Llanelli
Team - Ashley Morris, Lee Phillips, Stuart Jones, Wyn Thomas, Michael Howard, Andrew
Mumford, Chris Venables, Antonio Corbisiero, Andy Legg, Jordan Follows, Rhys Griffiths
Subs - Craig Morris, Steve Jenkins (rep Jones - 67), Jason Bowen, Chris Holloway,
Owain Warlow (rep Legg - 76), Craig Moses (rep Phillips - 80), Craig Jones
Yellow Cards - None Red Cards - None
Goalscorers - None
Motherwell (SCO)
Team - Michael Fraser, Steven Saunders, Stephen Craigan, Mark Reynolds, Steven Hammell,
Ross Forbes, Paul Slane, Keith Lasley, Steven McGarry, Jim O’Brien, John Sutton
Subs - Sebastian Kosiorowski, Jamie Murphy (rep McGarry - 68), Mark Fitzpatrick,
Mark Archdeacon (rep Sutton - 76), Shaun Hutchinson, Jonathan Page (rep Saunders
- 78), Robert McHugh
Yellow Cards - None Red Cards - None
Goalscorers - John Sutton (8), (24), Jamie Murphy (72)
Referee - Mr Milorad Mazic (SRB)
10th July 2009 - Western Mail
Motherwell end Llanelli’s European dream
Englishman John Sutton, younger brother of former England, Chelsea and Celtic striker
Chris, crushed Llanelli’s Europa League hopes at Parc y Scarlets last night. Sutton,
aged 25, used to follow his big brother on Celtic’s European glory nights – and he
grabbed a little of the limelight himself against Llanelli. The Motherwell striker
scored twice in the first 25 minutes to put the Scottish club on top. They were in
control for virtually the entire half, although Stuart Jones went close with a header
in the closing seconds. Jones gave Llanelli the edge with the only goal of the first
leg in Scotland, but there was to no repeat in South Wales. Sutton headed just wide
during the early exchanges and then found the net on eight minutes. Steven Hammell
chased down the right and whipped in a cross to the far post where Sutton scored
from close range. That levelled the tie at 1-1 overall and then Motherwell took a
stranglehold when Sutton headed his second. Hammell sent Paul Slane clear down the
right and an almost identical cross to the far post picked out Sutton. The Norwich-born
hitman finished sweetly again, this time from 10 yards. Welsh Premier League Llanelli
needed two goals at that stage to go forward from this first qualifying round tie,
but it’s Motherwell who now face Albanian club Klubi Sportiv Flamurtari Vlore over
two legs. Llanelli made life uncomfortable for the visitors, particularly big defender
Jones when he strode forward at set-pieces, but there was no way back. Andrew Mumford’s
header from Andy Legg’s corner forced goalkeeper Michael Fraser into a good save,
pushing the ball over the bar for a corner. There was spirit and fire in the Llanelli
display, but Motherwell, stung by their first leg defeat, were in no mood to suffer
again and were simply too good. The Scottish club’s manager, Jim Gannon, was on edge
throughout as he prowled up and down near the away dug-out, remonstrating strongly
with the fourth official seemingly every time a decision went against his team. It
was Motherwell’s night, though, and substitute Jamie Murphy headed their third goal
after 72 minutes when he was left unmarked at the far post as Jim O’Brien crossed.
10th July 2009 - Evening Post
Battling Llanelli fail to produce another upset
John Sutton's first-half double sent Motherwell into the Europa League qualifying
second round as they avoided a giantkilling against Llanelli. Sutton's second-leg
brace and Jamie Murphy's effort ensured there would be no European humiliation as
the Scottish Premier League outfit turned around a one-goal first-leg deficit to
clinch a deserved win at the Parc y Scarlets. Motherwell, who will now face Albanian
side KS Flamurtari, came through a tricky test as they brushed aside their part-time
hosts. Jim Gannon's new-look side fell to a surprise home defeat north of the border
last week, but they ensured there would be no upset here thanks to striker Sutton's
early double and Murphy's clincher. Sutton, who had already gone close with a diving
header, made no mistake when he leapt highest to meet Steven Hammell's cross and
cancel out the home side's one-goal advantage in the seventh minute. It was one-way
traffic as Steve McGarry headed over just over in a dominant start from the visitors.
