Motherwell 1 Accies 2: Co-operative Insurance Cup, 3rd Round

Accies progressed into the quarter finals of the Co-operative insurance Cup with this hard fought win against Motherwell at Fir Park. The match, which flowed from end to end, featured no fewer than 12 yellow and two red cards. Chris Porter saw red for a first half foul on David Elebert and then David Graham scored a brilliant opener for Accies after 53 minutes. Motherwell substitute Jamie Murphy equalised 13 minutes later as Motherwell poured forward. There were to be no further goals in regular time but Accies sub Stephen Ettien grabbed what was to be the winner 5 minutes into extra time. Simon Mensing then saw red for a second cautionable offence but the home side were unable to grab another goal despite hitting the woodwork several times.

Motherwell 1 Hamilton Accies 2

Co-operative Insurance Cup, 3rd Round

Fir Park, Motherwell

Wednesday, 24th September 2008

Accies boss Billy Reid made no fewer than 5 changes for this game, with Sean Murdoch, Chris Casement, Chris Swailes, Mark Corcoran and Derek Lyle coming in for Tomas Cerny, Martin Canning, James McCarthy, Richard Offiong and Sebastian Sorsa. While Accies went down the "squad rotation" route, Motherwell were at virtually full strength, with the only real news being the return of youngster Jamie Murphy.

Unfortunately, the reporting of this match will be dominated by the refereeing performance of Iain Brines, with no less than 12 yellow and 2 red cards being shown during what was a competitive rather than a dirty game.

The tone was set after just 9 minutes, when Mark Corcoran was harshly cautioned for not retreating quickly enough for a Motherwell free kick in the centre circle. When the ball was played forward to the edge of the area it was rolled back to Stephen Hughes 20 yards out. His blistering shot beat Sean Murdoch all ends up but thudded off the post and across the goal to safety. This was to be the first of four times that Motherwell were denied by the woodwork.

Accies weren't lying down, though and they nearly scored themselves when Chris Casement sent over an excellent low cross from the right but Mark Corcoran arrived at the back post just a moment too late and his shot went wide of the goal. Accies were playing well in bursts but Motherwell were creating the better chances in the first half. David Clarkson came close with a header and then Sean Murdoch did brilliantly to save at the feet of a Motherwell forward at the edge of the area when a goal seemed inevitable.

The course of the game was to change completely in first half injury time when 'Well striker Chris Porter was shown a red card by referee Brines for a foul on David Elebert. There was outrage from the Motherwell fans at this and disbelief from the journalists in the press box. This writer thought it a strong yellow, if there is such a thing. Mark McGhee said later that the referee should have considered what a nice guy Chris Porter is before issuing the card, which conjures up images of referees doing an instantaneous psychoanalysis of players before making decisions during games. Anyway, the half time whistle gave everyone some time to calm down and for both managers to think about tactical changes for the second half.

With Motherwell's attacking options reduced by their reduction in numbers, Billy Reid made a change just after half time, with Chris Swailes being replaced by James McCarthy. This really opened things up for Accies, with James's energy and enthusiasm giving Motherwell real problems. Then Accies took the lead after 53 minutes, with a tremendous goal by David Graham. He received the ball 30 yards out before beating his man and then curling a magnificent shot past Graeme Smith in the home goal. The Accies supporters and players went berserk.

Despite being down to 10 men, Motherwell came right back into the game and, at times, had Accies on the rack. It was no real surprise when they equalised after 66 minutes, with debutant Murphy shooting past Murdoch from 10 yards. Play flowed from end to end now, with both sides creating half chances but not taking them. James McCarthy then passed up a gilt-edged chance to restore the lead for Accies but he missed an open goal from 6 yards after a Derek Lyle shot had been blocked by Smith. Ettien himself almost grabbed a winner for Accies with just a couple of minutes remaining when he headed just past the post after a trademark lung-busting run down the left and pinpoint cross by Brian Easton. As the clock neared the 90 mark, James McCarthy hit a shot from the edge of the area that was deflected into the side net and then, right at the end of the added time, Motherwell had a goal disallowed after Sean Murdoch was bundled over the line.

Extra time was going to be needed to decide the game and Accies began to take control against the tiring home side. They were denied a possible penalty kick when a Motherwell defender used his arm to deflect a cross back to his goalkeeper. However, the pressure was to pay off after 95 minutes, when Stephen Ettien scored his first goal for the club when he bundled the ball home from close range after more good work by Brian Easton on the left and a dummy by substitute Joel Thomas. In fact, Accies nearly made the game safe shortly afterwards when James McArthur fired in a brilliant left foot shot that beat Smith but struck the crossbar.

Throughout the game, and the latter stages in particular, referee Brines had shown yellow cards to several players for an assortment of fouls. There was a bad spell for Accies when first Stephen Ettien and then Joel Thomas were cautioned for time wasting when they played the ball after the whistle had gone for offside. Interestingly, Brines then chose not to apply the same rule when John Sutton booted the ball away in frustration. If this was because Motherwell were chasing the game and would not be deliberately wasting time, then it could be interpreted as discrimination against Accies.

There was to be a disaster for Accies, with Simon Mensing receiving his second yellow card of the night for a foul 20 yards out. This gave Bob Malcolm a shooting chance but his effort hit the crossbar.

As the clock ran down, Motherwell poured men forwards to try to retrieve the game, with even 'keeper Smith going up for some of their final set pieces. They very nearly took the game to penalties, with Sean Murdoch making a miraculous double save from David Clarkson and then another shot hitting the post. Accies were always looking to make a counter attack but didn't quite get things right when it counted.

So Accies held on for a famous, if controversial victory. Motherwell can certainly count themselves to be unlucky after hitting the woodwork so many times but this was to be Accies night. There were no failures in the hoops but Alex Neil, Brian Easton, David Elebert and James McCarthy were really brilliant. It was just unfortunate that this will be remembered for the disciplinary problems rather than for what it was, which was a good old fashioned hard fought cup tie.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan (Fitzpatrick 37), Reynolds, Hammell, Lasley, Malcolm, Hughes (Sutton 60), Clarkson, Porter, Murphy (Darren Smith 72). Subs Not Used: Nielsen, McGarry.

Sent Off: Porter (45)

Booked: Hammell, Reynolds. Goal: Murphy 66

Hamilton: Murdoch, Mensing, Elebert, Casement, Easton, Swailes (McCarthy 48), McArthur, Neil, Corcoran (Ettien 73), Lyle (Thomas 80), Graham. Subs Not Used: Cerny, Akins.

Sent Off: Mensing (112)

Booked: Corcoran, Casement, Neil, Mensing, McArthur, Ettien, McCarthy, Thomas.

Goals: Graham 53, Ettien 95

Att: 5,590

Ref: Ian Brines

- Read the fans' memories, or add your own, via this link.

- Please contact us if you have any information that will improve this page or if you spot any mistakes.

Images

Videos

Links and References