An young ‘Well U20s lost their first match in over a month when they crashed to defeat at the hands of an experienced St Johnstone.
The Steelmen, who didn’t name an overage player in the side, came up against a Saints team with five, including the likes of Brian Easton, Craig Thomson and Scott Brown.
In spite of that, it was ‘Well who were ahead at the interval when David Turnbull scored a super strike from distance after a patient passing move from the visitors.
However, the experience of the hosts shone through in the second half and Easton and Thomson both netted to get their side in front, before sub Greg Page headed home a late third.
Stephen Craigan made three changes to the side that beat Ross County last Sunday. David Ferguson and Dom Thomas were unavailable and Allan Campbell took a knock at training yesterday; Adam Livingstone, Jake Hastie and a trialist front man were included as replacements.
And the youngsters almost took the lead within four minutes. A ball into Mackin was well controlled, and when his pass took a fortuitous flick off the trialist striker, it fell kindly for Hastie. He took a touch and drove towards goal, but his shot came crashing back off the post.
Shortly after, the trialist striker and Robbie Leitch combined, with the latter eventually hanging up a cross towards the back post which Mackin got to, but could only direct his header just over the bar.
It took Saints ten minutes to really register an effort at goal when Thomson’s cross from the right found Greg Hurst in the area, but his header bounced wide of target.
Then, shortly after, the same two players combined to create a chance Saints should have profited from. Thomson’s low, bouncing cross was perfect for Hurst but with the goal at his mercy, he somehow screwed it wide.
Thomson had a shot of his own at one end before Leitch had a chance for the Steelmen, but could only drill a shot into the ground, taking the sting off it.
However, out of almost nothing, ‘Well scored one of the goals of the season. A 14-touch passing move, involving six different players all across the pitch, eventually concluded with Leitch and the trialist striker combining to tee up David Turnbull, who smashed home a dart of a strike into the top corner from 25 yards.
Saints went close to a quick-fire leveller when Hurst was afforded too much space inside the area, but his low shot was well held by Brett Long.
With the Fir Parkers going in level at the break, Stephen Craigan’s message would have been to keep it tight for the opening ten minutes of the second half, but within seconds the score was level.
To be fair, it was an equaliser of some quality from Brian Easton, who curled home a peach of a free kick from almost the same spot Turnbull had netted, leaving Long absolutely no chance.
‘Well had a opportunity to get back in front almost instantly, when Leitch set-up Mackin on the edge, but his spin and hit was straight at Ben McKenzie who saved easily.
It was to prove a crucial block as with their next attack, Saints got in front. A ball into the box was headed back across goal by Liam Gordon and although ‘Well had two chances to clear it, the ball eventually landed at the feet of Thomson who took a touch before lashing high into the net.
‘Well continued to plug away and long-range hits from both Hastie and Turnbull failed to trouble McKenzie. However, they were punished with their third set piece of the match when sub Greg Page rose to convert a corner after fellow sub Daniel Jardine had brought out a good save from Long.
The Steelmen didn’t give up and were impressive in possession throughout. They may have reduced the arrears in the last few minutes when a positive spin and run from Hastie opened up space for the sixteen-year old, but he could only curl wide.
It was a defeat, the first in seven for the young Fir Parkers, but Stephen Craigan will have seen more than enough from his young troops to continue to be optimistic of a bright future.
Motherwell: Long, McMillan, Livingstone, Maguire, Watt, MacLean, Trialist (Falconer – 64mins), Turnbull, Mackin, Hastie, R.Leitch (J.Moore – 76mins)
Subs Not Used: Morrison