Source: Team_Talk
Hammell ends drought in Well win
Stevie Hammell scored his first Motherwell goal in seven and a half years as the Steelmen opened the SPL season with a 3-0 win over Inverness.[LNB] Hammell fired in off the post in the 25th minute at Fir Park to take his tally for the club to three goals in 386 appearances.[LNB]Jamie Murphy slotted home after a penetrating run three minutes later and Keith Lasley wrapped up the contest with a glorious strike in the 77th minute.[LNB]The hosts played some inventive football with new signings Nicky Law and Michael Higdon both impressing.[LNB]Inverness contributed to an entertaining first half and Richie Foran and Greg Tansey both hit the post, but they ran out of ideas after the interval.[LNB]With the SPL enjoying its earliest start to a season, scouts from at least 10 English clubs were present at Fir Park with home pair Murphy and Chris Humphrey the likely points of interest.[LNB]Tottenham, Wolves, Stoke, West Brom and Birmingham were among those represented and they saw an early burst of pace and imagination from Murphy.[LNB]The 21-year-old broke clear following a one-two with Higdon but slipped the ball just wide under pressure from the chasing Inverness defenders.[LNB]The hosts stayed on the front foot and Law shot inches wide of the far post following Higdon's flick on the edge of the box.[LNB]Caley Thistle, who had new arrivals Tansey, Gregory Tade, Andrew Shinnie and Tom Aldred in their line-up, had been restricted to occasional and unproductive counter-attacks until the 18th minute when Foran powered a shot off the base of the post from 25 yards.[LNB]Foran soon had a much better chance but blazed over with his left foot from 12 yards following Tade's knockdown.[LNB]Motherwell quickly took the lead after Humphrey got to the byline and crossed from the right. Higdon flicked on and Hammell ran on to meet the ball on the half-volley and shoot high in off the near post.[LNB]The 29-year-old previously scored for the club against Partick Thistle in 2004, although he did net four goals during an 18-month sabbatical at Southend.[LNB]Murphy soon doubled the lead three minutes after a clinical piece of forward play. Law's pass allowed the former Scotland Under-21 international to run at the Inverness defence and he sprinted between two men before placing the ball into the bottom corner.[LNB]Motherwell looked to be heading comfortably into the interval, but Tansey twice came close in the space of a minute.[LNB]The former Stockport midfielder curled a 30-yard free-kick off the inside of the post before meeting Tade's cross with a cushioned volley, which was blocked at close range by Darren Randolph.[LNB]Hammell almost added to his tally after a dynamic one-two with Murphy but his shot was blocked by Ryan Esson's legs.[LNB]Law threatened twice early in the second half, Esson palming away a curling effort from 16 yards before the former Rotherham midfielder shot just over from further out.[LNB]Motherwell contained their opponents comfortably and Higdon just failed to get enough contact on Murphy's deflected strike following a break by Humphrey.[LNB]Shane Sutherland came on for Shinnie in the 62nd minute as Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher looked for a spark, but the visitors still struggled to create chances in open play.[LNB]They did force openings from set plays midway through the half but Tom Aldred headed wide and Sutherland volleyed well over.[LNB]Despite sitting deeper, Motherwell looked dangerous whenever they forayed into the final third.[LNB]Murphy fired just wide from a tight angle after Higdon set him racing down the right and Lasley removed any doubt about the result.[LNB]The ball broke to the midfielder 20 yards out following a half-cleared corner and he set himself up to thunder the ball into the top corner.[LNB]Jonny Hayes shot not far wide from long range for Inverness but they looked a beaten team.
