Motherwell v St Johnstone

Motherwell 3

Ojamaa 22′, 65′
Lasley 75′

St Johnstone 2

90 +4
HT 1-1

Highlights - Motherwell 3-2 St Johnstone

A goal in either half from Henrik Ojamaa helped secure three points for Motherwell against St Johnstone at Fir Park.

Ojamaa's 22nd-minute strike from 12 yards was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by a Jody Morris volley.

The Estonian regained the lead for the hosts in the 65th minute with another powerful strike.

A Keith Lasley shot dipped under the St Johnstone bar before Francisco Sandaza converted a penalty.

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The win keeps Motherwell in third place in the Scottish Premier League table, six points ahead of fourth-placed Hearts, while St Johnstone remain one place further back in fifth.

Fir Park boss Stuart McCall made two changes to his starting 11 with Michael Higdon and Stephen Craigan absent due to suspension, presenting an opportunity for Omar Daley and Tim Clancy to play starting roles.

Meanwhile, St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas named an unchanged line-up from the team that defeated Hibernian 3-2 at Easter Road last Saturday.

In the opening minutes, Jamie Murphy's right-footed shot for Motherwell caught Peter Enckelman by surprise, but the ball drifted past the Finnish keeper's right-hand post.

Ojamaa netted twice to give Motherwell a deserved win against St Johnstone

Lee Croft set up Morris on the edge of the Motherwell penalty area, but the Englishman sent his shot wide of the target, then, moments later, Marcus Haber should have done better with close-range header that flew over the crossbar.

After 20 minutes, Sandaza blasted in a 20-yard free-kick from the edge of the Motherwell penalty area that curved around the wall, but the ball landed comfortably in the arms of Darren Randolph.

Two minutes later Ojamaa picked the ball up from wide on the right-hand side of the St Johnstone penalty area and fired low into the bottom left corner to put the hosts one up.

Moments later Steve Hammell clipped the top of the St Johnstone crossbar with a shot from 18 yards.

As half-time approached, Liam Craig delivered a free-kick from wide on the right-hand side that struck the underside of the Motherwell bar with Randolph scampering to reach it.

On the stroke of half-time, Morris volleyed in a sensational left-footed shot to the far corner to level the scores heading in to the dressing rooms.

Immediately after the restart, Craig tested Randolph again with a shot from distance, but the Motherwell keeper was equal to the task.

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On the hour mark, Murray Davidson's swerving drive was pushed out for a corner by Randolph, then the big Irishman blocked a Sandaza shot to keep the scores level.

With 65 minutes played, Ojamaa scored his second of the afternoon, but not before losing his footing inside the St Johnstone penalty area. The Finn regained his balance then thundered a low drive past Enckelman to hand Motherwell the lead.

Moments later, Tom Hateley cut across the ball and blasted a shot over the St Johnstone crossbar.

With barely 15 minutes left on the clock, Lasley left Enckelman standing when he let loose a great strike that dipped under the St Johnstone crossbar.

A foul by Lasley on Davidson inside the penalty area resulted in a spot-kick that handed St Johnstone a lifeline, Sandaza stepping up to convert and give the Perth visitors a fighting chance with just under 10 minutes remaining.

However, a late effort from substitute Cillian Sheridan was kept out by Randolph and Motherwell held out to claim all three points.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (3)

Motherwell

01 Randolph
03 Hammell
15 Hutchinson
22 Clancy Booked
04 Law
06 Hateley
08 Jennings
14 Lasley
17 Daley
11 Murphy (Humphrey - 84' )
24 Ojamaa

Substitutes

31 Bradley
20 Page
07 Humphrey
26 Carswell
16 McHugh
18 Forbes
25 Lawleff

St Johnstone

01 Enckelman
02 MacKay
03 Davidson
06 Anderson Booked
18 McCracken
04 Morris Booked
08 Davidson Booked
09 Croft
10 Craig (Sheridan - 77' )
21 Sandaza Booked
23 Haber (Compton - 68' )

Substitutes

15 Mannus
31 Moffat
07 Millar
34 Keiran Stewart
39 Gray
11 Sheridan
24 Compton

Ref: Murray

Att: 4,520

Match Stats

Possession 51 49

Shots

11 17

On target

6 12

Corners

3 6

Fouls

9 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:51

The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:17

Stevie Hammell takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:17 Booking

Booking Jody Morris booked.

90:00 +2:07

Omar Daley fouled by Jody Morris, the ref awards a free kick.

90:00 +1:18

Cillian Sheridan takes a shot. Darren Randolph makes a save.

88:45

Francisco Sandaza gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tim Clancy. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.

87:38

Unfair challenge on Nicky Law by Jody Morris results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tim Clancy.

84:43

David McCracken gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Henrik Ojamaa. Free kick taken by Tim Clancy.

83:28

Peter Enckelman takes the indirect free kick.

83:28 Substitution

Substitution Chris Humphrey on for Jamie Murphy.

83:28

Henrik Ojamaa is caught offside.

82:09

David MacKay takes a shot. Keith Lasley gets a block in.

81:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Lasley on Murray Davidson. Free kick taken by Jody Morris.

80:24 Goal scored

Goal - Francisco Sandaza - Motherwell 3 - 2 St J'stone Francisco Sandaza scores a placed penalty. Motherwell 3-2 St Johnstone.

79:37

Unfair challenge on Murray Davidson by Keith Lasley results in a Penalty.

76:52

Jack Compton takes the outswinging corner, David McCracken takes a shot. Blocked by Shaun Hutchinson. Corner from the left by-line taken by Jack Compton, Murray Davidson takes a shot. Blocked by Tom Hateley. Murray Davidson produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.

76:52 Substitution

Substitution Liam Craig goes off and Cillian Sheridan comes on.

74:15 Goal scored

Goal - Keith Lasley - Motherwell 3 - 1 St J'stone Keith Lasley fires in a goal from outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Motherwell 3-1 St Johnstone.

71:07

Shot by Liam Craig. Blocked by Stevie Hammell. Corner taken left-footed by Jack Compton from the right by-line to the near post, Tim Clancy makes a clearance. Corner taken by Jack Compton from the right by-line to the near post, Keith Lasley manages to make a clearance.

70:33

Corner taken by Jack Compton, Tim Clancy manages to make a clearance.

69:40

Omar Daley challenges Steven Anderson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jody Morris takes the direct free kick.

68:54

Effort on goal by Tom Hateley from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

67:51 Substitution

Substitution Jack Compton is brought on as a substitute for Marcus Haber.

67:12

Francisco Sandaza takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.

66:19

Darren Randolph takes the free kick.

66:19 Booking

Booking Murray Davidson is shown a yellow card.

66:03

Murray Davidson challenges Jamie Murphy unfairly and gives away a free kick.

64:47

The assist for the goal came from Tom Hateley.

64:47 Goal scored

Goal - Henrik Ojamaa - Motherwell 2 - 1 St J'stone Henrik Ojamaa finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Motherwell 2-1 St Johnstone.