Dundee Utd 3
Motherwell 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Motherwell are certainly finding meetings with ourselves far from productive. This was our fourth meeting of the season and it resulted in our fourth victory with the aggregate score standing at 8-0 in our favour. Yet on the evidence of the first half a clear cut United victory didn't appear likely. Early pressure by the visitors saw skipper Maurice Malpas head over his own cross bar and former United striker Iain Ferguson blast past. Then it was Jim McInally to be pressurised into heading behind his own goal to avert danger. Gradually we came more into the picture with Maxwell saving a low grounder_from Paddy Connolly and then John Clark fired in a low cross which flashed across the face of an empty net. Maxwell then saved a shot from John Clark after his interception in midfield. However, the chance of the first half fell to Nick Cusack who was sent clear by Arnott, but he didn't connect fully with his shot and Alan Main made a good stop.

The second half was only a minute old when Darren Jackson and Paddy Connolly combined to prise open the Motherwell defence on the left and it left the latter a clear run in on goal and he stroked the ball into the far corner. Maxwell was then called into action to twice make saves from long range efforts by John Clark. Immediately afterwards Alan Main had to dive full length to save a grounder from Ian Angus. Just before the hour mark we went further ahead. It began with a surging run from the back by Brian Welsh. He played a one-two with John Clark and the ball ran to Paddy Connolly who prodded the ball goalwards, Maxwell got a hand to it, but couldn't stop the ball rolling into the corner of the net. Ten minutes later the game was over as a contest when Paddy Connolly flicked the ball into Billy McKinlay's path and the midfielder let fly with a shot that left Maxwell helpless as it flew into the net. Evidence that it just wasn't going to Motherwell's day came when first Brian Welsh and then John Clark headed net bound efforts off the line! A minute later and Freddy Van Der Hoorn sent a 40 yarder crashing fractionalty past Maxwell's right hand post. With seven minutes left Brian Welsh looked to have made it four until his header from a corner rebounded off Maxwell's leg. Just 60 seconds later substitute Hamish French fired a volley just over as we finished the game well in command.