Motherwell progressed to the 2nd Round of the IRN-BRU Cup with an impressive 2-1 win over Edinburgh City at a rain-soaked Fir Park this evening.
Dylan Mackin curled home a cracker to give the hosts a first-half lead before Tom Fry doubled the lead midway through the second half.
City did pull one back via Dean Cummins, but it wasn’t enough as the Steelmen held on to win their first ever match in the competition.
Stephen Craigan named new signing Tom Fry and U17s graduate Jordan Armstrong in the starting eleven and in an impressive opening five minutes, the home side enjoyed long spells of possession against the travelling senior opposition.
Some brilliant exchanges between Dylan Mackin and Ross MacLean worked a brilliant opportunity in the 6th minute, but MacLean dragged his shot just wide of the post as the Edinburgh City keeper Antell remained rooted to the spot.
New arrival Tom Fry looked exciting and direct whenever he collected the ball, surging through the middle of the park and picking a neat pass on 8 minutes.
A well worked corner on 14 minutes saw a low pass slipped to the edge of the area where Luke Watt curled a good effort on goal, but it was well held.
Ten minutes later, Tom Fry picked up a loose clearance and struck an effort on target from 25 yards, but it was saved comfortably.
Edinburgh City nearly opened the scoring with a wonder-goal just a minute later.
Forward Cumming‘s brilliant touch to lift the ball and connect sweetly on the volley looked good but it didn’t trouble Morrison as it went wide of the post.
Some incredible play down the right between MacLean and Fry on 33 minutes should have led to a goal but instead was brilliantly saved by Antell – a neat one-two allowed MacLean to strike at the keepers near post but he pushed it wide for a corner with just over ten minutes remaining in the half.
The Fir Parker’s domination paid off on the 36th minute, when Dylan Mackin turned neatly in the box and smashed an unstoppable strike into the top left corner.
The two sides went in to the break with the score at 1-0 and the home-side in control of the tie.
The ‘Well got the second half going on the same foot they ended the first, dominating from the off.
Turnbull’s clever play in midfield forced a foul from John Dunn and the referee reached into his pocket to produce a yellow card.
Edinburgh City made the first change of the night, with Gibson making way for Muhsin on 55 minutes.
The Fir Parkers doubled their lead on the hour mark and it was again thanks to some lovely exchanges in tight spaces.
A nice ball was slipped through to Fry who tapped it home at the third attempt after some valiant saves denied the youngster a clean finish, but they all count.
Edinburgh City made their second change on the 65th minute – Dunn left the field for McConnell.
And seven minutes later the hosts pulled one back through Cummings – the midfielder struck a powerful finish from close range to make for a slightly less comfortable end to the match than Craigan’s boys would have liked.
And the coach didn’t waste much time before changing things – brining MacLean off for Falconer.
He made another switch on 78 minutes, with Dylan Mackin making way to a great reception from the 402 supporters. He was replaced by James Scott.
The referee produced another yellow card for City with just seven minutes left of the 90 – Ian McFarland was cautioned for shirt pulling outside his own area.
Craigan made his final substitution in the dying minutes of the match, with Livingstone replacing Hastie.
And the U20s saw out the last minutes to secure the victory in comfortable fashion.
Motherwell U20s: Morrison, McMillan, Armstrong, Maguire, Watt, Campbell, MacLean, Turnbull (Falconer ’72), Mackin (Scott ’78), Hastie (Livingstone ’88), Fry
Subs: Stevenson, Moore, Semple
Edinburgh City: Antell, MacDonald, Gibson (Muhsin ’55), Harrison, Martynuk, McKee, MacFarland, Dunn (McConnell ’65), Guthrie, Cummings, Donaldson
Subs: Caddow, See, Allum, Amos
Attendance: 402
Referee: Lloyd Wilson