John Beaton and Liam Kelly team up to deny Celtic

Celtic were very very poor today, no one excelled, it was a performance full of 6 out of 10 ratings.

That said the players and the fans were robbed of 90 minutes today with John Beaton and Liam Kelly the main culprits.

From the early stages the Fir Park keeper was milking it at every opportunity, the Bellshill based referee did nothing to prevent the time wasting. Not once during the match did he speak to Kelly about his time wasting.

After Kevin van Veen equalised Callum McGregor’s opener the time wasting went up a level, led by former Murray Park starlet Kelly.

With no contact he managed to find an injury that stopped play for five minute, the physio was on the park dealing with an imaginary injury as Kelly winced, going through the whole play book.

At most throw-ins a Motherwell player would retrieve the ball, as Celtic took a quick throw-in the other ball would be thrown onto the pitch. Beaton took no action.

The last 30 minutes saw a succession of fake Motherwell injuries, players falling down and rolling back onto the pitch while Beaton allowed Stuart Kettlewell’s side regular breathers.

Celtic were miles off it, the passing was slack, the movement was poor the corners carried no threat.

There ought to have been at least 10 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the match, the board went up for just seven.

During that period Motherwell managed to waste another two minute, finally picking up the point that they had spoiled their way through the match to obtain.

A first half booking for Kelly and another for the infringements at throw-ins would have done the trick. Two weeks ago Beaton was a picture of misery as fourth official at the Glasgow Derby, he looked happier today, should be a decent night in Bellshill for some.