Louis hits four in 'Well derby win

Louis Moult heads Motherwell 2-0 up against Hamilton Accies (Pic by Alan Watson)

Motherwell made a lively start with Scott McDonald volleying a Moult cross wide after just two minutes.

Moult’s fifth minute headed ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside but the hosts went ahead just two minutes later when goalkeeper Craig Samson’s long punt was headed on by Ryan Bowman for Moult to shoot past Remi Matthews.

The hosts remained in total control and went two up on 14 minutes when Matthews misjudged the flight of Richard Tait’s cross from the right and Moult headed in gleefully at the back post.

Accies had rarely been seen as an attacking force but they missed a glorious chance to score when Ali Crawford shot over Dougie Imrie’s cross from the right.

Moult’s glorious day continued on 21 minutes when he volleyed in his hat-trick after Cadden’s cross from the right was miscued by McDonald to Bowman, whose effort was blocked by Matthews to Moult.

Hamilton’s Massimo Donati was booked for a foul on Moult before Accies almost pulled one back when George Sarris headed wide after an Imrie dead ball.

But the visitors did score on 36 minutes when Crawford curled in a fine shot after a one-two with Grant Gillespie.

Michael Devlin headed just wide from a Crawford corner before Accies came even closer to scoring again when Crawford’s free-kick was just kept out by a combination of Samson and his left hand post.

Samson made a point blank save from Brophy before Motherwell went up the other end to produce a fine passing move which culminated in them winning a penalty for Darren Lyon’s foul on Bowman.

Moult grabbed the ball from Bowman and slammed the ball home from the spot for his fourth goal of an incredible afternoon.

Centre back Stephen McManus had a shot cleared off the Accies line following a Hammell corner, before man-of-the match Moult went off to a standing ovation upon being substituted and replaced by Lionel Ainsworth.

Accies scored a stunning second goal when Crawford whipped home Bingham’s cross from the left and the visitors came incredibly close to netting again when Samson firstly made a triple save and then looked on helplessly as Bingham’s header was cleared off the line after Imrie’s cross.

But ’Well saw out the remaining minutes to go fifth in the Scottish Premiership.