’Well take a point in six-goal thriller

Oct 28 2009 by Graham Miller, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL took part in the SPL’s most exciting fixture at the weekend, when honours were shared in a six-goal thriller away to St Mirren.

The Fir Park men were undoubtedly the happier outfit at the end of the match, as a brace from Lucas Jutkiewicz saw them recover a two-goal deficit late in the game.

Jim Gannon’s team showed two changes from the previous outing, when they earned a valuable point away to Celtic.

The defence was shuffled due to an injury to Hammell, with Reynolds moving to left-back and Craigan returning to the centre.

In midfield, O’Brien was preferred to Humphrey as Saints kicked off on a mild but overcast afternoon in Paisley.

The home side were quickly on the offensive and ’Well were pushed back in the early stages as Saints pressed.

Motherwell keeper John Ruddy was frequently brought into the action, twice saving well from Dorman, as the visitors struggled to settle.

Ruddy’s opposite number Paul Gallacher was a virtual spectator in the Buddies goal as the visitors struggled to create any telling attacks.

As the half wore on, ’Well began to push upfield and Ross Forbes unleashed a fine effort which the keeper did well to push over the bar.

However, the home side continued to exert the majority of the pressure and the chances kept coming for Saints.

Ross was guilty of squandering the best of them when, following a neat Mehmet lay-off, he blazed over from less than 10 yards out.

Just minutes from the interval, the inevitable happened and Motherwell had no cause for complaint when Murray finished off a flowing move down the left.

The right side of the ’Well defence went AWOL and a low cross eluded three claret-and-amber shirts inside the box. Ruddy got a touch on Murray’s shot but to no avail.

Humphrey started the second period of play in place of Coke, as the manager tried to salvage something from the game.

It worked as, within minutes, Motherwell had a penalty following an apparent handball in the box by Mair. Forbes calmly converted the spot-kick to level the scoring and put the Steelmen back in the match.

The Saints fans were not quiet for long though. On the hour mark, Motherwell appeared to have cleared an attack but Mehmet flicked the ball back for Dorman, who poked the ball home to put his team ahead again.

Saints extended their lead when Murray bagged his second goal and the home side’s third with a fierce shot from the right.

With 18 minutes remaining, the visitors looked to be going home empty-handed but former Everton player Lucas Jukiewicz had other ideas and within two minutes he had cut the deficit to one goal with a quick turn and shot which saw the ball sneak inside the post.

This goal set up an exciting finale. John Sutton was sent on by Gannon as ’Well threw everything upfield looking for an equaliser.

And their efforts were rewarded when that man Jutkiewicz helped himself to another in the 81st minute.

He chested the ball down on the edge of the penalty area and was left unchallenged to drive a superb volley into the back of the net and claim a hard-earned point for the Lanarkshire side.

Both teams were now committed to outright attack and play raged from end to end. Saints came very close to snatching a last-gasp winner but the match finished 3-3.

Both teams were rightfully applauded from the field following a breathtaking game which was enjoyed by both sets of fans.

St Mirren: Gallacher, Potter, Barron, Mair, Brighton (Higdon 45), McGinn, Ross, Murray, Thomson, Dorman (O’Donnell 88), Mehmet.

Subs Not Used: Howard, Innes, McLean, Johnston, Ramsay.

Motherwell: Ruddy, Craigan, Saunders (Hutchinson 51), Reynolds, Moutaouakil (Sutton 79), Hateley, Coke (Humphrey 46), Jutkiewicz, Forbes, Murphy, O’Brien.

Subs not used: Koriorowski, Jennings, Lasley, McHugh.

Attendance: 4327.

Referee: S O’Reilly.