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Images from today’s 1-2 win over Hamilton Accies U20s  in the Development League.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

[svgallery name=”acciesU20s190916″]

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan said his players deserve credit after a Lanarkshire Derby win away to Hamilton Accies.

Speaking to MFC TV after his side recorded a 2-1 win over Hamilton Accies in the Development League, the former ‘Well skipper talked of a good spell for the club after both the first-team and U20s overcame their close rivals in the space of a few days.

He said: “There’s different ways of winning games, I felt last week it was our forward players who won us the game with the way they created chances in the final third, but I feel this week at times we had to defend.

“In the first half it felt like they had ten or twelve corners that we had to defend and we did it. I thought David Ferguson was terrific and Barry Maguire, who had a tough game a few weeks ago against Hibs and then came in last week at left back and was solid, but today he grew as the game went on and tonight our defenders can take great plaudits tonight for their performance.”

“We’re disappointed to concede the goal because we all feel we did enough to keep the clean sheet, but overall I’m delighted.”

A brace from Ross MacLean either side of Ronan Hughes goal was enough to claim three points and move up to second in the development league.

Craigan added: “Coming to play Hamilton is tough, you know when you come here that you’re in for a real challenge and you have to go and compete.

“It probably took us ten to fifteen minutes to get a hold of the ball and it was a tough opening spell for us to get through.”

[pullquote]It’s been a good week and I think a lot of people deserve plaudits and credit, the players work hard and put the effort in, so three points is great and I think well deserved.[/pullquote]

The Northern-Irishman felt his players have deserved the results after putting in the hard work on the training ground.

He said: “The boys come in everyday and work hard, they have to have a target of what they’re going for and there has to be an appetite and an aim in football to keep players going so to be up the top of the table at this stage of the season is nice, I’m not saying we’ll stay there, but it’s a nice reward for the players efforts.”

The win was made sweeter due to the rivalry between the clubs – something Craigan admits is rewarding for his team.

He said: “It’s not the biggest rivalry in the world or not the most important in some people’s eyes, but I always think it’s nice. Sometimes you play in games and it adds a little bit of extra spice to it.

“The first-team were excellent on Saturday – Louis Moult was great and the manager said to the young players after the game on Saturday that he saw his first-team paying the way we did last week against Dundee United and I think the first half on Saturday is the way I would say our U20s try to play – moving the ball, creating chances and being good on the ball.”

He added: “It’s been a good week and I think a lot of people deserve plaudits and credit, the players work hard and put the effort in, so three points is great and I think well deserved.”

The Under 20s followed in the footsteps of the first-team counterparts, recording a well-deserved win over Hamilton tonight.

A Ross MacLean brace either side of a goal from Ronan Hughes was enough for Stephen Craigan’s side, who claimed their second consecutive league win after overcoming Dundee United 3-0 last week and moved into second in the Development League table.

It was ultimately a moment of class from MacLean that secured the win, during a quiet encounter at the SuperSeal stadium.

Luka Belić made his first appearance in Claret and Amber since his summer loan switch from West Ham. Lee Lucas was also in the starting line-up for Stephen Craigan, who was looking to build consistency from his side’s victory over Dundee United last week.

The Welsh midfielder replaced David Turnbull who was one of the two changes from the side that won 3-0 at the Excelsior stadium six days ago.

In-form forward Dylan Mackin led the line and midway through the first half the game came alive thanks to the striker.

A long ball over the top looked certain to run through to Hamilton keeper Robbie Thomson, but he retreated back in to goal allowing Mackin the opportunity to rush on to collect. Keeping his composure, the big centre-forward looked up and fed a perfect ball across goal for MacLean to rush in and tap home.

Hamilton’s Sean McKirdy was forced to leave the field after suffering a painful knock, he was replaced by Jamie Boyd.

In an otherwise quiet half, the Fir Parkers went close to doubling their lead with a couple of minutes left in the opening 45. From a free-kick in a dangerous position, won after Accies trialist handled the ball, Dom Thomas curled an effort agonisingly wide of the far post.

The second half started brightly for the youngsters, with Lucas playing a brilliant through ball in to the path of Mackin, who looked to replicate his pass for the first goal, but it was just narrowly beyond Tom Fry at the back post.

Looking to add to his first, MacLean then cut in from the right flank and attempted to strike at goal from outside the box, but his left footed effort rose over the bar.

