Well Well Well

How about this Xmas cracker Motherwell fans? Lifted from The Scotsman website Xmas Eve 2006.

THREE thrilling goals, three highly controversial red cards and a feast full of incident had this match stuffed with excitement just as the turkeys are being prepared to be roasted in the ovens. In the end nine-men Motherwell ran out victors, courtesy of Jim Paterson and Richie Foran, in one of the best SPL matches this season.

However, as Paterson, David Clarkson and Garry Hay also saw red after another solo strike from Stevie Naismith, football fans were the real winners. The wise ones among us steered clear of the shopping aisles and took in one more football match before the madness of December 25 ensues, and where better off than Kilmarnock. Last week in Inverness they thrilled their travelling support by gleaning all three points from a seven goal thriller, and again entertainment was the watchword against Motherwell in a thrilling first 45 minutes. This game had everything a neutral could ask for in a football match.

Fast, free-flowing football with blood, guts and thunderous challenges thrown in for good measure. It really was one of those days where if you blinked you'd miss something. The all-consuming action started in just three minutes when Kilmarnock were dealt a major blow with the injury of resurgent striker Paul Di Giacomo, who had to be replaced by Gary Wales.

That seemed to unsettle the home side, mindful of the fact that they could close the gap on third-placed Aberdeen with a win, and Motherwell went into the ascendancy. After Calum Elliot had wasted a real chance by sending a free header straight into the hands of Graeme Smith, Motherwell showed they meant business with the opening goal on 13 minutes. Darren Smith was provider, racing down the right flank to cut the ball inside for Scott McDonald. The Australian star, in turn, touched the ball off for Richie Foran to crash a drive in off the bar from ten yards. Four minutes later and their advantage was doubled as Elliot set up the on-rushing Jim Paterson to fire a deflected 15-yard effort over the stranded Smith.

At this point Motherwell seemed good value for their lead and with the Kilmarnock defence banishing the very mention of the word Scrooge from the Rugby Park stands, they were favoured to hand the visitors a further strike. They almost did just that on 29 minutes when Paterson picked out McDonald inside the box. One of the smallest players on the park somehow got in a header but it was well held by Smith.

Then, just before the break Kilmarnock were back in the hunt again, thanks again to their talisman Naismith. The talented Scotland youngster has made a real habit of digging his side out of a hole and he did so once again with yet another solo wonder strike. There appeared to be no immediate danger as Naismith picked up the ball on the left flank, some 40 yards from goal. However, it's dangerous to allow this livewire any sore of freedom and as he was allowed to cut inside, he spotted an opening and struck the ball high over the other Graeme Smith to make it 2-1 going into the break.

Then, as if this game needed any more twists, it took another huge one on 55 minutes in a moment of real controversy. Fir Park defender Paterson, already on a first half booking, went to the left touchline to take a throw-in. Looking over the field of play he saw team-mate Foran struggle a with a limp and delayed releasing the throw.

This, however, angered referee Brian Winter who insisted Paterson was time-wasting and the Well defender was sent up the tunnel for an early exit after picking up his second booking of the day. That meant it was all hands to the pump for the Lanarkshire side as they desperately tried to hold onto three points which could prove pivotal to their chances of top flight survival this season.

Kilmarnock had a series of chances to rescue something from this game, most notably through Naismith. Not content with one stunning strike in an afternoon he tried to make it two on 75 minutes with a curled, long-range effort into the side netting. A succession of corners and set-pieces followed from Kilmarnock but Graeme Smith far outshone his Kilmarnock namesake by dealing superbly with everything that was thrown on them. Then, just to complete an action-packed afternoon Clarkson and Hay walked after squaring up to each other on the edge of the Kilmarnock penalty area, in full view of over-fussy referee Winter.