Motherwell draw with Preston in last pre-season

Steven Hammell
By grabar
July 30 2008

Motherwell closed out their pre-season campaign with a draw against Championship side Preston North End. It took until the last fifteen minutes before we got any goals and then two came along in a minute, thatnks to strikes from subs Murphy and Mellor.

 After a goalless first half where neither side really tested the respective keepers the goals finally arrived in the closing 15 minutes.

The first half saw Preston cause problems with crosses from the left from the dangerous Lewis Neal, with one of his crosses being headed over by Sean St. Ledger.

Well started the second half well and Porter brought a great save from Lonergan with a clever angled drive. At the other end a Callum Davidson long ball was met by Karl Hawley but his shot into the ground bounced into the arms of Graeme Smith.

The goal finally arrived in 77 minutes when two subs combined, Marc Fitzpatrick's through ball released Jamie Murphy who coolly dinked the ball past the keeper.

The lead only lasted a minute before Neil Mellor picked up a loose ball 30 yards out and lashed an unstoppable shot high past Graeme Smith.

Subs: G. Smith, Quinn, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Lasley (Fitzpatrick - 65), Hughes (Slane - 85), Malcolm (Mamam - 77), Porter, Clarkson (O'Brien - 73), McGarry (Murphy - 65). Subs: Imley, Soley, Connolly, Archdeacon.