And it was no surprise to see Well extend their advantage an claim a second vital
away goal the 28th minute. In a carbon copy of the first goal, it was giant striker
Sutton who rose above his marker to head Paul Slane's cross beyond Llanelli goalkeeper
Ashley Morris in the 25th minute. Yet to their credit, Llanelli refused to throw
in the towel as they searched for a way back into the game. Stuart Jones, the matchwinner
from the first leg, twice came close to handing his side a lifeline. The defender
could only chip over the crossbar after visiting goalkeeper Michael Fraser fumbled
a free-kick. And Jones's frustrations continued when he headed player-boss Andy Legg's
corner inches wide. But it was Motherwell who still looked the more likely to score
again as McGarry blazed just over from 25 yards out to leave Llanelli facing an uphill
task at half-time. The home side began the second half on top as they searched for
a way back into the tie. Former Swan Andrew Mumford almost gave them a glimmer of
hope moments after the break with a header which was brilliantly tipped over by Fraser.
Mumford also went close with a free-kick, but the home side's purple patch failed
to produce a goal. And once the home side saw a handball shout for a penalty turned
down, there appeared no way back. Motherwell made sure the tie was over as Llanelli,
who threw men forward at will, were hit on the counter-attack as substitute Murphy
killed off the tie with another headed goal. Jim O'Brien skipped past Michael Howard
before delivering the perfect cross for an unmarked Murphy to power home in the 72nd
minute to ensure Motherwell's 1,000-strong travelling support went home happy. It
was the end of the road for Llanelli, who had dubbed the second-leg tie as the biggest
game in their history. But for Motherwell, their European adventure was just beginning
as they breathed a sigh of relief at avoiding an upset and looked ahead to the next
round.
10th July 2009 - Daily Record
Match Report
Motherwell’s players saved face and possibly their Fir Park careers last night when
they eventually sorted out Llanelli and avoided what would have been a humiliation.
Make no mistake, had they not managed to turn around the tie against this level of
opposition, boss Jim Gannon may well have emptied that dressing room and started
from scratch. He certainly hinted that was in his thoughts. And while perhaps this
result didn't prove much apart from the fact Llanelli are not very good, the Well
team at least stood up to be counted when their futures were on the line. John Sutton
got two with Jamie Murphy coming off the bench to seal it late on but they all played
their part and will now travel to face Albanian side KS Flamurtari in the next round.
No Scottish team had ever recovered from a first-leg home defeat in over 50 years
of European competition. Mind you, no Scottish team had ever lost to a part-time
side from Wales before. Not only that, one of Llanelli's best players in Airdrie
a week ago was an overweight diabetic called Andy Mumford. It was time for the SPL
boys to show them the 1-0 loss was nothing but a blip and our game is not about to
have its life support turned off. Well's starting line-up showed just one change
from last week, Paul Slane was in for Murphy. His fellow graduates from the Fir Park
youth ranks, Steven Saunders and Ross Forbes, retained their places. As did captain
Steven Craigan, criticised by Gannon a week ago, and he more than anyone had to have
a good night - and he did.
Well had to do a number of things - cope with Llanelli's physical approach, their
player-manager Andy Legg's long throw-ins and, of course, get a goal. And they should
have scored after just three minutes. Saunders crossed from the right and Sutton
got his head to the ball.The away fans were on their feet but the Englishman somehow
put his effort wide. But four minutes later he was a hero. From a short free-kick
taken by Slane, Stevie Hammell hit the left touchline then aimed an excellent cross
high into the box which Sutton powered into the net at the back post. The relief
from Motherwell's players was clear for all to see. Steven McGarry was next to go
close with a glancing header which flew wide after 11 minutes. Mumford got a shot
on target for the Welshmen 60 seconds later which Michael Fraser easily dealt with.
