Moult steals in to rescue Fir Park men
IT IS not often these days that Motherwell pay transfer fees for players so they need to get it right when they do and, in the case of Louis Moult, they appear to have done just that.
The summer signing from Wrexham is proving top value with his third goal of the campaign.
Motherwell seemed doomed to a fifth defeat in seven Premiership fixtures when, well into stoppage time, the 23-year-old appeared from nowhere to supply the finishing touch to Marvin Johnson’s driven cross from close range.
‘It was good to get on the end of something in the dying minutes,’ he said. ‘That shows the character we have.
‘But I’m confident that I can score goals and I’m proving that. I just kept telling myself that the chance would come.’
County were first out of the traps. Michael Gardyne should have grabbed a second-minute opener but failed to react quickly enough after Fir Park defender Louis Laing had unexpectedly missed a cross from Jamie Reckord.
However, although Keith Lasley went close from distance for the hosts, County captain Andrew Davies underlined the danger they posed from set- plays when he headed just wide from corner.
Moult’s low drive from the edge of the penalty then forced County keeper Scott Fox into action.
The Highlanders, though, got the goal they deserved four minutes later.
Motherwell failed to clear their lines from Reckord’s free-kick and, when the ball fell to Gardyne, his shot on the turn from 12 yards caught Connor Ripley flat-footed. The second half saw no great improvement in front of goal from Motherwell and County should have put the outcome beyond doubt in the 89th minute.
Top scorer Liam Boyce had only Ripley to beat but the Irishman blazed over from 15 yards. Moult made him pay for his profligacy within seconds.
‘It was two points chucked away,’ said County manager Jim McIntyre. ‘We switched off for a second and they scored.’
Motherwell boss Ian Baraclough was thrilled by his players’ refusal to bend the knee.
‘Last season we might have allowed this game to peter out but we showed character to come back,’ he said. ‘I’m pleased that we got the reward and it came from our best move of the game, with some good passing and moving.’