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  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Watch highlights from the win over Sligo Rovers

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Players react to third round win

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Craigan proud of Colts

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Motherwell Colts 2 – 0 Sligo Rovers

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Players look ahead to Sligo Rovers clash

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Previewing Motherwell Colts v Sligo Rovers

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    In Numbers: Colts look to make history

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Irn-Bru cup programme preview

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Colts try their hand at Bru Pong

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Need to know: A look at Sligo Rovers

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Watch highlights from the win over Sligo Rovers

    Jake Hastie and Christian Mbulu found the net in a 2-0 win for Stephen Craigan’s Colts in the IRN-BRU Cup.

    The young Steelmen put their Irish opponents to the sword to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Players react to third round win

    Christian Mbulu, Barry Maguire and James Scott reflect on an impressive 2-0 victory over Sligo Rovers. 

    The youngsters display secured passage to the last eight of the Irn-Bru Cup, becoming the first Colts side to do so.

    Mbulu said: “I think it was a good performance. We started the game well and got the first goal at a crucial time.”

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Craigan proud of Colts

    Stephen Craigan was proud to see his youngsters put in an assured display and progress to the quarter final of the Irn-Bru Cup. 

    The Northern Irishman and his players made history by becoming the first Colts side to make it to the last eight, thanks to a convincing 2-0 victory over Irish outfit Sligo Rovers.

    Craigan said: “The boys showed maturity today and there are loads of positives. I’m nothing but proud.”

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Motherwell Colts 2 – 0 Sligo Rovers

    Motherwell Colts 2 – 0 Sligo Rovers

    Motherwell produced a history-making performance to be the first Colts side to reach the quarter finals of the Irn-Bru Cup.

    Goals in either half secured a 2-0 victory over Irish outfit Sligo Rovers, during a convincing afternoon for Stephen Craigan’s side.

    And it was a very bright start for the youngsters at Fir Park, taking the lead after just 12 minutes.

    Darting in to the box from the left flank, Jake Hastie fired home from a tight angle, courtesy of a deflection.

    The young Steelmen continued their strong start, playing some neat football against their Irish opposition.

    Kyle MacDonald nearly rounded off a nice spell of possession with a rasping finish, but it strike the side of the net.

    Before long, the visitors started growing in to the game, with Rhys McCabe at the heart of things.

    The midfielder tried his luck from distance on three occasions in quick succession, the first rising over the bar before Rohan Ferguson produced two fine saves on a sloppy surface to keep Craigan’s side in front.

    A brief stop at the start of the second half forced Sligo in to their second change after making one at the interval, with Patrick McClean being forced off through injury and being replaced by Seamus Sharkey.

    And Craigan’s side turned the screw as they started to control the fixture.

    It should have been 2-0 when Broque Watson found plenty of space and time at the end of a swift counter-attacking move, but he opted for a first time shot which was tame and straight at McGinty in the Rovers goal.

    Before long though, it was 2-0 and it certainly arrived in style. Christian Mbulu, brining the ball under control just inside the Sligo box, showed neat footwork before thundering a stunning effort in to the top corner with the outside of his right boot.

    From then until the final whistle, the youngsters produced a mature performance to hold on to the clean sheet and make it to the last eight of the tournament.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Players look ahead to Sligo Rovers clash

    Rohan Ferguson, Adam Livingstone and Neil McLaughlin look ahead to Saturday’s clash with Sligo Rovers.

    The youngsters have a chance of being part of the first Colts side to make it to the quarter final of the Irn-Bru Cup, with St Mirren the only other side remaining in the competition.

    And there’s certainly been a buzz around the club this week. Adam Livingstone said: “There’s a lift among the squad, training has been even better this week and it just feels different from a normal game.”

     

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Previewing Motherwell Colts v Sligo Rovers

    Previewing Motherwell Colts v Sligo Rovers

    Sligo Rovers are the visitors to Fir Park on Saturday, as Motherwell look to becoming the first ever Colts side to win a spot in the IRN-BRU Cup Quarter Final.

    Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

    Head to head

    Motherwell have never faced SSE Airtricity League Premier Division side Sligo Rovers in a competitive fixture.

    However, the teams did square off in a pre-season friendly in July of 2015. Dom Thomas and a late Wes Fletcher goal gave Ian Baraclough’s ‘Well a win ahead of the 15/16 campaign.

    The story so far

    Motherwell ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over East Stirlingshire at the Falkirk Stadium before edging out fellow Colts side Dundee 2-1 at Dens Park.

    Sligo booked their spot in the third round with a 4-1 win over Livingston Colts at the Showgrounds.

    Elsewhere in the competition

    The action gets under way on Friday evening when League 1 leaders Arbroath host League 2 pacesetters Edinburgh City at Gayfield.

    There are seven matches on Saturday, including an all-Championship encounter between Dunfermline Athletic and Alloa Athletic at East End Park.

    Ross County, second in the Championship, face Montrose at the Global Energy Stadium while in-form East Fife welcome Queen of the South to the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium.

    There are two all-non SPFL ties – Dublin-based Bohemians play National League Sutton United at Dalymount Park and Welsh side Connah’s Quay Nomads are at home to Coleraine of Northern Ireland.

    The quarter-final draw takes place at The Hub in Edinburgh next Tuesday, October 16, at 1.00pm, with ties to be played on the weekend of November 17/18.

    Ticket information

    Motherwell fans can reserve their tickets online up until 10pm on Friday 12th through our ticketing website then collect them from the Ticket Office on matchday. Those that do will be in with a chance of winning of a year’s supply of Irn Bru.

    Both sets of fans can pay at the turnstiles on the day of the match. Adult tickets are just £8, concessions £4 and kids aged under 15 is just £2.

    Sligo supporters will be situated in the first two sections of the John Hunter stand, nearest to the Cooper Stand. Sligo fans should enter via the Cooper Stand turnstiles 7 & 8, where they will be directed to their section.

    Motherwell fans should enter via John Hunter Stand turnstiles 1-5 as usual, all turnstiles will take either cash or pre-ordered tickets. The barcode readers will not be in use for this match.

    Pre-match

    Our Cooper Bar is open from 11am in the Davie Cooper stand, offering food and drinks to supporters of both teams.

    Team news

    Defender Shaun Bowers will miss out with an injury and the game will come too quick for young striker Cole Starrs, who is close to making a return from a cruciate ligament injury.

    Sligo will have to do without former Hamilton Accies man Lee Lynch who is ill and will miss out. Defender Gary Boylan has an ACL injury and will miss the rest of the campaign for the Bit o’ Red.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    In Numbers: Colts look to make history

    In Numbers: Colts look to make history

    IRN-BRU Cup action returns to Fir Park this Saturday when Sligo Rovers take on Motherwell Colts in the third round of the competition.

    Here’s the game previewed in numbers.

    Three

    The number of Colts teams who have made it to the third round of the competition since the new Challenge Cup format came into being back in 2016/2017.

    Celtic did it in the first year, beating both Annan Athletic and Cowdenbeath before eventually being eliminated by Livingston at Almondvale.

    This season, St Mirren have joined ‘Well at this stage following wins over Kilmarnock and Hamilton Accies Colts. Saints now face Queens Park at home on Saturday for a place in the last sixteen.

    Six

    The number of youngsters in Stephen Craigan’s squad who have first team experience under Stephen Robinson.

    Adam Livingstone, Barry Maguire, David Turnbull, Jake Hastie, Liam Brown and James Scott have all featured in the first team having impressed with the reserves.

    There are other waiting patiently in the wings too, with the likes of Kyle MacDonald and Jamie Semple continuing to put in strong performances, to name a few.

    ’81

    Craigan’s youngsters go up against experienced first team opposition in Sligo Rovers, with 36-year-old Raffaele Cretaro the most experienced in the Irish outfit.

    The ’81-born forward is partnered by some other players with experience on their side, including 28-year-old Seamus Sharkey and 26-year-old Rhys McCabe.