A few minutes later, Hamilton’s Lewis Ferguson struck narrowly over the bar from range and down the opposite end the Steelmen won a corner. From the resulting delivery, Mackin headed narrowly wide from eight yards. It was a great chance for the striker to double his sides lead.

The home side did eventually level through Ronan Hughes who got the faintest of touches on a delivery into the box to head bundle home from close range..

However, with just under fifteen minutes remaining, the game changed as the hosts were reduced to ten men. Lewis Ferguson was shown a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Fry, with the player having few complaints as he was given his marching orders.

Sub Turnbull tested Thomson in the 80^th minute, curling a left-footed shot towards the bottom corner after being played in by MacLean, but the keeper gathered comfortably after the youngster couldn’t get quite enough behind it.

Craigan’s side could smell blood and thought they had the second when Mackin’s low shot was somehow blocked off the line before being gathered gratefully by Thomson.

However, with seven minutes left, Hamilton’s resistance was shattered thanks to some brilliant play from MacLean.

The number seven rushed down the right-wing, playing a neat one-two with Turnbull before curling a beautiful shot into the far corner; a real moment of brilliance which looked set to gift Craigan’s side with all three points.

The manager then made a couple of changes over the minutes that followed, with Mackin being replaced by Falconer and Hastie coming on for Lucas.

And it didn’t take long for young Falconer to get involved, beating two men down the left before being hacked to the ground to win a free-kick. The delivery from Fry was just over-hit and went out for a goal kick.

It was the last real action of the game, as the Steelmen Under 20s ran out victors for the second consecutive match in South Lanarkshire.

Motherwell: Morrison, Lucas (Hastie – 84mins), McMillan, Maguire, Ferguson, Campbell, MacLean, Belić (Turnbull – 46mins), Mackin (Falconer – 83mins), Thomas, Fry

Subs Not Used: Trialist, Scott, Livingstone

Motherwell fans have the unique opportunity to engrave their name in the history of the club.

With the tunnel walls of Fir Park filling up with white tiles of support and memory, there aren’t many spaces left to get your name up on the stadium walls.

In the final few moments before a crucial game, footballers face a tense wait as they psyche themselves up for the 90 minutes of battle ahead.

Now the Steelmen have some extra help achieving a winning frame of mind – with a wall of support and memory to inspire players in the tunnel at Fir Park Stadium.

The walls of the current passage leading from the dressing room to the pitch transformed in to a motivational tile mosaic featuring messages of support or memories of fans past and present.

Each white tile is 25x20cm in size and carries a personal message or memory (a maximum of four rows, with a 16 character limit per row) and the Motherwell logo, carved in claret for all time.

You’ll receive your official certificate of authenticity at the point of sale, followed by a letter offering a choice of dates for you to come along and visit the tunnel to see your special message in place.

The price for this memento is just £25.

If you want to be among those who have a special mention in the tunnel and give the players that little bit of extra motivation, buy now!

To buy, click here  or call 01698 338068.

Extended highlights from Fir Park where Louis Moult bags four goals as the Steelmen beat Hamilton Accies 4-2 .

Star striker Louis Moult admitted he is “buzzing” after putting in an incredible four-goal haul in the Lanarkshire derby today.

In his first league start of the season since coming back from injury, the English forward bagged a first-half hat-trick in the space of 12 minutes.

Speaking to MFCTV after the match, the 24-year-old expressed his delight for the four goals and the three points.

He said: “The main thing today is that I got through it on the fitness side and a personal note, but as a team we were fantastic, we’ve gone and beat our rivals 4-2 and I’ve got four goals.

[pullquote]I’m absolutely buzzing, it’s sank in now with all the boys congratulating me and all the fans saying well done.[/pullquote]

“I’m absolutely buzzing, it’s sank in now with all the boys congratulating me and all the fans saying well done.

“It means a great deal to me, I’ve just got to try and beat that record now.”

A fans favourite at Fir Park, Moult admitted the response from the crowd is one of the things that spurs him on as a player.

[pullquote]It means so much to myself and that’s what makes me put in so much effort and I appreciate that support and I’ll be honest I get a massive buzz off it, and long may it continue.[/pullquote]

He said: “It’s brilliant, I was just saying earlier that it means so much to myself and that’s what makes me put in so much effort and I appreciate that support and I’ll be honest I get a massive buzz off it, and long may it continue.”

