Motherwell Under 20s were held to a 1-1 draw by Ross County at a snowy Excelsior Stadium this afternoon.
The young Steelmen took the lead through a James Ross Own Goal but were pegged back by a second half header from Greg Morrison and couldn’t find a winner, despite having a penalty.
Stephen Craigan made two changes to the side that defeated Hamilton Accies on Tuesday; Joe Chalmers and Dylan Falconer coming in for Jack McMillan and Dylan Mackin.
They almost made the perfect start as Dom Thomas worked his way forward and got a shot off but it curled well wide of the post.
The Steelmen were getting some joy down the left, but efforts from Chalmers and Thomas failed to punish the visitors, with the latter’s shot being well turned past the post by Foden in the County goal.
It was the 25th minute before County had a sniff of goal, firstly through Tony Dingwall, who was subsequently subbed off, then MacIver who got into a great position but tamely shot at PJ Morrison.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 28th minute.
Dom Thomas got past Miller all too easily and fired a cross/shot past Foden and with Dylan Falconer lurking for a tap-in, James Ross could only poke the ball into his own net.
County almost got back level just before half-time as Darren Moffat clipped a ball to the back post towards the onrushing Greg Morrison but the ball took an awkward bounce and he could only volley over the bar.
The second half took a while to get going, with precious little in the way of chances., but it was County who made theirs count.
McLaughlin picked the ball up from deep and whipped in a great ball over the head of Maguire. There was a perhaps a touch of fortune about Morrison’s header as it bounced into the astroturf and looped over PJ’s head and into the net.
For all McLaughlin did well for the goal, he turned villain ten minutes later when he fouled Luke Watt inside the box.
Thomas stepped up and opted to go straight down the middle but unfortunately for him Foden’s trailing legs were enough to make the stop.
‘Well had one last chance to take all three points, again through Thomas but from six yards the County defense did enough to force him to pass but it went through Turnbull’s legs and out for a goal-kick.
The point keeps Motherwell in sixth place with two matches left to play, with their next tie being against Dundee on Tuesday.
Motherwell: Morrison, Watt, Chalmers, Maguire, Hall, Campbell, MacLean (Hastie – 71mins) , Turnbull, Falconer, Thomas. R. Leitch
Subs not used: Long, Scott, Livingstone, Moore, Ferguson, McMillan,