After the disappointment of the cup, Motherwell had low ELs and some tactical questions to solve in the league. Away to Clyde and home to Arbroath, should they give away one to restore ELs? Or try in both?
The tactic for the away trip ended up being a first half stall followed by a second half with a stronger side. The first half worked a treat - no action at all, and a 0-0 scoreline. On came Motherwell's best three attackers and off we went. 4 goals blew away the home side, and Motherwell were in cruise control. Unfortunately a bit too much of cruise control, giving 2 goals back in the last 9 minutes to give away the captain's bonus. But, no complaints at all, as a big win without destroying our EL is all we could ask for. Motherwell move top with their 5th league win in a row, and after HIB draw with ANN 0-0
Next up came a visit from ARB. The opposite tactic was taken here, with MOT sending out their best side first. A big attack led to a dozen shots for the home side, with the first goal coming from Earle in the 9th minute. ARB were able to find the equalizer in the 30th minute, but MOT restored their lead just a minute after. Motherwell couldn't get any more past ARB's big GK, but a 2-1 lead at the half was just fine. Motherwell then made some subs and moved into a stall, meaning the second half had more yellow cards than goals. 2-1 the final, and Motherwell stay top after a 6 point weekend.
HIB are 1 point back in 2nd after securing 4 points, while ELG fall to 5 points back in 3rd after a win and a loss. A big clump of teams are behind that on 20 and 19 points, 7 and 8 points off the pace.
Motherwell's CECIL cup run came to an end this week after a tough 2-3 aggregate loss at the hands of SRA. Overall it was a fairly even matchup that could have seen either side progress without needing too much luck.
The first leg at Fir Park ended up 0-0 after Motherwell found it hard to get too many shots. SRA came into this one with a lot of EL in defense and very little in attack, and the lineup did indeed show a stall at kickoff. Stats show that MOT will have expected about 7-8 shots and SRA about 1, but the match didn't quite live up to that expectation. Only 4 shots for MOT and 2 for SRA, while SL 29 GK Ruthtowner was up to the task - including saving 2 from SL35 FW Hubbard. Impressive away display for SRA.
The second leg was always going to be an uphill battle for MOT. SRA had a good EL advantage after their stall, and MOT would need to rely on their superior GK if they wanted to win this tie. Going aggressive tactics from the start, SRA opened the match with a giant 15-4% shot chance advantage. SRA turned that into a deserved 2-0 lead at the half, though MOT substitutions and changes in tactics started to help their low shot chances. SRA went a further goal up before MOT started roaring back, making the tie 2-3 after goals in the 82nd and 84th minute. Could they find the equalizer to win on away goals? No, it was not to be. GKs made 25 saves combined in this one, and MOT go home in the quarterfinals this year.
SRA played this tie very well - I think with their squad and ELs I might have tried about the same. They were worthy winners for sure. MOT will feel hard done to not have gotten a single goal at home, but that's how it goes sometimes with this game. Both teams played it well, and I think it was a great tactical battle. Both teams should leave this one with their heads held high.
Motherwell kicked off the weekend in fourth place, 4 points behind league leaders HIB. A trip to last-placed LIV and a visit from second-placed ELG awaited.
First up LIV had an uphill battle for their match against MOT, with their top GK suspended for the match. This left SL17 GK McCrorie to do the work against MOT's potent forward line. The home side went for a big stall to try to keep the visitors out, and for the first half it worked well. Only one shot fell to the visitors, and GK McCrorie was equal to the shot. The second half, however, was a different story. Muddy Waters opened up the scoring from midfield, and Guy Clark doubled the lead just two minutes later to make it 0-2 after 58 minutes. Motherwell then brought on the backups in a couple positions, but were not done attacking. Billy Bland got onto the scoresheet, and Steve Earle finished the job just a couple minutes before full time. 0-4 the final here, and with other results going their way, Motherwell climbed up into 3rd place and were now only 1 point behind 1st and 2nd.
The new league leaders were ELG, who had to come to Fir Park next in an important duel for the two sides. The opening lineups showed both teams had come to attack, and so this one was expected to be high energy. It sure didn't dissapoint. Some early pressure from the visitors forced a fine save from Merle Haggard, and after 20 minutes they would get their reward, as Olly McDonald, already booked, scored to quiet the crowd. Motherwell would up the pressure from there and get several shots during the first half, but GK Kyle King was equal to each one, and Elgin took the lead into the half. The second half continued to be lively, but it seemed that both goalkeepers were having a good game, making save after save. It wasn't until the 69th minute that the home side were finally able to break through, with Guy Clark leveling the score. From there either side could feel the opportunity to take home all 3 points, but it was Jimmie Dale Gilmore who provided the lethal shot, scoring the winner in the 74th minute. 2-1 to the home side, and Motherwell take all 6 points on the weekend. Both goalkeepers played well, and despite the loss it was Kyle King who got MotM, with 10 saves to his name, compared to Haggard's 5. Motherwell move into 2nd, 1 point behind HIB, and ELG end the weekend in 3rd place.
Motherwell entered the second leg of their cup tie against FOR knowing that their 3-0 lead gave them a little room to rest and play reactively, but not enough to truly rest the whole team. MOT decided on playing their top GK and a big stall in front of him, with about 6 T-11 players, 3 T-17 players, and 2 true backups playing. Motherwell could afford to go behind in this one, but if things became 0-2 or 0-3? Changes to plans would have to be made.
The stall worked fairly well against Forfar's strong lineup, and it took until the 38th minute and Forfar's 4th shot for them to finally pull one goal back. Could FOR continue to make this one interesting with an early second half goal? No, MOT GK Merle Haggard was up to the task today, making a neat save in the 50th minute and two more in the 75th and 77th minute to keep this one out of reach for the home side. Forfar wins the leg 1-0, but Motherwell wins the tie, 3-1. Job done for MOT, as Haggard saves 5 of 6 shots on target, some stars rest for the league ties ahead, and the team advances to play SRA in the CECIL cup quarterfinals. That will be a big test for the Well!