18 goals in his debut season, the forward has now taken his tally in Claret and Amber to 25, and he hopes for an even better campaign that last.

He said: “I always want to improve and score goals so if I can score more than I did last season that’s a massive plus for myself but I’ve got to take one game at a time and work hard.”

Images from today’s 4-2 win over Hamilton Accies in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

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‘Well boss Mark McGhee felt his team were deserving of the three points as they stormed to a convincing win over rivals Hamilton Academical.

A historic quadruple from star striker Louis Moult put the game beyond the visitors and marked the Englishman’s highly awaited return to fitness.

Speaking to MFC TV after the match, McGhee said today’s result can inspire his team going forward.

He said: “We can be encouraged after today’s result. Last week I was and I felt that in last weeks game and even the Dundee game, those are games that historically we could have ended up losing, but we’ve got draws.

“So I was looking at the positives there and thinking of those games as draws instead of defeats rather than draws instead of winning.”

[pullquote]We’ve kicked on from [our previous results] today, the first half-hour we were sensational, I thought we played ever so well.[/pullquote]

He added: “We’ve kicked on from that today, the first half-hour we were sensational, I thought we played ever so well.

“Everything you want as a coach, what you’ve worked on all week, how you want the team to play and then of course the quality of goals too.

“Louis getting four goals was a huge bonus and a reminder of what we’ve been missing.

“Overall, I’m delighted. We got a little nervous second half because they came on to us – credit to them they didn’t give it up at any stage.

“We talked about that before the game, even if we went 4-0 up they would roll up they’re sleeves and dug in.

“We had to go the distance but we did and I think we deserved it.”

The arrival of Ryan Bowman from Gateshead on deadline day has allowed the ‘Well boss to set up in his favoured 4-3-3 formation, and the new signings impact on the side is starting to show.

He said: “At home we can attack games like that, step on to teams and go 4-3-3, you have options and depth to the play and you can pass the ball.

[pullquote]At home we can attack games like that, step on to teams and go 4-3-3, you have options and depth to the play and you can pass the ball.[/pullquote]

“Away from home it’s maybe not quite the same – you have to be a little more guarded and you can’t be too open away from home, so it remains to be seen if we’ll go that way but it worked for us today and we’re grateful for that.”

Ultimately, it was Louis Moult who stole the headlines, after he scored four goals at Fir Park for the first time in 27 years, since Stevie Kirk back in 1989.

“I said that the Dundee and Ross County games, even the Rangers game, could have been different had we had Louis available” the manager said.

“It’s good to have him back, we didn’t expect him to score four, players don’t often do that, but it was great from him.

“He took the penalty as well and I felt that was right. He’d given the ball to Ryan, who won the penalty, but at the moment Louis is our designated penalty taker so as far as I’m concerned when he’s on the pitch he should be taking them.

“There’s also the situation that we were a wee bit under pressure and had Ryan missed it might have turned on Ryan and put the rest of us under pressure.”

Ultimately, the result was hugely important, but the manager feels that next week will be important to keep focussed.

He said: “It’s given us all confidence, I think that next week we start again.

“As shown in the second half they were as good as us, and Partick Thistle could be the same, so we’ve just got to roll our sleeves up and start again.”

[tab:Match report]

A historic quadruple from Louis Moult helped ‘Well to a 4-2 Lanarkshire Derby win over Hamilton Accies.

A hat-trick in 12 minutes put the game beyond visitors Hamilton, despite their attempts to come back in to the game with goals in either half.

From a commanding position the Fir Park side allowed Accies two decent spells, when Ali Crawford scored a couple of cracking goals and gave the home side a few anxious moments late on.

Overall, though, Motherwell’s play, especially in the first 35 minutes, earned them three points to stretch ahead of their county rivals.

It was last season’s prolific scorer Moult, eager to make up for lost time, alongside Ryan Bowman making his home debut, that proved to be a handful for the Accies rearguard from the kick-off.

The former Wrexham man had the ball in the net after six minutes nodding Chris Cadden’s cross firmly beyond Remi Matthews only to be flagged offside.

The ‘Well striker was not to be denied and two minutes later bagged the opening goal. Craig Samson banged the ball down the middle, Bowman climbed to nod it into the path of Moult who continued into the box before stabbing the ball past the advancing ‘keeper.

