A late, late free-kick from John McGinn denied a young Motherwell side a deserved share if the spoils as St Mirren U20s ran out 2-1 winners.
The hosts had gone ahead a minute before the half-time whistle when defender Paul Dummit headed home an excellent corner kick.
The Steelmen replied just 15 seconds into the second-half when Craig Moore showed great strength to barge his way through the Saints backline before smashing a shot in off the post despite the best efforts of Chris Smith in the home goal.
Both teams traded half-chances but couldn’t convert. Just as it looked as if the game was heading for 1-1 draw, McGinn swept home a free-kick from the edge of the area to earn his side all three points.
It was an incredibly young Motherwell side that took to the field in Paisley. Five of the starting eleven were at school this afternoon with all four of the substitutes also eligible for the Under 17s squad.
It took seven minutes for either keeper to really get working. It was Ross Stewart in the away goal that had to get his kit dirty, getting down well low to his left to make a decent block from a Jamie McKernon shot from the edge of the box.
Motherwell started to show more as an attacking threat and fired their first warning shot when Dom Thomas fizzed a decent ball across the face but there were no takers on what was a slick, slippery surface.
A few minutes later a succession of corners failed to bring any joy for Johansson’s men but enough to force an otherwise attacking Saints side on to the back foot.
David Longwell’s men were having the lion share of possession but were often playing themselves into trouble by overdoing it in the wrong areas. ‘Well had two quick-fire chances to go ahead, both coming after robbing the ball in midfield.
The first, just after the half-hour, was started and finished by Jack Leitch. The auxiliary left-back pinched the ball on the half-way line before surging forward towards the Saints box. He played a lovely one-two with Frazer Johnstone but his flicked effort was easy for Chris Smith when a right-footed blast may have brought about a better result for the 17-year old.
Shortly after, Graeme McGregor was caught in possession by Paul McCafferty and one neat pass inside had Craig Moore beyond the last defender. The little striker blasted a fizzing effort towards goal but Smith was down like a flash to turn the ball round the post for a corner.
Johansson was no doubt preparing for a fairly positive half-time team talk but his plans would have been changed with a St Mirren goal seconds before the interval.
Leitch was adjudged to have tugged on the shirt of Paul McGinn allowing brother John McGinn the opportunity to whip in a curling free-kick towards the box. His excellent cross found the head of Paul Drummit who brought out the best in Stewart who somehow got enough behind a save to turn the ball around the post.
It was in vain for the young ‘keeper as, from the resulting kick from the quadrant, Saints got themselves ahead. It was McGinn again who delivered the ball and it was again Drummit who met it inside the area. This time he out jumped both Ferguson and Murray to bullet home from close range.
You may have been forgiving for thinking that goal would deflate a young Steelmen side but if it did, they showed no signs as the second half got underway.
Indeed, the second forty-five with no more than fifteen seconds old when the Fir Parkers grabbed an equaliser. Although the home side kicked off, John McGinn was guilty of giving away possession cheaply in the middle of the park.
Motherwell quickly seized the ball and after Shirkie had flicked the ball towards Moore at the edge of the area, the pint-sized hitman outmuscled Drummit before firing a blistering effort in off the post despite the best efforts of Chris Smith to keep it out.
St Mirren looked rattled and it took them ten minutes to get themselves settled into the half. They kept the ball for long spells but most of it on the edge of their own box, with messers Moore, Shirkie and McCafferty doing their best to make life difficult for the Black and White rearguard.
Brady went close with a left-footed shot but dragged it wide of the post before Scullion should really have put his side in front with a front-post header which he somehow managed to screw way wide of target when a goal looked certain.
A number of substitutions interrupted the flow of the match, both teams a little slack in possession, although the home side almost got their noses in front when McKernon’s effort from the edge of the area brought out a decent save from Stewart. The rebound landed at the feet of Jack Smith but he was unable to take advantage, screwing a shot wide.
It looked certain to be heading for a draw when Ross Stewart made a great save with his feet just three minutes left to play but the sting in the tail was still to come. Saints sub Lewis McLear was tripped on the edge of the box by Euan Murray, albeit it looked like a soft offering from the match official. John McGinn was in no mood for sentiment though as he curled a super free-kick around the wall and into the corner despite Stewart getting what looked like a decent hand to it.
It was a cruel blow from Johansson’s men who really ought to have left St Mirren Park with a point. The Finnish coach will now have a few weeks to work with his players at the Steelmen are due their ‘free week’ in the next round of matches.
Motherwell: Stewart, Green (McNulty – 67mins), Leitch, Murray, Ferguson, Asghar, Thomas, Johnstone, Moore, McCafferty (Kouider-Aissa – 75mins), Shirkie (Cadden – 87mins)
Subs Not Used: Currie (GK)
