Motherwell secured their first 90-minute win in this season’s Premier Sports Cup group-stage, defeating Peterhead 2-1 at Fir Park in Jens Berthel Askou’s first competitive match at home.
Peterhead took the lead inside ten minutes through Jason Brown, but Emmanuel Longelo levelled the game with a strike into the top corner. The game was destined for a penalty shootout but Lukas Fadinger found the winner in stoppage-time.
The Motherwell boss made changes to the side that secured a penalty shootout win over Clyde three days prior. Matty Connelly made his first-team debut in goals, with Longelo, Eseosa Sule and Just also starting for the first time. Paul McGinn and Tom Sparrow were the fifth and sixth changes, with Tawanda Maswanhise, Kofi Balmer, Calum Ward and Stamatelopoulos dropping to the bench.
Jens Berthel Askou was welcomed warmly to the Fir Park turf, as the three stands of Motherwell supporters stood and applauded their new leader as he emerged from the tunnel.
Peterhead set up to frustrate the Steelmen and looked to be ready to pounce on the counter-attack. It was all Motherwell in the early stages, as the hosts controlled the possession.
The first chance of the evening fell to Longelo. A Johnny Koutroumbis cross found Sule, who set the left-back up, and his effort stung the palms of the goalkeeper.
A minute later, however, Peterhead were ahead. Jason Brown pounced on the ball, and despite a late lunge from Longelo, Brown poked the ball past Connelly to open the scoring.
Motherwell looked to get back on level terms as quickly as possible. Another cross from Koutroumbis caused problems for Peterhead, and this time it was Fadinger who had a go, but that effort missed the mark.
Peterhead weren’t here to make up the numbers and produced a fine move on 18 minutes. Intricate and precise passing opened up former Aberdeen man Peter Pawlett, but his shot went wide, and Longelo cleared the danger.
Ten minutes later, the game was level. A driven cross eventually made its way to Longelo, and this time, he made no mistake, firing the ball into the top corner to level the game. 1-1.
From there, the chances kept coming for the Steelmen. New Zealand international Just’s effort was saved, and the follow-up wouldn’t quite land to a Motherwell man.
Sparrow was up next. He passed the ball up the line to Sule, who returned to Sparrow, and the midfielder’s shot on target was blocked before it caused any danger.
Callum Slattery’s left-footed error didn’t trouble the goalie on 34 minutes, nor did Longelo’s effort on 36 minutes as he fired over on the volley.
Connelly was called into action on 38 minutes, pushing away Barry’s free kick that was on target.
On 43 minutes, Longelo was involved again, passing the ball up the left-hand side for Sule. The forward cut inside and blazed over the bar.
Before Don Robertson blew for half-time, there would be one more chance. But not for hosts. Cammy Smith latched onto a loose pass in the Motherwell defence, and it took an on-rushing Connelly to block the strike with his chest to keep the game at 1-1.
Jens Berthel made some alternations between the interval and the hour mark. Just, Longelo, Sparrow and Sule were all withdrawn for Wilson, Halliday, Maswanhise and Stamatelopoulos.
As Peterhead sat deeper and deeper, Motherwell continued to pile on the pressure. Fadinger and Maswanhise put temping balls in the box that just evaded Stamatelopoulos in the box.
Just after the hour mark, a lovely team move involving numerous players led to Elliot Watt chipping the ball over the top for Slattery, whose header was diverted for a corner.
Andy Halliday was next to have a go from 25 yards, but his effort was blocked by a defender’s head on route to goal. Motherwell’s best chance of the half fell to Austrian Fadinger. The midfielder got on the end of a Maswanhise cross but couldn’t quite hit the target with the header.
Just minutes later, Fadinger’s shot was blocked on the line by the Peterhead defence following Liam Gordon’s cross into the box.
Stamatelopoulos saw his header comfortably saved by the keeper before Watt smashed his volley over the bar.
Paul McGinn found himself on the left wing on 89 minutes, as the Scottish internationalist cut back onto his stronger right foot and curled a tempting ball towards the back post, where Maswanhise connected with his head, but the ball trickled wide of the post.
As the game looked to be heading to a penalty shootout, Fadinger became the hero on the night. Patient play on the right wing eventually set Slattery free; he cut back onto his left foot but, with the outside of his right boot, sent the ball into the six-yard box where Fadinger was standing to head home for the win.
A game of patience and persistence, Motherwell got the much-needed three points as focus turns to Saturday’s trip to Stenhousemuir.
Motherwell Team: Connelly, Koutroumbis (78′), McGinn, Gordon, Longelo (45′), Watt, Slattery, Fadinger, Sparrow (54′), Just (45′), Sule (54′).
Motherwell Subs: Ward, Wilson (45′), O’Donnell (78′), Balmer, Halliday (45′), Whyte, Maswanhise (54′), Ross, Stamatelopoulos (54′).
