Motherwell U20s battled hard but once again came up short against Inverness Caley Thistle at Fir Park this afternoon.
The visitors were far more experienced by Jonatan Johansson will be again frustrated at the nature of the goal his side conceded.
The first, a penalty, was converted by Liam Polworth only for ‘Well to level with a penalty of their own, Lee Erwin winning and taking the kick nine minutes before the break.
The lead only lasted six minutes though as Shane Sutherland smashed home at the second attempt.
The Steelmen equalised again, this time through a deflected Dale Shirkie effort, but Surtherland would have the final say, netting the winning goal on the hour.
‘Well was forced to make one change from the side which lost to Kilmarnock on Thursday with Steven Saunders suspended following his red card, he was replaced by Fraser Kerr who is returning to fitness after a bout of illness.
The opening stages were cagey and it took until the eleventh minute before there was any goalmouth action of note. ‘Well keeper Ross Stewart was called into action to turn a Polworth shot round his left hand post. At the other end a Euan Murray header was too weak to cause any danger to Antonio Ruguero in the visitor’s goal.
However, It was the Highlanders who took the lead on the 28th minute, Shane Sutherand burst into the box and was hauled down by Nicky Devlin for what looked a clear penalty. Polworth took the kick and fired it to the right of Stewart, leaving the keeper helpless.
The goal settled the Highlanders and they started to pass the ball about with some confidence. It was slightly against the run of play then when they conceded a penalty with ten minutes to the break. Lee Erwin tried to work some space in the box but a careless tackle from Danny Devine halted his progress.
The striker dusted himself down and took the kick himself, and despite Ruguero getting a hand to it, the ball ended up in the net.
Inverness hit back with only three minutes to half time, a misplaced defensive header landed at the feet of Sutherland on the edge of the ‘D’. His first effort was blocked by Devlin but the rebound fell right back to the big striker and he made no mistake at the second attempt.
The second half started brightly for the young Steelmen when they equalised within six minutes of the restart. A half clearance from the Inverness defence fell kindly for Dale Shirkie 18 yards out and his deflected effort left Reguero with no chance.
Things were only on level terms for 12 minutes before Sutherland struck his second of the afternoon. A ball from the left found the big striker on the edge of the box and he unleashed a stinging shot high into the top corner which left Stewart.
Sutherland was looking to bag a hat trick and was unlucky to see an angled shot slide just wide of the far post, his next effort wasn’t so pretty as his shot from the edge of the box landed in the South Stand.
Motherwell pushed for a third equaliser in the closing stages; sub Dom Thomas dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box. Then, in dying minutes, a fine strike from Paul McCaffery flew past Reguero only for the ball to cannon off the cross bar and bounce to safety.
It was another frustrating afternoon for the young Steelmen side. Losing poor goals has cost the side all season long. The youths are next in action when they face Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park on the 12th March.
Motherwell: Stewart, Devlin, Kellock, Kerr, Murray, Asghar (Johnstone – 73mins), McCafferty, Erwin, Leitch, Watt (Thomas – 46mins), Shirkie
Subs: Neill, Higgins
Goals: Erwin (36), Shirkie (51)