Accies on loan ‘keeper was then caught out as Richard Tait’s diagonal cross floated over his head to find Moult unmarked to nod the ball into the empty goal to make it 2-0.

Remarkably after only 21 minutes Hamilton found themselves three down. Cadden’s burst down the right ended with an accurate cross to Scott McDonald who fluffed his shot. And although Bowman did better forcing a block from Matthews, Moult made no mistake, lashing a half volley down the middle of the goal to complete an incredible hat-trick.

However, having been completely outplayed for half an hour Accies dragged themselves back into the game after 36 minutes when Ali Crawford curled a shot beyond Samson and in off the ‘keeper’s left hand post.

That lifted the visitors and five minutes from the break they could have narrowed the deficit to one goal when Crawford whipped a 22 yard free kick beyond the ‘Well wall and off the foot of the same post, only for Georgis Sarris to whack the rebound high and wide from four yards.

The Steelmen should have learned from that amazing let off but had to thank Samson for a solid save two minutes after the break to deny Eamonn Brophy.

That proved decisive as a couple of minutes later Darren Lyon tripped Bowman just inside the Accies box. And although the former Gateshead striker was given first option to take the resultant spot kick, he handed the ball to Moult who swept the penalty home and claimed his fourth goal of the game.

That signalled the end of the action for Moult who after an exhausting and memorable hour on his comeback was replaced by Lionel Ainsworth.

However, within five minutes the momentum of the game changed again as Ali Crawford hammered home a cut back from Rakish Bingham high past Samsom to renew Accies’ belief that the game was not over.

That was underlined when Samson produced a fabulous double save to prevent Bingham and then Longridge from reducing the leeway.

Minutes later as the home defence was put under some sustained pressure Bingham’s header was destined for the back of the net until Ben Heneghan popped up on the goal line to head clear.

While Accies chased the next goal, the surging runs and crosses from Cadden and Richard Tait on the right, should have produced a fifth goal which would have finally ended the visitor’s brave hopes of detracting from Moult’s and Motherwell’s overall performance.

[tab:As it happened]

 Lewis Irons at Fir Park

 FT | 4-2

Yet another thrilling Lanarkshire Derby. Mark McGhee’s side deservedly take all three points. Match report and reaction to follow

FULL TIME!!!!!

’90 | 4-2
2 minutes added on here at Fir Park

’89 | 4-2
Yet another booking, this time it’s Clay after a collision with Redmond

’87 | 4-2
Lasley now gets booked for a late tackle.

’80 | 4-2
Hamilton sub: Gillespie makes way for Kurtaj.

MATCH ATTAX | Young ‘Well fans can vote for their Man of the Match. Tweet your choice, name, age with #MatchAttaxMOTM now.

’80 | 4-2

Devlin picks up a yellow card for a foul in his own half.

’79 | 4-2
Crawford’s attempt from the resulting free-kick goes high over the bar.

’78 | 4-2
McManus goes in to the book for a foul on the edge of the ‘Well box.

’75 | 4-2
Dougie Imrie is a mile away from getting the ball and he hacks down Cadden, rightly being shown the yellow card by Collum

’73 | 4-2
Hamilton sub: MacKinnon is replaced by Redmond

’72 | 4-2
The ball falls kindly to Crawford on the edge of the area. The Accies goalscorer snatches at it and it’s well over the bar

’68 | 4-2
Bingham’s header is cleared off the line by Ben Heneghan. Brilliant defending from the big centre-back!

’66 | 4-2
Samson pulls off two great saves in quick succession to keep the Steelmen two goals ahead.

’63 | 4-2
Goal for Hamilton. Ali Crawford smashes past Samson from inside the box to pull one back for the visitors.

’60 | 4-1
Motherwell sub: Louis Moult leaves the field to an incredible response from the crowd inside Fir Park, Lionel Ainsworth is on.

’58 | 4-1
Brophy has a pop at goal but it soars well over the bar.

’55 | 4-1
He’s hungry today! Moult picks the ball up on the left, cuts in and puts his laces through it, but it’s just wide of the far post

’54 | 4-1
Gillespie goes in the book for a terrible late challenge on Moult.

’52 | 4-1
Hamilton sub – Lyon leaves the field for Bingham

’50 | 4-1
Lyon hacks down Bowman in the box, Moult steps up, sends the keeper the wrong way. 4 goals for the forward today!!!

