Come hell or high Watter
Downpours can’t mask magic from Fir Park ace
TONY WATT fired Well to three precious points with a St Andrew’s Day stunner to close the gap on United at a flooded Fir Park.
On a day when Scotland raised a glass to its patron saint, the striker was hailed by the Fir Park faithful after his curling effort flew past Benji Siegrist and moved the Steelmen to within a point of the Tannadice men in fourth.
Conditions bordered on the farcical in the relentless downpour as passes stuck and players slipped.
Not even an 82nd-minute red following Barry Maguire’s second booking could deny Graham Alexander’s men a deserved win as they survived United’s desperate late surge.
Motherwell were handed a pre-match boost with Sean Goss fit to start in the middle of the park while Kevin van Veen got the nod over Connor Shields in attack.
But United were hampered in the engine room, with injured duo Jeando Fuchs and Dylan Levitt plus the banned Calum Butcher all out.
Well were first to show and Ricki Lamie should have done better than head weakly towards goal from a Goss free-kick six minutes in.
Maguire also saw a shot from distance gathered by Terrors keeper Siegrist.
But the Swiss goalie was helpless as Watt fired Well ahead in magnificent style in the 12th minute.
Declan Glass’ pass was intercepted by Goss who released Kaiyne Woolery and the big Englishman strode forward before laying the ball into the path of Watt 25 yards out wide on the left.
The striker didn’t break stride as he bent a stunning effort in at the far post.
Watt’s ninth goal of the season was exactly the start Motherwell wanted after Saturday’s shock 3-0 defeat at Dundee and Woolery had a half-volley blocked.
Tannadice playmakers Ian Harkes, Glass and Peter Pawlett were being smothered by Well’s energy while Louis Appere was being starved of any decent service up top.
The one sniff of goal he did get was quickly snuffed out by
Nathan McGinley. In contrast, Watt, van Veen and Woolery were looking dangerous every time they got on the ball and from the Dutchman’s run and cross, Callum Slattery was too high with his header.
United boss Tam Courts had seen enough and made his first switch three minutes before the break, throwing on Nicky Clark for Glass to partner Appere in attack.
Well were first to threaten after the interval, though, as Goss’ 22-yard drive skidded just wide. Puddles were
starting to form on the pitch as the rain continued to pummel down and passes began to stick.
United survived another scare in 54 minutes when van Veen spun on Woolery’s pass but he fired just wide.
Slattery had a shot charged down by Scott McMann and United could and should have been level when Kieran Freeman broke into the box.
However, his cutback somehow evaded three team-mates waiting at the back post. Well were desperate for a second to settle the nerves but van Veen rashly blasted wide.
Sub Stephen O’Donnell then missed a sitter when Slattery’s free-kick was flicked into his path a yard out but the ball skidded under his foot.
With eight minutes to go Maguire collected a second booking when he flattened Harkes.
The five added minutes brought a couple of scares for Well but they held out.