13th Jul 2011 Motherwell 1 Partick Thistle 0 (Stephen Craigan Testimonial)

matches:2011-12: ← 01game 0203 →

Match Information

			Stuart McCall		Jackie McNamara			37y, 8m, 19d
					Scott Fox; Conrad Balatoni; David Rowson; Kris Doolan
					Ryan Scully; Alan Archibald; Jack Boyle; Tommy Stewart
Stephen Craigan (0-1, pen 2 mins)
Michael Higdon (Robert McHugh, HT); Chris Humphrey (Ross Forbes, 77 mins); Steve Jennings (Steven Lawless, 77 mins); Stephen Craigan (Steven Saunders, 90 mins)					Paul Cairney (Stuart Bannigan, 65 mins); Martin Grehan (Tommy Stewart, 65 mins); Conrad Balatoni (Declan Gallagher, 70 mins); Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (Johnny Lindsay, 75 mins); Kris Doolan (Jack Boyle, 75 mins); Chris Erskine (Kieran Burns, 75 mins)
			Darren Randolph		Scott Fox			24y, 0m, 15d
			Tom Hateley		Jamie Campbell			19y, 3m, 19d
			Steven Hammell		Aaron Taylor-Sinclair			20y, 3m, 5d
			Keith Lasley		Paul Cairney			23y, 10m, 14d
			former Jag Stephen Craigan		Willie Kinniburgh			26y, 10m, 5d
			Shaun Hutchinson		Conrad Balatoni			20y, 5m, 16d
			Chris Humphrey		Iain Flannigan			23y, 5m, 28d
			Steve Jennings		David Rowson			34y, 9m, 29d
			Michael Higdon		Kris Doolan			24y, 7m, 2d
			Nicky Law		Martin Grehan			26y, 9m, 4d
			Jamie Murphy		Chris Erskine			24y, 5m, 5d
								24y, 5m, 9d
			Lee Hollis		Ryan Scully			18y, 8m, 14d
			Robert McHugh		Stuart Bannigan			18y, 9m, 26d
			future Jag Steven Lawless		Tommy Stewart			24y, 8m, 1d
			future Jag Ross Forbes		Jack Boyle			21y, 0m, 4d
			future Jag Steven Saunders		Declan Gallagher			20y, 5m, 0d
			Jonathan Page		Johnny Lindsay			18y, 8m, 27d
					Kieran Burns			19y, 3m, 19d

notes

Jack Boyle and Declan Gallagher played as trialists.

Match Report

TTA report

2,122 saw this friendly/Stephen Craigan testimonial. A (mandatory!) penalty in 2 minutes converted by Craigan himself after Fox had hauled down a Motherwell forward proved to be the only goal. Thistle played some neat football but posed no threat up front. Motherwell hit the bar with 8 minutes remaining.

Media report

Alan Burrows, 13-Jul-2011, Motherwell FC

Stephen Craigan scored the only goal of the game as Motherwell ran out 1-0 winners over Partick Thistle in the skipper’s testimonial. The Northern Irish International netted from the spot after Jamie Murphy had been pulled down in the box by Thistle keeper Scott Fox. And it was a night of emotion for the 34-year old with 2000 plus supporters turning out to honour his fourteen years at Fir Park. ‘Well boss Stuart McCall made two changes from the side that swept away Dumbarton last Saturday. Darren Randolph and Steve Jennings both returned from knocks to play their first match in pre-season at the expense of Lee Hollis and Ross Forbes. Thistle included two former ‘Well players in their starting eleven. Willie Kinniburgh was at the heart of the Jags’ back four whilst Martin Grehan was instructed to spearhead the attack.

As far as scripts go – it was impossible to write it any better as the man of the night Craigan put his team ahead in the opening minute. A lovely Stevie Hammell through ball sent Murphy on the chase one-on-one with Thistle keeper Fox. The former Scotland U21 starlet got there first and was crudely grounded; referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot. An almost hesitant Craigan stepped up and duly converted with some aplomb. Motherwell continued on the front foot when Higdon had two half decent chances to double the home advantage and, at the same time, net his first goal in Claret and Amber. The first, a bending shot following good Humphrey build-up, went just over and the second, a header from a Hateley corner, was well saved by Thistle keeper Fox. Fellow new signing Nicky Law was also getting in the thick of the action and, similar to Higdon, had two decent efforts of his own to get amongst the goals. A headed effort at the back post was followed by a terrific jinking run and shot that was brilliantly turned over by Fox to keep the score at 1-0. It only looked like a matter of time before the Steelmen would double their advantage and that would’ve been the case had it not been for a brilliant block by William Kinniburgh. Jamie Murphy was the man with the effort, his low shot beating the keeper only for the defender to scoop the ball away from under the crossbar. That seemed to give the visitors some belief and they knocked the ball about with a degree of confidence in the remaining fifteen minutes of the first-half. Martin Grehan, had the Jags’ first chance at goal when he met a teasing ball from the left, but his header dropped harmlessly wide.

Stuart McCall replaced Michael Higdon during the interval with young Bob McHugh and the striker, who would’ve spent time on loan at Firhill last year but for a nasty wrist injury, had the first chance of the second period when he headed over a Hateley cross. Minutes later, Humphrey came close again with a blazing shot after some lovely jinking lead up play. Thistle knocked the ball about nicely without creating too much in the way of problems for Darren Randolph or the ‘Well rearguard. Down the other end, Fox had to look smart to save a testing Tom Hateley effort; the former Celtic youngster grabbing at the second attempt. Things got slightly sloppy as match headed into the final stages, substitutions from both sides interrupting the flow. That lull was interrupted by a moment of brilliance from Jamie Murphy though as the youngster bent a terrific curling effort from the edge of the box off the of the bar and out. Two minutes later, another moment of quality, this time from Nicky Law, set up Murphy who could only head over on the stretch from six-yards out. It took Thistle until the 88th minute to force Randolph, who had been a spectator for the majority of the match, into action. A driving run by substitute Thomas Stewart almost brought its rewards but his low bouncing effort from the edge of the ‘D’ was well held by the Republic of Ireland international. It was to prove the last action in an otherwise entertaining ninety minutes.

Scrapbook

magnifiable if deemed necessary by your browser

Evening Times, 13th July, 2011

Stats Watch

● 20-year-old Declan Gallagher plays his one and only game for Thistle.

ongoing sequences:

● 35 consecutive competitive appearances for Chris Erskine, 25th Sep 2010 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Paul Paton - 36 games, 24th Jul 2010 to 19th Mar 2011. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

Stats Watch adheres to our stated definitions of League, League Max, Major Competitive, Competitive or All Games. Where there is no written qualification, you should presume that the Stat in question is compiled from the All Games criteria.

.

match hubs