The Under 20s made it four consecutive victories with an emphatic 3-0 win over Aberdeen at Fir Park.
Craig Moore opened the scoring after just ninety seconds before Bob McHugh doubled the advantage a minute into the second half.
McHugh grabbed his second, and Motherwell’s third, ten minutes from time to seal the win and another three points, which moves the Steelmen up to fifth in the table; four points behind top-of-the-table Hamilton Accies.
Jonatan Johansson made four changes to the starting eleven that beat Rangers last midweek.
Ross Stewart, Fraser Kerr, Dale Shirkie and Chris Cadden dropped out, replaced by Max Currie, McHugh, Paul Lawson and the returning Euan Murray, who was making his comeback following a hamstring injury.
The home side got off to the perfect start when Moore scored his ninth goal of the season just only ninety seconds in.
He showed his predatory instincts when he rifled low under the keeper after good build up play on the left flank by Dom Thomas.
To their credit, the young Dons responded quickly through Nicky Low who cracked a shot off the under side of the bar after Currie had punched out a cross from the right.
The young ‘Well keeper had to be on his toes again minutes later when left-back Craig Murray’s cross-cum-shot required a good save at his near post.
At the other end, Aberdeen ‘keeper Danny Rodgers pulled off a stunning full length save to deny Paul McCafferty, whose fizzing 25-yard shot was heading for the top corner. From the resultant corner, Morgyn Neill saw his header cleared off line.
Just before the break, centre back Michael Rose was given a free header but it was straight at keeper Currie.
Much like the first half, Motherwell made an excellent start to the second and doubled their lead within the opening minute. Moore combined with McHugh with the latter driving across the keeper and into the bottom left corner.
Aberdeen almost pulled one back within a minutes= when Gregg Wylde’s pass across the six yard box found Stephen O’Neill at the far post but his shot from a tight angle was cleared off the line by Neill.
Down the other end, Dom Thomas almost set up a third for ‘Well when his ball across the 18 yard box found Moore but the striker’s shot slipped narrowly wide of the left had post.
Motherwell enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early stages of the second half, with the next effort coming from McHugh but his twenty-yard strike flew just over the bar.
The Steelmen continued to press and Jack Leitch’s free kick picked out Adam Cummins whose looping header was turned over by Rogers. From the corner, McCafferty was unlucky with a volley from the edge of the box.
Aberdeen came close to reducing the deficit midway though the half when Craig Stories headed an O’Neill cross over the bar. That chance came at perhaps Motherwell’s sloppiest period of the match. However, with ten minutes left, McHugh added an exclamation mark with a third. And what a strike it was!
The 22-year old picked up a loose ball 30 yards out, took a good touch to set himself before unleashing a swerving shot which rocketed past Rogers high into the top corner.
In the dying minutes, keeper Currie made his contribution in an outstanding all round team performance when he kept out a Wylde effort with his feet with the winger through one on one.
Sub Dale Shirkie almost made it four in the final minute but his fine run was ended with a brave save from Rogers.
Motherwell: Currie, Cummins, Ferguson, Murray (Cadden – 60mins), Neill, Lawson, McCafferty (Higgins – 83mins), Leitch, McHugh, Moore, Thomas (Shirkie – 83mins).
Subs not used: Morrison, Hall, McCall, Anderson