Motherwell Under 20s lost 3-2 to St Mirren in an incident-packed Development League match in Paisley tonight.
Unlike in previous games, it was ‘Well who took an early lead when Dylan Mackin prodded his side in front inside four minutes. However, Saints were level then infront before the break thanks to goals from Lewis McLear and Lewis Morgan.
The home side were reduced to ten men when Jaison McGrath was ordered off for a second bookable offence, before Dylan Falconer scored in controversial circumstances eight minutes from time.
However, despite the man advantage and scoring to level things up, it was the hosts who scored the winner late on through McLear to take all three points.
Under 20s assistant Keith Lasley made significant changes to the side that drew with Hearts seven days ago. Indeed, only four players survived in a team that contained not one single over-age player in the squad.
And it was the away team, kitted in all Claret, who started the match on the front foot and took the lead after just four minutes.
Full back Luke Watt picked up the ball on the left hand side and wasted no time curling an inviting cross into the area. Luke Conlan picked up, but dallied a little, allowing Mackin to steal. The striker maintained his composure to coolly lift the ball up and over the outrushing Wilks to open the scoring.
Saints replied with a long-range strike from Barry Cuddihy that flew high over and into the stand, before Ross MacLean almost rounded off a good move with a back-post header, but it was straight at Wilks who saved.
The Saints keeper had to look smart seconds later when following his kick-out, the ball was quickly back at the feet of Mackin whose quick-fire shot deflected into the air and spun towards goal, reminiscent of Marvin Johnson’s Play-off Final goal against Rangers at Fir Park. Sadly for the Steelmen, Saints stopper Wilks moved his feet well and comfortably held.
Luke Watt had a trundler at goal just before the half hour but that was the last Motherwell would threaten in the half which the home side went on to dominate.
It started with an ambitious 40-yard bouncing effort from Conlan, which forced PJ Morrison to turn around at the expense of a corner.
However, the young keeper was powerless to prevent the hosts scoring with their next attack five minutes later. Saints did well to move the ball about on the edge of the ‘Well area, and after Lewis McLear’s neat one-two with Jaison McGrath, the former curled a low strike into the bottom corner with Morrison at full stretch.
It went from bad to worse for the Fir Parkers on the stroke of half-time as David Longwell’s side got their noses in front. Left back Jordan Stewart sent a tremendous through ball to Lewis Morgan, sending the Saints man clear. He kept his composure to slot beyond Morrison to give his side a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Saints could have all but wrapped up the win just four minutes into the second half when McLear collected a weak clearance and with Morrison off his line, the striker’s lob hit the bar before bouncing out.
Motherwell responded with a Robbie Leitch corner that found Ben Hall at the back post but his header dropped wide of target.
Saints found themselves down to ten men when Jaison McGrath was ordered off for a quick-fire double booking. The first was for a cynical, foolish trip on David Ferguson. The second, just a few minutes later, looked a little harsh and more like two players competing for the ball.
It didn’t deter the hosts though and they continued, with their abundance of pace, to look a threat on the counter, particularly via left-sider Morgan who twice raced away clear of the Steelmen rearguard, only to be denied on both occasions by Morrison. Those efforts were sandwiched either side of a low Cadden shot that forced Wilks to parry.
Mackin also had a header flicked towards goal, but it presented little problems for Wilks to pluck out the air.
The extra man eventually started to take it’s toll on Saints as ‘Well started to take control. Leitch had a shot fly high over the bar, sub Jake Hastie’s deflected effort bounced inches wide and when the corner eventually came over, Watt laid it on a plate for Mackin only for the big striker to scoop over from a yard out.
Then, with eight minutes to go, Motherwell levelled things up in controversial and unusual circumstances. Goalkeeper Wilks was adjudged to have held the ball longer than the allowed six seconds. He was booked by referee Grant Irvine and after taking a quick free-kick with Saints having no time to retreat, Dylan Falconer eventually slammed home into an empty net. St Mirren’s players and management team were apoplectic at the call, surrounding the officials amid chaotic scenes.
However, the players on the park quickly regrouped and almost got themselves back in front, only for a low shot to crash into the side-netting. It was a warning the young Claret and Amber men failed to heed though as with five minutes left on the clock, Saints grabbed the winner.
Conlan led his side into another quick counter, and when his low shot was parried out by Morrison, McLear was on hand to tuck home his second of the night, Saint’s third, to wrap up all three points.
Motherwell: Morrison, McMillan, Watt, Ferguson, Hall, Turnbull (Hastie – 67mins), MacLean, R.Leitch, Mackin, Watters (Falconer – 67mins), Cadden
Subs Not Used: Potts, Livingstone, Moore, Maguire
