)
MOTHERWELL: Andy Goram: Eddie May (Ian Ross 68), Steve McMillan, Michel Doesburg, Lee McCulloch (Derek Adams 56), Jamie McGowan, Shaun Teale, Simo Valakari, Ged Brannan, Owen Coyle, Pat Nevin (Dougie Ramsay 80)
SUBS NOT USED: S Craigan, P Bannister (GK)
YELLOW CARD: McCulloch, Brannan
REFEREE: Willie Young
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 7324
NEXT MATCH: v Kilmarnock (away) Saturday 6th March 1999
League position 10th but one point nearer Hearts 4 ahead of us!
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