’Well back home and grind out draw with Midlanders

Jul 30 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL ....................1   WOLVES ..................................1

MOTHERWELL returned to familiar surroundings last Wednesday after a week running in the Alps and ‘warming down’ in the freezing rivers close by to their Austrian training camp.

McGhee’s charges played out a score draw against Championship side Wolves with an early Steven McGarry strike cancelled out on 20 minutes by Ebanks-Blake.

It was a useful outing for the Fir Parkers who enjoyed long spells of possession of the ball.

‘Well included the youngest player to appear in a World Cup qualifier, ex-Manchester United youth midfielder Souleymane Mamam, now aged 22, as a trialist.

The Togo international allegedly first appeared in national colours at the age of 13.

Celtic trialist Jim O’Brien also took part.

But it was McGarry who stole the show on three minutes, latching on to a David Clarkson through ball after good work from Steven Hammell.

The midfielder finished expertly prodding the ball past Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey.

Chris Porter failed to carry on where he left off last season when his strike after George Elokobi’s poor backpass hit Hennessey’s legs and this profligacy proved costly moments later when Ebanks-Blake found himself in acres of space in the box and headed a well-directed delivery past the hapless Graeme Smith in goal.

This lack of an aerial presence was one of the few foibles in the Motherwell back line last season – something that would have made the appearance of John Kennedy in the stands as opposed to the pitch all the more galling for McGhee as the Celtic and ‘Well money men continued to haggle over the former Scotland defender’s proposed loan move to Fir Park.

Both teams had efforts cancelled out for offside and when O’Brien and McGarry were substituted at half-time, the local fans were able to see what Mamam had to offer.

But he was unable to make a telling contribution with only a Clarkson effort that was saved by Hennessey their major second half effort.

Smith made a great block late on from a Neill Collins effort but the game ended in stalemate as Well failed to record their first pre-season victory of the season.