Motherwell 1-2 Hamilton: Ettien's first goal for Accies provides extra special derby triumph

STEPHEN Ettien's first goal for Hamilton took his new club into today's draw for the quarter-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup on an evening when referee Iain Brines once again took centre stage.

The French striker, signed from Lyon, was as fortunate that his miscued shot five minutes into extra time deceived goalkeeper Graeme Smith as Motherwell's Chris Porter seemed unlucky to be sent off some 50 minutes earlier.

Brines also booked ten players but this was not a dirty game. Although Simon Mensing was also dismissed for a second yellow card in the 110th minute, Motherwell simply ran out of time.

This hotly-anticipated Lanarkshire derby didn't ignite until home midfielder Stephen Hughes crashed a shot from 20 yards against the post after ten minutes. David Clarkson was Motherwell's most potent threat, testing Sean Murdoch with an lob from 25 yards and then heading wide from a Keith Lasley cross following some excellent close control from Jamie Murphy.

The home side, in spite of losing captain Stephen Craigan to injury in the 37th minute, were doing most of the pressing and Murphy ought to have scored two minutes later.

Clarkson's perfectly-weighted through ball left him one-on-one with Murdoch but the latter saved bravely at his feet as he attempted to take the ball round him. Motherwell were seriously disadvantaged on the stroke of half-time, however, when referee Brines once again became embroiled in controversy.

On this occasion he gave a straight red card to Porter for what appeared to be no more than a cautionable offence for a late tackle on Hamilton defender David Elebert. Worse was to follow for Mark McGhee's men when Accies took the lead with a goal of the highest quality. It was effectively a solo effort by David Graham, who picked up a free-kick from Casement 20 yards out and shook off his marker, Mark Reynold, before sending a swerving shot inside Smith's right-hand post.

There followed a rash of yellow cards, with Casement, Simon Mensing and Alex Neil deemed to be worthy recipients, before a reconstituted Motherwell side, Sutton having replaced Hughes, drew level.

Paul Quinn set things in motion with a free-kick which Sutton diverted into the path of Murphy and the youngster finished with aplomb, firing low past Murdoch. But Ettien atoned for a miss late in normal time in the 95th minute when his scuffed effort from Brian Easton's cross trundled into the net to seal a dramatic win.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan (Fitzpatrick 37), Reynolds, Hammell, Lasley, Malcolm, Hughes (Sutton 60), Clarkson, Porter, Murphy (Darren Smith 72). Subs not used: Nielsen, McGarry. Sent Off: Porter. Booked: Hammell, Reynolds.

Hamilton: Murdoch, Mensing, Elebert, Casement, Easton, Swailes (McCarthy 48), McArthur, Neil, Corcoran (Ettien 73), Lyle (Thomas 80), Graham. Subs Not Used: Cerny, Akins. Sent Off: Mensing. Booked: Corcoran, Casement, Neil, Mensing, McArthur, Ettien, McCarthy, Thomas.