Motherwell finally excised their Bayview ghosts from last season with a comfortable 3-0 win in the SFA Youth Cup.
Jonatan Johansson’s men crashed out the Cup at the first stage last season with perhaps the most disappointing performance of the campaign.
Two first half goals from Craig Moore made sure there was to be no repeat of last season’s shock result. A further goal in the second half from Liam Anderson secured progression to the next round.
Motherwell almost made the best possible start to the game when Craig Moore was sent clean through in the second minute but chipped his left foot shot wide of the post. The little striker made amends five minutes later when he did open the scoring.
A Steven Higgins cross to the far post was turned back into the six yard box by Paul McCafferty for Moore was on hand to stab the ball home from close range.
Young McCafferty almost turned provider again only minutes later but Moore could only scoop his cross over the bar.
Moore came close again mid way through the half when he hooked a Jack Leitch free-kick wide of the front post. Higgins should’ve doubled the lead when he burst into the box but shot wide from a tight angle.
It was all Motherwell by now and the second eventually came in the 29th minute and once again Moore was the scorer. He ran on to a Dom Thomas through ball and rounded the keeper before slamming home with his left foot.
The home side almost pulled one back just before the break but Ritchie Hutton could only shoot over from a tight angle after being sent clear.
Moore could have added two more in the early stages of the second half, firstly he chested a Thomas wide at the front post. His second chance also came from a Thomas cross this time he headed narrowly wide at the back post.
The sides swapped long-range efforts with Daryl Falconer’s effort for the home side not troubling Ross Stewart in the ‘Well goal. At the other end, centre-half Nathan Doig blocked Thomas’ goalbound effort.
With less than ten minutes to go, Motherwell finally made it three. Sub Liam Anderson latched on to a loosed ball twelve yards out and smashed a left-foot volley high into the net.
This was the final action of the game and Motherwell can now look forward to the draw for the next round having put this tricky tie behind them.
Motherwell: Stewart, Ferguson, Cadden, Hall, Neill, Leitch, McCafferty (McCall – 85mins) Thomas, Moore, Shirkie, Higgins (Anderson – 71mins) subs: Currie, Macken
Subs Not Used: Currie, Mackin