Vital win for ’Well on emotional day

Dec 31 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

THERE was so much to admire about everyone connected to Motherwell Football Club at the weekend as players, fans and backroom staff paid tribute to former skipper Phil O’Donnell who died a year ago.

The 35-year-old was preparing to be substituted 13 minutes from time during a Premier League match with Dundee United at Fir Park on December 29, 2007, when he collapsed on the edge of the penalty box.

Despite being rushed to Wishaw General Hospital, he never recovered and was pronounced dead at 5.18pm that evening.

On Saturday, his memory was celebrated in all the right ways.

Fans paid tribute at Fir Park, unveiling a giant number 10 shirt in 78 minutes during the match against Inverness, the same moment in time when Uncle Phil collapsed on the pitch 12 months ago.

Pre-match, the players formed a huddle taking a few minutes to remember Phil.

“We had a little talk on the pitch in the huddle and Clarky (David Clarkson) said a few words that gave us the extra bit of motivation we needed,” Steven Hammell revealed after the match.

Manager Mark McGhee said: “The huddle was the right thing to do. In terms of paying our respects, it all went well.”

In terms of paying their respects where it would have meant most to O’Donnell, on the pitch, it went to plan as well as The Steelmen ended the year in good spirits with a deserved victory thanks to a Chris Porter hat-trick.

Their last victory had come eight matches previously against Hamilton way back on November 1.

That day it had been Porter who had netted a double to secure the victory.

The beanpole hitman had hit a barren spell and his three goals against Caley were his first since that win.

In the programme notes, boss McGhee said that his side had the ability to improve their league position and on Saturday they proved this to be the case, moving away from the relegation zone.

Their aim now must be to look upwards and they currently are just six points off Hibernian who occupy sixth spot – a realistic position for Motherwell to aim for come May.

It only took eight minutes for Porter to open the scoring when he headed past Ryan Esson.

Still out on the right wing after hitting a corner, Steven Hammell was able to send a perfect inswinging cross into the box where Porter was unmarked 10 yards from goal.

The Englishman was under no pressure and easily gave The Steelmen the early lead.

The Inverness defending was very poor for large spells, with Porter, David Clarkson and Jim O’Brien getting far too much space despite Caley playing five at the back.

Porter should have made in 2-0 after 13 minutes when he went clear on goal but he shot straight at Esson.

Less than a minute later, Craig Brewster’s side were carved open by some excellent passing play by ’Well, resulting in Stephen Hughes having claims for a penalty turned down when Phil McGuire was ruled to have taken the ball before Hughes hit the deck.

Hughes and Clarkson both fired wide in the first half before Porter got his second six minutes before the interval.

Richard Hastings gave Jim O’Brien too long on the ball, allowing him to pick out Porter with a splendid cross that was glanced in off the left post.

Inverness struggled to pose any problems for the Motherwell defence until the 42nd minute when Don Cowie made Smith work from a free-kick.

Less than a minute later, Well conceded a sloppy goal that can only be blamed on a mistake from Graeme Smith.

Imrie’s corner was hit skyward in the box by Hughes, giving Smith the indication that he had to come and collect.

The ’Well number one came but failed to get near the ball, allowing Ross Tokely to rise and head it into the empty net.

Brewster fiddled with his formation, changing to 4-4-2, but his strikers were unable to create any problems for against Stephen Craigan - back after a long spell on the sidelines - and Mark Reynolds.

But as his side looked for an equaliser, their defensive frailties were again exposed in the 77th minute when Porter scored again.

Hammell’s left-footed ball into the box allowed the striker to lose his marker and he bulleted a header past Esson.

Moments later, Fir Park erupted into a respectful applause to mark the 78th minute.

Adam Rooney hit a consolation goal in the 89th minute when he scored from the rebound from his own penalty.

But the hosts held on and matchwinner Chris Porter was able to reflect on what was the first hat-trick by a Motherwell player in a league match since 2004 – a game that saw Phil O’Donnell’s nephew David Clarkson bag three in what was his uncle’s first game of his second spell at the club.

“I’m dedicating that hat-trick to Phil,” Porter said.

He added: “He was definitely in our thoughts. I’m sure he’d have been pleased for us.”

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Klimpl, Reynolds, Hammell, O'Brien (Darren Smith 73), Hughes, Fitzpatrick, Clarkson (McHugh 88), Porter.

Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, Proctor, McGuire, Munro, Hastings, Cowie, McBain, Duncan, Wood (Barrowman 72), Imrie (Rooney 46).

Booked: Munro, Tokely, Proctor.

Attendance: 4521