    However, the Bit o’ Red also have some exciting youngsters, including 18-year-old’s John Mahon and Darren Collins.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Irn-Bru cup programme preview

    Irn-Bru cup programme preview

    Saturday’s matchday magazine for Motherwell Colts’ clash with Sligo Rovers is now on sale in the ‘Well Shop.

    And thanks to the generosity of our publishers Curtis Sport, all those who have purchased a ticket will receive a complimentary programme upon arrival at Fir Park.

    There is plenty to be found in the 24-page issue, including exclusive interviews with David Turnbull and Barry Maguire, as well as a look back over the journey the Colts have gone on to reach the last-16.

    Pick up your copy of the magazine, styled like an Irn-Bru can, now.

     

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Colts try their hand at Bru Pong

    To get in the spirit for Saturday’s Irn-Bru Cup clash, a few of the boys tried their hand at Bru Pong. 

    The aim is simple: clear up the opponents cups of ginger by tossing a ball in to the cup.

  • Reserves & Under 18s

    Need to know: A look at Sligo Rovers

    Need to know: A look at Sligo Rovers

    Motherwell host SSE Airtricity League Premier Division side Sligo Rovers at Fir Park on Saturday afternoon.

    Stephen Craigan’s side have beaten both East Stirlingshire and Dundee on their way to this stage as part of an impressive start to their domestic campaign.

    The youngsters have also won both Reserve Cup matches and collected seven points from their first four league matches, including wins over both Hearts and Hibs.

    They now face Sligo Rovers on Saturday, looking to create history by being the first Colts team to book a spot in the Irn-Bru Cup quarter-finals.

    The ‘Baraclough Derby’

    When the draw was first made, fans of both clubs took to social media to jokingly dub the tie – ‘the Baraclough Derby’.

    Bara was in charge of the Bit ‘o Red between 2012 and 2014, culminating in one of the most successful periods in the history of the club. He won the Premier Division in his first season, the FAI Cup in his second and the Setanta Sports Cup in his last, before switching the Fir Park in the winter of 2014.

    Although his time in Scotland was brief, he succeeded in keeping the club in the Premiership, famously beating Rangers home and away in the play-off final. He also brought Marvin Johnson and Louis Moult to ‘Well, both of whom combined netted the club over £1m in transfer fees.

    A season almost complete

    The League of Ireland operates a summer calendar, meaning the 2018 campaign is almost at an end. Indeed, Gerard Lyttle’s side have just three games left, but secured their top-league status following last weekend’s 2-1 win over bottom side Bray Wanderers – only their third home win of the season.

    Currently sitting in eighth, they could still catch the three teams ahead of them when they wrap up the campaign with matches against champions Dundalk, Bohemians and third-placed Shamrock Rovers.

    A familiar face or two

    A handful of those likely to feature for Sligo on Saturday have plied their trade in the Scottish leagues.

    The most notable is midfielder Rhys McCabe, who started his career at Rangers before leaving for Sheffield Wednesday back in 2012.

    After three years at Hillsbrough, he was back north with Dunfermline before signing on at the Showgrounds in June 2017.

    Others who have been in Scotland include Irvine-born Lewis Morrison (Kilmarnock & St Mirren), Lee Lynch (Hamilton Accies) and Caolan McAleer (East Fife, Airdrie & Morton)

    Life on the road

    Whilst Sligo’s form at home has been a disappointment for their fans, results on the road have been very impressive.

    They have won at the home of almost every top-league team this campaign, with the exception of runaway leaders Dundalk, European contenders Shamrock Rovers and Waterford.

    Rovers have collected 38 points so far this term, 26 of them on their travels. Only the teams that will finish first and second have amassed more away points, so Saturday’s trip to Fir Park won’t faze this Sligo squad.

    We meet again…

    Although this is the first time Motherwell and Sligo have locked horns in a competitive fixture, the teams faced each other in friendly action back in the summer of 2015.

    Dom Thomas had put the Fir Parkers ahead after just eight minutes, however the home side were soon level through Keith Ward.

    It stayed that way until virtually the last kick of the ball when Wes Fletcher slotted home what was his second goal of that particular pre-season campaign.