Gannon Fodder

Motherwell (0) v (1) Flamurtari
Europa League, Second Qualifying Round, Second Leg
Thursday 23rd July 2009, kick-off 7.45pm
Shyberry Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

Back to Motherwell's home away from home, the Shyberry Excelsior Stadium, home to their local rivals Airdrie United, as the Steelmen continued their European adventure. Motherwell's Fir Park pitch was still having work done to it in preparation for the upcoming domestic campaign, hence this second leg tie being played in glamorous Airdrie. The 'Well overcame Welsh part-timers Llanelli 3-1 on aggregate after an embarrassing 'home' defeat in the first leg, to set up games against Flamurtari from Albania. The Flota Kuqezi (the Red and Black Fleet) won their home leg 1-0 in the heat, conditions that suited them more. I watched the first-half on their website, with amusing Albanian commentry, and Motherwell seemed very much in control. In the second-half the 'Well went on to miss a penalty after a controversial re-take decision, then went on to concede shortly after.

Klubi Sportiv Flamurtari Vlore, to give them their full name, had their clubs most famous result in 1987 when they defeated European heavyweights Barcelona 1-0, although they did go on to lose the tie 4-2 overall. In the hope of progressing in the newly formed Europa League a small vocal band of fifty or so travelled to see their side. The main and the east stands where both opened as a decent support was starting the come in, news was revealed via the tannoy that the Steelmen were fielding a young and inexperienced side. Senior players: Steven Hammell, Steven McGarry and Keith Lasley were all dropped with 'Well gaffer Jim Gannon favouring a young and energetic line-up, he also handed débuts to new signings Chris Humphrey and Steve Jennings in midfield.

The temperatures were much more suitable for the Motherwell players and the pitch looked to be in superb condition. Our pre-match predictions ranged from my 1-0 and hope for the best on penalties to a seemingly over confident 7-0 romping. To my surprise, just as the match kicked off, ex-'Well players Andy Walker and Fraser Wishart sat next to me, Walker is now a radio pundit and Wishart chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association in Scotland.

Motherwell started with a more 4-4-2 formation, with young Jamie Murphy partnering John Sutton upfront, 'Well gaffer Gannon had previously favoured his 4-2-3-1 formation with Sutton as the focal point. The change of setup along with a more direct approach seemed to work as the Albanians were under some early pressure. An incredible goalmouth scramble after a Ross Forbes free-kick had new men Humphrey and Jennings, along with Sutton, missing chances to open the scoring as the crossbar was struck. The scoring was opened soon after though, just as another scramble in the box appeared to be underway after a Sutton header was saved Jamie Murphy followed up to level the tie.

They were soon ahead overall and two up on the night, youngster (okay, they're all youngsters) Paul Slane broke free and his shot cannoned off the post, the ball seemed to be behind Murphy but he managed to scramble the ball in for a quick fire double. Before anyone had time to explain what an away goal by Flamurtari would've meant Motherwell were three up. Slane cut in from the left and fired a right foot shot off the post and in, sensational individual goal by the kid who seems to have a big future in the game. It wasn't long until the 'Well were at it again, a simple ball lofted forward to Sutton who then tumbled in the box, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, although it did look to be a sort decision. With everything going the Steelmen's way Forbes sent 'keeper Mocka the wrong way with his cultured left foot.

Just after the half hour mark and it was five and Murphy's third, a simple breakaway which resulted in Murphy drilling the shot threw the legs of Mocka, Mocka was being 'Well and truly mocked (sorry!). Still time for one more before the break, just as I said it would be nice if the young centre back Hutchinson got in on the act he did. Forbes curled in a free-kick that Hutchinson flicked in at the near post, unbelievable! We still had the cheek to moan, claiming it was boring and that the second-half would be rubbish now, football fans aren't truly happy unless they're moaning. You couldn't really complain though, the tie was put to bed by half-time and you were witnessing young players putting on a real show.

We had to wait a whole five minutes for the seventh goal, worth the 'wait' I may add, Sutton laid the ball back to Forbes who rifled it into bottom corner from distance, arguably the best of the night, so far. The Steelmen continued to have chances, but as did the Albanians on the break, substitute Roshi netted a consolation goal, slotting the ball past the spectator Michael Fraser in the 'Well goal. Even some 'Well fans gave the goalscorer a sympathetic, or perhaps sarcastic, applause. A moment of concern when a Flamurtari defensive clearance hit a ball boy and knocked him over, the defender was quick to apologise and medical attention was quickly given to the wee boy. He later returned to a round of applause from the fans in the main stand.

Gannon allowed the two début men a early bath along with wonder-kid Paul Slane and it was one of the subs, another youngster of course, Paul McHugh who netted Motherwell's eighth and final goal of the evening. Mocka made a meal of a high ball in the area and presented McHugh with a chance to turn and finish to open his Steelmen account. Late on Fraser Wishart and Andy Walker left just before the full-time whistle, the latter receiving a 'friendly' song of “Andy Wanker! You're a walker, you're a walker” from a few 'Well fans, an ammusing play on words that I first heard at the Scottish Masters where Walker represented Celtic.

In the end Motherwell conquered 8-2 overall on aggregate, and the 8-1 victory on the night is unsurprisingly their biggest European victory. The 'Well will now play Steaua Bucharest over two legs in the next round, away to Romania in the first leg then back to Airdrie for the second. The Militarii (The Army Men) have a bit of European pedigree, winning the European Cup in 1986, and it will be a tall task for the Steelmen to overcome them, but confidence will be sky high after this result. If the dodgy translating is correct from the Flamurtari website it seems like their gaffer Equerem Mumushi is currently begging for forgiveness from their fans as the are currently demanding his sacking.

Other match reports of the youngsters demolition of the Albanians can be found on the BBC website and Motherwell website, the Motherwell site also has a collection of photos, with some used above. The BBC website has goal highlights along with thoughts on the match from 'Well manager Jim Gannon.

Result: Motherwell 8-1 Flamurtari, Motherwell win 8-2 on aggregate

Line-ups
Motherwell: Fraser, O'Brien, Reynolds, Craigan, Hutchinson, Forbes, Jennings (Lasley), Humphrey (McHugh), Slane (Page), Sutton, Murphy.
Flamurtari: Mocka, Strati, Guga, Begaj, Beqiri (Roshi), Sakaj, Alviz, Zeqiri, Veliu, Mema (Galica), Ngjele (Shehaj).

Goalscorer(s)
Motherwell: Jamie Murphy (3), Paul Slane, Ross Forbes (2, 1 pen), Shaun Hutchinson and Robert McHugh
Flamurtari: Odise Roshi

Attendance: 4641