Pars Well--beaten by 10 men

Ally McRoberts • Published 25 Jan 2012 13:30 0 Comments

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David Graham shows his disappointment as the Pars' hopes of a second successive victory begin to unravel at Fir Park on Tueday night. Photo: Craig Brown.

Motherwell 3 PARS 1

THE PARS missed a golden opportunity to climb off the bottom of the SPL table against a 10-man Well side.

Boosted by a fine win at Kilmarnock, they faced a team that hadn't won at home since September and knew three points would lift them above Hibs.

Athletic also had an extra man for more than 70 minutes when Well skipper Stephen Craigan saw red for aiming a headbutt at Andy Barrowman.

But you wouldn't have known it.

Jim McIntyre's men didn't carry any luck, the ref possibly thinking he'd be lynched if he gave any more controversial decisions against Well and their irate support, as they had two decent penalty claims knocked back and also lost Barrowman to a calf injury.

But they didn't deserve anything as they struggled - the excellent Mark Kerr aside - to pass the ball to a black and white shirt or show a competent first touch. With an extra man they should have switched the ball quickly, probing for a two-on-one advantage and the chance to get good, quick deliveries into the box.

They managed that once, Paddy Boyle finding time and space for a cross that Andy Kirk met on the volley to expertly guide the ball into the right hand corner of Darren Randolph's goal.

That was just past the hour mark and, although there were brief flurries around the Well box, with crosses swinging from the left and right, nothing much came of it.

It had all looked so promising with passmaster Kerr showing his quality in the centre of midfield, always finding space and a team-mate in the early forays.

Joe Cardle shouted for a penalty in 17 minutes when he tumbled in the box, it was in the 'soft' category but there was a nudge in the back from Shaun Hutchinson.

The ref wasted no time in sending Craigan up the tunnel seconds later, content the intention was there to butt Barrowman if any real contact wasn't.

Booked for his part, the butted, berated and bruised Barrowman was off the pitch soon after with a calf injury, Kirk replacing him.

There were half chances, Kevin Rutkiewicz's close-range shot blocked by Randolph in 20 minutes, Liam Buchanan's goal-bound header blocked and a wild Cardle shot that landed a foot from the corner flag.

But Well burned with a sense of injustice, ripped the match out of the Pars' grip and grabbed the opener in 29 minutes with Iain Turner looking suspect.

Henrik Ojamaa's 25-yard shot lacked real venom but the keeper's attempt to push it round the post ended with the ball rippling the net.

Athletic could have levelled if the ref had spotted Randolph upending Andy Dowie on the by-line as he tried to grab the ball and, from the corner the ref gave instead, the defender was out of luck with a header the keeper did well to save.

They looked dead and buried when Ojamaa found Nicky Law in 52 minutes and, given space by Kevin Rutkiewicz, he rifled a shot into the top corner.

Kirk gave them a lifeline when he netted in 62 minutes and he was so unlucky when he swivelled and sent a left-foot drive whistling just past the upright shortly after.

Too many aimless high balls let them down as they laid siege to Well's goal and the Steelmen wrapped it up in 80 minutes, Bob McHugh's heavy touch falling perfectly for Chris Humphrey to slide the ball past Turner.

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