Stenhousemuir 1, Motherwell 0 (after extra time): 65% of the ball, one shot on target, and a 114th-minute cup exit

Date: 2026-08-16 Author: MotherwellFC match pipeline

Question

What happened at Ochilview, and what does it say about where Motherwell are?

Data

Stat pack data/processed/motherwell/statpacks/2026-08-16_401901389.json (ESPN box score ✓, xG ✗ (non-league), market ✗).

Results

Match story — a changed side, no goals in 90, and a goal conceded in the 114th minute

Motherwell went out of the League Cup in round two, losing 1-0 after extra time at Ochilview Park (attendance 1,943, referee Colin Stevenson). Ibrahim Sa'Id was booked in the 24th minute and replaced at half-time by Emmanuel Longelo, with Alexander Lowry also on for Ewan Wilson at the break. Regan Charles-Cook and Lukas Fadinger came on for Tawanda Maswanhise and Joseph Hodge in the 62nd, Martin Moormann for Jake Girdwood-Reich in the 85th. Fadinger was booked in the third minute of stoppage time. In extra time Zander McAllister came on for Olly Whyte in the 105th, Willy Gabriel Vogt Veigantes was booked in the 107th, and Ewan O'Reilly, a 75th-minute Stenhousemuir substitute, scored in the 114th. Stenhousemuir picked up four bookings. Both sides played 4-2-3-1. Matty Connolly started in goal.

What the numbers say — possession without penetration

Motherwell had 65% of the ball and 8 corners to 9, but took only 7 shots and put 1 on target; Stenhousemuir had 11 shots and 5 on target, and Connolly made 4 saves to Darren Jamieson's 1. Motherwell committed 16 fouls to 14. ESPN records no pass counts for this match. There is no xG or market block for a cup tie.

Personnel and usage — a rotated eleven and six substitutes

The starting eleven was Connolly; Wilson, Girdwood-Reich, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Luca Ross; Mikey Booth, Hodge, Whyte; Sa'Id, Maswanhise, Vogt Veigantes. Lowry had 2 shots in his estimated 45 minutes plus extra time; Whyte's shot was the only one on target. Seventeen players were used, six of them substitutes, which extra time allows. Sa'Id, Vogt Veigantes and Fadinger were booked. Minutes are estimated from substitution times.

Where this leaves the season — the first defeat, and the unbeaten start over at six

Seven competitive matches: 4-2-1, 10 scored, 3 conceded. The first goal conceded in a domestic match of the season was the one that ended the League Cup. In the league Motherwell were unbeaten after two matches.

Limitations

One cup tie with a rotated side; vendor box score with gaps (no pass data); estimated minutes; no xG.

Takeaway

Motherwell dominated the ball at Ochilview, created one shot on target from seven, and lost in the 114th minute to a substitute's goal. A rotated eleven three days before a European play-off is the context; one shot on target in 120 minutes is the number.

Next iteration

SC Freiburg at Fir Park four days later (2026-08-20).