Despite dominating the match for long spells, Motherwell’s reserves were held to a 1-1 draw away to Dunfermline Athletic.
Jordan Armstrong’s first of the season cancelled out Lewis McCann’s opener in a competitive first half.
And although ‘Well went on to control almost all of the second 45, they could not get a crucial second goal as the game ended all square.
Manager Stephen Craigan made four changes to the side that beat Hearts 2-0 last midweek. Barry Maguire, Christian Mbulu, Jamie Semple and David Turnbull dropped out, replaced by Liam Brown, debutant Akeal Rehman, Broque Watson and Ryan Bowman.
Motherwell made a positive start and had the first chance of the match after just four minutes, Pars ‘keeper Cammy Gill saving Ryan Bowman’s attempted bicycle kick.
That was the only real action of an otherwise quite opening to the match, that was until Dunfermline took the lead after 24 minutes.
A Kallum Higginbotham free-kick was only partially cleared, landing at the feet of former Dundee United winger Aidan Connolly. His curling shot was brilliantly palmed away by Peter Morrison, only for Lewis McCann to react first to the rebound, heading home from close distance.
‘Well went immediately on the search for a leveller and within a minute, Broque Watson brought out a good save from Gill who turned his low effort around the post.
Half chances came and went via Neil McLaughin and Kyle MacDonald, before Craigan’s men grabbed a deserved equaliser.
Liam Brown’s corner to the back post found Bowman in acres of space. His header was somehow blocked on the line, only for Armstrong to smash home from a few yards out.
‘Well almost got themselves ahead less than 60 seconds later. Watson’s lung-busting run and cross finding Newell in the box, but his header was straight at Gill who held on.
The visitors started the second half on the front foot and Liam Brown went close to putting the visitors in front. The midfielder arrived late at the back post to connect to a Rehman corner, but his shot went a yard or so wide.
MacDonald had a low shot off target, Jason Krones had a powerful header from a corner drop just wide and McLaughlin saw a close-range shot blocked over for a corner, as the Steelmen went in search of a second goal.
The game had a long pause for the unfortunate Kieran Swanson, the Pars defender falling awkwardly after getting back to block a Watson cross from the right. He was stretchered off and looking in considerable pain – everyone at Motherwell wishes him well.
When the game restarted, Pars had their only real chance of the half.
‘Well shot themselves in the foot, giving it away cheaply in midfield, allowing the hosts to break. When the ball fell was worked out to the right, Connolly cut inside and fired towards goal, but Morrison was equal to it, getting down low and his left hand post to save.
The final chance to win the match came in the dying stages of added on time. A cross from the right looked to be falling perfectly for Jamie Semple, only for the faintest of touches from a Pars defender to knock it off his toe and out for a corner.