But Llanelli were chasing shadows and Craigan never missed a header when they did
threaten. However, the men in red came close to scoring an almost identical goal
from the first leg. The chance came after 22 minutes when one of Legg's incredible
throw-ins forced a corner. The cross was sent to the back post where Rhys Griffiths
got his head to the ball but could only direct it at the keeper. And then Motherwell
ran straight up the park and got their second. Slane found some space to pick out
Sutton with a fine cross and the striker sent a powerful header home. This was more
like and it was almost settled after 28 minutes. Forbes sent Hammell down the left,
McGarry got a toe to his cross and only a superb save from Ashley Morris kept his
team in it. But on the stroke of half time there was a reminder to Motherwell that
it wasn't over. Legg's corner was as dangerous as his throw-ins but Griffiths' header
finished an inch wide. Llanelli had a lot more about them after the break and had
two great chances to score. For all that Motherwell had played some decent stuff,
they could not deal with set-pieces, a hangover from last season. Legg's left foot
delivers a great ball and from two corners in succession he picked out Mumford both
times and he got that big frame of his off the ground to send one header towards
goal which Fraser brilliantly saved, then his second finished in the side-netting.
Llanelli also had a shout for a penalty after 54 minutes, although it appeared the
ball came off Mark Reynolds' torso rather than his arm. On the hour-mark the excellent
Mumford forced Fraser to scramble his 25-yard free-kick past his own post. Murphy
was then introduced - and he killed the tie off after 71 minutes. Jim O'Brien skipped
past right-back Michael Howard then picked out Murphy with a cross and the striker
made no mistake with his header. Okay, so it was only Llanelli and beating them 3-1
on aggregate is far from a fantastic achievement. But Gannon, an animated figure
all night on the touchline, might feel he has something to work with. And the 1500
fans who made the journey will hope that with new signings they can look forward
to their opening SPL match against St Johnstone. But, of course, they still have
some European games to come before that.
10th July 2009 - Daily Record
Euro progress will help us attract better players to Motherwell
Motherwell boss Jim Gannon last night admitted he hopes to attract a number of new
signings over the next couple of days because his team managed to save their European
campaign. He believes the 3-0 win over Llanelli, which put Well through to the next
Europa League qualifier against Albanians KS Flamurtari next week, will prove to
be further attraction to his targets. But Gannon was far from happy with the way
his players were not protected by Serbian referee Milorad Mazic who allowed some
hefty challenges to go unpunished. Gannon said: "Our attention turns now to strengthening
the squad and making sure we are well prepared for the next game. We don't want to
be rushing out and getting players for the sake of it. We do want to strengthen and
I would be reasonably confident that we will get a few in for the next game. I hope
the Europa League will tease some of them quicker to the club than we might have
hoped. There are players who have a lot of improvement to come and I'm sure they
will. We want to make sure we've a good pool who can play regularly in the SPL. Hopefully
we can get them in before the next game. The referee sometimes forgets his first
job is to protect the players and make sure the game is run in the manner where the
players' livelihoods are not in danger. I was very disappointed with that. They stepped
up the tempo in the second half and wanted to stamp their authority. But the referee
has to stamp his authority on the game and he didn''t do that." It was a good night
for Motherwell who were miles better than they showed in last week's awful 1-0 defeat
at Fir Park. John Sutton survived an injury scare in the warm-up to score two first-half
goals, while Jamie Murphy came off the bench to get the third. Gannon added:"We needed
to play with more passion and show more courage. I thought we did that. We put in
some good crosses. It was good that we had some time to work with the players. They
have grown and learned over the last week. We restored some professional pride. John
Sutton was fantastic for his goals but it was all about the wingers and full-backs
getting in crosses. That's what we have been working on."
