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Date: 22nd July 1999 14:04pm (!)

Venue: Dalziel Park, Cleland, Motherwell. A purpose built training facility which is adjacent to a housing estate and golf club (nice bar.) Full size pitch, with temporary football goals erected in front of rugby posts - this may have confused a couple of United players….

Price: Don't be silly.

Conditions: Warm, with outbreaks of bright sunshine.

Kit: Normal home.

Crowd: 34 - away support 3 (unsegregated.) Figure does not include temporary invasion of small children clad in QPR-type strip, who were soon shooed away by a coach eager for them not to pick up the bad habits of Pistone, Georgiadis etc.

Teams:
MFC: Brown, Ramsey, Hammell, Dempsie, McLaughlin, Doherty, Nevin, Lasley, Fallon, Adams, Nicholas.
Subs: Callahan for Lasley 37, McFadden for Fallon 64, Macdonald for Doherty 64, Keate for Brown 87 mins.

NUFC: Grindlay, Arnison, Pistone, Elliott, Caldwell S, Pearce, Green, Georgiadis, Woodcock, McMahon, Knight.
Subs: Caldwell G for Caldwell S 45 mins, Talbot for Arnison 67 mins.
Subs n/u: Robinson, Walker, Muir.

Referee: S.Miller (East Kilbride.)

Who? Pat Nevin - now Motherwell Chief Executive and 35 years old, but still as keen as ever to play, like Pearce. The two "old stagers" could certainly be used as role models for their younger colleagues, in stark contrast to the Italian deserter and the Greek misfit.
Derek Adams - striker who went the long way round to finally end up at his local Premier club, arriving at Motherwell via Aberdeen, Burnley and Ross County.

Goals: 9 mins. Ramsey opened the scoring with a accurate lofted shot over the keeper from 18 yards, having run on to a long ball played infield. 1-0.
42 mins. Former Scottish International Pat Nevin rolled back the years with a tremendous 20 yarder that flew into the top right hand corner of the goal and brought applause from all present. 2-0.
56 mins. David McMahon unceremoniously dumped in the box having gained an advantage by spinning away from his marker. Elliott converted the penalty with a shot the keeper almost repelled. 2-1.
89 mins. With the chance of an equaliser seemingly gone thanks mostly to wayward efforts by Knight, McMahon took a short pass from Georgiadis on the "D" and nipped over a tackle to place the ball past a marooned keeper.

Waffle: An unadvertised pre-season game that came about through the network of contacts built up by reserves boss Tommy Craig during his time coaching in Scotland. As a break from the pre-season routine at Durham, Tommy brought a mixed squad of juniors and reserves (with one or two others he would no doubt rather have left behind) up for a three day break. As well as this game, the lads were scheduled for a round or two of golf and a trip in to the pictures instead of watching the game at Tannadice. Very wise as it turned out….

Upon arrival at the pitch, the motionless figure of Pistone was to be found and he remained that way until seconds before kick-off when he decided that his foot needed to be bandaged, apparently for a blister. With two left backs in the side, Pearce moved into central defence to leave the Italian the number three slot, and the contrast between the two players was clearly evident. While the Italian had to be constantly cajoled by Tommy Craig into venturing anywhere near the action, Pearce was marshalling the team and delivering advice and instructions in his usual forceful manner. In a similar soporific state to Pistone was Georgiadis, who struggled with the 'Well reserves in the same way he struggled against Premier league sides, second division reserve outfits and Ponteland United in the Senior Cup. The kindest thing would probably to have him put to sleep in the absence of another club as daft as we are taking him away….

In a game that United should have won by a clear margin, 'Well created little but scored in two of their best three attacks, while for the visitors, Paul Knight missed three decent chances and Woodcock could also have converted from close range. Junior keeper Steven Grindlay was a spectator for large periods of the contest, while at the other end, 'Well allowed on-trial USA keeper Ian Keate precisely three minutes to impress - which he didn't, McMahon putting the equaliser past him. Tommy Craig later mentioned how much he thought the Irish forward had developed since his arrival on Tyneside, and certainly on this evidence his close control has improved and he looks less awkward on the ball.

Speaking to the referee after the match, he confirmed that had it not been a practice affair, Pistone would have walked for his two niggly challenges in the second half, one of which required treatment for the 'Well player. Former Darlington striker Paul Robinson spent the afternoon on the sidelines, having been ordered across to Tannadice to join the senior squad for the game that evening.

Thanks to Motherwell FC for allowing us to wander in and watch the game, especially the friendly ladies at Fir Park, who directed us excellently to the training ground and supplied us with correct kick-off time, unlike Newcastle.

Biffa

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