MOTHERWELL v MYPA 47

08 Aug: UEFA Cup Prelim. Round 1st Leg: H 1-3 (MFC Exiles Club Newsletter 8)

What started off as a great evening for Motherwell quickly turned into one of the most disappointing games Motherwell have been involved in for many a season. Things had started so brightly when Shaun McSkimming dived to head home Tommy Coyne's cross early in the match. Over 8200 'Well fans roared their approval but very shortly the crowd were silenced when MyPa equalised. A hopeful punt was misjudged by Brian Martin who left it to his keeper, and by Stevie Woods who left it to the defender only to change his mind and come tearing out of his box. The gleeful Finns capitalised and Gronholm clipped the ball over the stranded Woods and into the net via the post. Shaun McSkimming almost regained the lead for 'Well with a 20 yard screamer that Jokonen did well to save. However the confidence which had been evident for the first ten minutes or so had visibly drained from the team and they were becoming very jittery indeed. It wasn't really a surprise when MyPa went 2-1 ahead after 32 minutes. Van der Gaag failed to win an aerial dual and as the ball broke Tiainen shot past Woods to score from the edge of the area. Fir Park was silent but for a handful of ecstatic Finns. Motherwell tried to pick themselves up and Eddie May saw his fine volley brilliantly saved by Jokoken, however come half time they still trailed 2-1.

Hopeful that the half time team talk would help stir a revival 'Well fans got behind the side at the beginning of the half but still the Finns remained on top. The European dreams were in tatters come the 56th minue when MyPa went 3-1 ahead. The ball wasn't properly cleared and Mahlio smashed an unstoppable shot past Stephen Woods to all but kill the tie. Billy Davies replaced the injured Paul Lambert and brought a little more life to the Motherwell side. He was unlucky to see an effort come off the woodwork. Still MyPa looked dangerous and they too hit the bar. Young Irish striker Roy Essandoh was brought on near the end and he almost reduced the deficit but his effort went just wide of the post. A tremendously disappointing evening which has many 'Well fans despondant before the season has even really begun. Fans were heading for the exits long before the end and many of those that stayed voiced their displeasure. Just what went wrong? Wee Motherwell really unfit? Were the Finns just too far ahead in match sharpness? Were we jsut outclassed by a better team? Only the 2nd leg will tell but very few people now give Motherwell any real hope of progressing any further in this years UEFA Cup competition.

22 Aug: UEFA Cup Prelim. Round 2nd Leg: MyPa 47 A 2-0 (AGG3-3 MyPa win on away goals) (MFC Exiles Club Newsletter 8)

No one really gave Motherwell a chance of turning around the 3-1 first leg deficit. In the end the task proved just too much but what a performance Motherwell produced. They did everything right. From the first whistle to the last they stuck to their task and refused to panic when all seemed lost.

From the beginning Motherwell played the kind of football we've come to enjoy and most importantly the kind of football that could win the tie. Billy Davies and Andy Roddie went into the book early on, their commitment to the cause hoing just too far.The Finns had the first couple of chances with Scotti Howie, playing in his first European match, saving well from Keskitalo.

With great patience Motherwell kept playing the ball around looking for the opening and nearly went ahead when Billy Davies shot just wide. A few moments later and 'Well were celebrating when Andy Roddie knocked home Paul Lambert's pass but much to everyone's dismay the linesman already had his flag in the air.

This shook MyPa and they had a couple of chances, one which went wide from Hyypia and an effort from Kautonen which Howie brilliantly blocked. Back up the other end and at last 'Well went ahead. Andy Roddie, who was having probably his best game for Motherwell, raced up the right wing before firing across goal. Alex Burns made contact and steered the ball into the net sending the 100 plus travelling 'Well fans wild. 'Well increased the pressure and had a clear cut penalty claim turned down when Dougie Arnott was sent crashing in the box. Right before the brak Motherwell missed a great chance. Andy Roddie found himseld right through on goal only to place hus shot just wide of Jakonen's left hand post.

The second half saw the home side regain their composure and they had a couple of decent chances to score through Tiainen and Kautonen. The MyPa keeper almost made a huge blunder after allowing a Billy davies drive to squirm through his legs. He managed to grasp the ball as it slowly trundled towards the empty net. With just over 20 minutes to go Motherwell went 2-0 uo. Again Andy Roddie was the provider firing in a cross that Dougie Arnott shot home. Motherwell pushed everyone forward as they pressed for the vital third goal which left gaps in the defence. However any time the Finns came close Scott Howie coped well. With a few minutes to go youngster Lee McCulloch was introduced and in the dying seconds he almost made it a dream debut. Taking a pass on he edge of the box he turned and shot for goal, his effort beat Jakonen but agonisingly scraped the post and went wide. Had it even come back off the post there were Motherwell players on hand to net the rebound. And that was it. Seconds later it was all over and Motherwell were out of thr UEFA Cup. However gutted the supporters felt it was impossible not to feel very proud at the way Motherwell played in the second leg. They had given their all and were just so unlucky. I am sure that had it not have been for the fact that 'Well went into the first leg cold then we would easily have went though to the next round.