Penalty to Motherwell!!!

’48 | 3-1
Hamilton work the ball in to the Motherwell box, but Brophy’s attempted cut-back is saved by Samson.

The ‘Well get the second half underway at Fir Park #COYW

Louis Moult fires home a 12-minute hat-trick to give the ‘Well a deserved 3-1 lead at half-time. What a game here at Fir Park! #MFCvHAFC

HT: Motherwell 3 – 1 Hamilton Accies #MFCvHAFC

’40 | 3-1
Crawford curls a freekick round the Motherwell wall – it crashes off the post and Sarris has a tap in but somehow he misses

’38 | 3-1
Sarris heads goalward from the corner, and it’s just wide of Samson’s left post.

’35 | 3-1
Goal. Hamilton pull one back, Ali Crawford curls a very neat finish into the far corner.

’26 | 3-0
Sarris rises up to head towards goal from the free-kick, but Samson remains untested.

’25 | 3-0
McDonald strikes the free-kick but it hits the top of the wall – Matthews is fouled in the box and Hamilton get the free-kick.

’23 | 3-0
It’s all Motherwell. Moult jinks past Sarris who sticks a leg out and brings the striker down just outside the box.

’20 | 3-0
Unbelievable stuff here – Moult has a 12 minute hat-trick! He volleys home with venom from inside the area. Welcome back Louis!

’17 | 2-0

Crawford has a great chance from eight yards, but his side footed effort sails over Samson’s goal.

’13 | 2-0
He’s at it again!!! Louis Moult gets on the end of Tait’s cross to head past Matthews who was stranded. 3 in 2 now for Moult!!!

GOOOOOAAAAALLL!!!!

’11 | 1-0
Cadden again delivers a good low cross from the right, Bowman rushes towards the front post but gets too much on it and it’s wide

’10 | 1-0
Moult looks to turn provider as he receives the ball from Cadden then whips in a good cross, but Matthews collects.

‘8 | 1-0

It’s Louis Moult with his second goal in two games, he latches on to a flick on and slots it under Matthews. #COYW

GGOOAALLL!

‘6 | 0-0
Fir Park erupts as Moult heads past Matthews, but the linesman flags for offside. Must have been tight!

‘4 | 0-0
Gillespie has an attempt from extremely far out, but it’s well off target.

‘2 | 0-0
Fast start from the ‘Well, Moult this time down the right crosses for McDonald, who tries the half volley but it’s over the bar

‘1 | 0-0
Straight away Cadden does well down the right, fires a low cross into the box but Matthews gathers.

The Lanarkshire derby is underway! Hamilton kick-off.

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

“It’s remarkable really that for 35 minutes we produced football that you work towards, but then it all got nervous with Hamilton’s goal and it changed.

“Hamilton changed their shape, worked ever so hard, put us under pressure and could have got more than two.

“Moult’s saying he’s feeling better than he’s felt for years and he’s moving more freely. It’s great to have him back. We’ll see if he can get 20 goals by Christmas.

“Bragging rights is for the supporters but the three points is more important.”

Hamilton manager Martin Canning:

“The damage was done – it’s a difficult game to come back from three goals down. We didn’t compete well enough, it’s as simple as that.

“A derby game starts from minute one and we’ve got to go and compete yet we didn’t do that for the first 20 minutes. You’ve got to defend and play better than that.

“We had a wee slight change in shape and and from there on we were excellent. We had lots of opportunities and how we’ve only managed to score two goals in that game, I don’t know.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

[poll id=”283″]

The club’s pre-match ‘Signing Zone’ continues this week prior to the Hamilton Premiership fixture at Fir Park. 

And for the fans, it provides an opportunity to meet summer signing Luka Belic, who has arrived on a loan deal from West Ham, and defender David Ferguson.

So why not come to Fir Park a little earlier before tomorrow’s Lanarkshire derby, where both players will be in The Well Shop’s ‘Signing Zone’ from 12.45pm until 1.15pm, to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for selfies.

Each week, two different players will take their seats as the season progresses as part of the developing fan engagement programme here at Fir Park.

Share your pics on twitter  @motherwellfc using #MFCSigningZone or facebook.com/motherwellfc

The club shop is situated at the Cooper Stand and is open from 9.30am.