Motherwell Under 20s returned to winning ways with a 3-1 mini Lanarkshire derby victory over Hamilton Academical at New Douglas Park.
The game was deadlocked up until the 54th minute when James Scott put the visitors in front. Accies had already missed a penalty before that goal, and missed another before eventually levelling things through Ross Cunningham.
However, a David Turnbull double was enough to extend the young Steelmen’s dominance over their near neighbours to almost five years.
Motherwell started the match on the front foot and crafted a few early chances, but nothing that would really test goalkeeper Alexander Marshall. At the other end, the unmarked Charles Scott met a Cunningham corner, but his header was blocked before eventually being hooked clear.
Ten minutes before the break, Mikel Miller, a January recruit from Isthmian League South Division side Carshalton Athletic, blazed over the bar from twenty yards when the better option appeared to be teeing up the supporting Ryan Tierney who was in on goal.
Then, five minutes before the interval, the hosts had a great opportunity to take the lead when Jordan Armstrong was adjudged to have clipped an attacking player in the area. Tierney stepped up, but his penalty was well held by Peter Morrison, who guessed the right way.
Morrison was again on hand shortly after, firstly beating away a Jamie Boyd shot then turning away a Cunningham effort after the forward found space ten yards out.
The second half started much the same as the first had ended, with Accies on the front foot. Tierney was again involved, this time his shot from the edge of the box cannoned off the underside of the bar before ‘Well scrambled it clear.
Motherwell weathered the early pressure and posted attacking intent of their own when a Turnbull effort from distance bounced narrowly wide of target, with Marshall scrambling across his line.
However, the keeper would be helpless moments later when Craigan’s men would take the lead. Shea Gordon picked up the ball deep in Accies territory and immediately sent Alfredo Agyeman scampering down the left. He danced past Boyd before cutting it back for Scott who slotted home from close range.
Accies almost hit back immediately when Charles Scott met Lewis Smith’s cutback to the front post, but his effort ballooned well over the bar.
Five minutes later came a huge moment of controversy when referee Ryan Oliver pointed to the spot for the second time in the game, judging Jordan Armstrong to have pulled back the attacker. It looked outside the box, and the Motherwell players protested for some time, but they were let off the hook when Ronan Hughes blazed the spot kick over the crossbar.
However, it would only take a further three minutes before the home side got themselves back to level. A defensive mix up allowed Cunningham the ball six yards out and, despite the best efforts of Morrison and his defenders, the Hamilton man fired it into the top left corner.
Motherwell though were to get another opportunity to restore their advantage. Jake Hastie, on a substitute, crossed low from the left and after Jamie Semple helped it on, Turnbull was on hand at the back post to tap home and make it 2-1.
The Steelmen then added a third. David Turnbull was presented the opportunity from the spot after Semple’s header was handballed by Hughes and he made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to secure a 3-1 victory.