Floodlight out!

By Graham Barnstaple
December 2 2011

The SPL’s latest Friday experiment at Fir Park was ended at half time thanks to a floodlight failure with Hibs one up.

As the game started the elements were once again against good football being played with the wind swirling and blowing the rain around the stadium. This did see both sides struggling to find a team mate.

A rare moment of control saw Hibs take the lead on 15 minutes, Leigh Griffiths took controlled the ball about 12 yards out and swivelled to his a shot which rebounded off the post. The rebound fell kindly for Gary O’Connor to blast high into the empty net.

Motherwell came back into it after this but rarely threatened the goal with a shot from Jennings fizzing over and a header from Craigan floating over.

Half time seemed to be dragging on for ever, as a number of coded police messages were put out. Eventually it was announced the game was being abandoned due to circumstances beyond the clubs control.

It transpired there had been an electrical fire in a floodlighting pylon in the South Stand. This was eventually turned off to isolate the problem to prevent any fire taking hold.

Well boss Stuart McCall looked back on his experience at theBradfordfire and felt the decision to abandon the game was correct as safety has to be put in front of football.

It was a real pity for Motherwell the game ended the way it did as they had managed to attract a healthy crowd (although the exact number isn’t known), and the experiment appeared to have worked.