Motherwell U20s twice came from behind to beat top-of-the-table Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium this afternoon.
Played in varying conditions throughout the afternoon, the Steelmen were excellent against their vastly more experienced opponents, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches.
The Highlanders opened the scoring inside two minutes but Craig Moore smashed home a leveler twenty minutes later.
‘Well were very much on top before the home side went ahead again, only for Jack Leitch to level shortly after.
Then, with almost the last kick of the match, Steven Higgins smashed home the winner to ensure the three points were heading back down the A9 to North Lanarkshire.
Jonatan Johansson made just one change to the side that drew 0-0 with Dundee United seven days ago; Steven Higgins replacing Bob McHugh in attack.
The wind and rain battered the Caledonian Stadium at kick-off but it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the hosts, who made much the better start.
They fired a warning shot across the bow after just thirty seconds with a ball across the face of goal before taking the lead a minute later.
A ball from the right flank found Curtis Allen whose header cannoned off the back of Morgyn Neill. It spun fortuitously out to the supporting Ryan Christie who finished it neatly into the far corner with his first touch.
Caley had further chances to extend their lead; Shane Sutherland shot low straight at Stewart, Liam Polworth went on a mazy run before firing just wide before Sutherland again tried his luck with a low effort that trundled narrowly wide of the post.
It was a wretched start for the young Fir Parkers who, after thirteen minutes, would have be pleased to be just one down.
However, an improvement in the weather coincided with an improvement in Motherwell’s performance. Moore was the first to have a go for the Claret and Amber men, shooting over after good pressure from the visitors.
Leitch’s unorthodox set piece gave Draper in the home goal something to think about before Higgins dragged an effort wide of the post.
The pressure finally told when Craig Moore netted his twelfth of the campaign. David Raven’s short free kick allowed Higgins to pressure Danny Devine. He won the ball for Moore who wasted no time, smashing it high past Draper from twenty-five yards into the top right hand corner.
That goal gave the away side confidence and they almost went ahead on the half hour after a super move down the left flank. A lovely one-two between Thomas and Higgins set up the chance for Moore on the six-yard line but he blazed over.
Six minutes later, Moore again came close. Leitch, McCafferty and Moore all combined down the right this time. The striker’s deflected shot came back off the bar only for the rebound to be turned wide of the post by Thomas.
Just before the interval, Higgins came close to getting on the score sheet. A loose Caley ball in midfield presented Thomas the opportunity to run at the home defence. He slid a nice through ball for the young striker but his first-time shot blazed wide of the post.
Motherwell started the second period much the same way the first ended. McCafferty stung the palms of Draper with a curler from the edge of the box.
‘Well continued to attack and shots from both Leitch and Thomas had to be deflected wide by the charging Thistle defence.
The weather again took a turn for the worse; a freezing gale blew across the pitch making football difficult for both teams. However, it was Caley who adapted better and scored with virtually their first attack of the second half very much against the run of play.
A long ball from the back was controlled well by Allen on the halfway line. He carried it forward before slotting in Christie who smashed home from twenty yards. It was such a cruel blow on the away side who had been well on top since the interval.
They didn’t have to despair for too long though as Jack Leitch soon leveled. The skipper started the move, nutmegging Devine on the halfway, before spreading it left to Moore. He in turn fed Thomas, who cut it back to the edge of the area where Leitch had kept his run going to slot it coolly beyond Draper with his right foot.
Higgins should have made it 3-2 when a spinning ball dropped to him inside the box but he flashed it high and wide. So it was to his immense credit that when presented with his third chance minutes later, he smashed home the winning goal.
The Bellshill-born striker, who only turned 17 in the summer, did well to control a rebounded shot, twisted inside Jason Brown before curling a shot high past Draper and into the top corner.
Incredibly, Inverness passed up two chances to level in stoppage time. Sutherland flashed a header just wide before Allen sent a backpost header into the ground and wide when he perhaps should have made Stewart work.
It would prove to be the last chance in this topsy-turvy encounter as the referee soon blew the full-time whistle. The win, Motherwell’s seventh in eight fixtures, pushes Johansson’s men to within two points of Inverness at the summit, with a huge match against title contenders Celtic next week.
Motherwell: Stewart, Cadden, Ferguson, Murray, Neill, Leitch, McCafferty, Shirkie, Moore, Thomas, Higgins
Subs: Currie, Kellock, Anderson, Mackin
