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Cowdenbeath 2-1 Motherwell

Last updated : 24 July 2004 By Firparkcorner

New tops for the managers
As it happens, we played very well for the first six minutes. We started off like we were going to blow Cowden apart and we were deservedly leading early on. Jim Paterson supplied the cross and Ritchie Foran swept home his first Motherwell goal with a nice finish into the bottom corner. This was Foran’s second chance of the game, he flashed a header just past the post in the first minute.

However, the expected stroll to victory never appeared. Cowdenbeath were doing a good job of closing us down and our central midfield pairing – Leitch and O’Donnell - looked slow and laborious, frequently losing possession. The defence was boosted by the return of Stevie Hammell to left back but he has to accept a share of the blame for the equaliser. Paterson might have done better on the wing before a Cowden player nipped in and flew past Hammell. His cross hung in the wind and an indecisive Stevie Craigan headed past Barry John Corr.


It was hoped that this would act as a wake up call but if anything it just gave the hosts a lift. We were struggling to pass the ball on the deck in the windy conditions and another mistake cost us another goal. This time it was Burns who gave the ball away in midfield and a looping cross landed in between our defensive line and BJ Corr. The Cowden striker nipped in to tuck the ball home.


It was thought that Terry Butcher would be giving the team a severe talking to at the half time interval but the team did not re-emerge with any more fire in their bellies. Foran provided a small amount of hope for us as he willing chased every hopeful punt and held the ball up well. He came close to setting up a goal and scoring one himself by throwing his head at crosses.

A 'Well attack in the first half


But by and large we were failing to create anything. McDonald replaced the invisible Clarkson and gave us a bit more up front whilst Kerr and Fitzpatrick came into the middle of the park. Our defence looked somewhat shaky on the break and at free kicks and the home side could have killed the game off.

In the last few minutes we stepped up a gear and the opportunities began to flow. Paterson forced the ‘keeper into a good save, Skippy missed a one on one and we had a flurry of corners and free kicks. As the clock reached injury time, Kerr inspired a break away and when he received the ball back he hit an excellent shot off the junction of post and bar but it bounced high over the bar.

With that our last chance was gone and we slumped to an embarrassing defeat. Whilst the result was poor, it is obviously the performance that matters and on this performance a lot of players need to have a look at themselves. Corr, Kinniburgh, Burns, Leitch, O’Donnell and Clarkson were all well below a level which would be expected from SPL players. Our next friendly is on Tuesday at Love Street. An improvement is needed.