Motherwell secured their place in the Premier Sports Cup last 16 with a 3-0 win over Greenock Morton on Tuesday night at Fir Park.
Goals from Stamatelopoulos and Maswanhise ensured Jens Berthel Askou’s side would progress to the next round of the competition, sealing 11 points from a possible 12 in Group G.
The manager, for the third game running, named six changes to the side that beat Stenhousemuir on Saturday. Calum Ward, Johnny Koutroumbis, Paul McGinn, Liam Gordon, Emmanuel Longelo and Elliot Watt all came in for Matty Connelly, Stephen O’Donnell, Kofi Balmer, Ewan Wilson, Andy Halliday and Tom Sparrow.
The Steelmen knew a win in 90 minutes would confirm top spot in Group G, with a round of fixtures still to take place this coming weekend, and as such, Motherwell started on the front foot.
The home side, with a high press and full of energy, dominated the first 25 minutes as Dougie Imrie’s men were pressed back into their own third.
A series of corners from Calum Slattery had no takers until Elijah Just’s header forced James Storer low to his left to smother the ball on his goal line.
A well-rehearsed free kick from Slattery picked out the movement of Apostolos Stamatelopoulos 10 yards from goal, but the Australian striker hooked the ball over the bar.
Watt found space from about the same range that he scored for St Johnstone in May, but this time the former Bradford City player fired his shot wide of the goal.
After 32 minutes, Longelo, impressive with his work down the left flank, did well to get to the byeline before cutting the ball back to Maswanhise. His shot looked net bound until it rebounded from Slattery.
Kept almost entirely in their own half until that stage, Morton produced the best opening four minutes later.
And as Tomi Adeloye headed towards Ward’s goal, there were sighs of relief as McGinn’s last-gasp challenge sent the ball behind for a corner as the Cappielow side had loud appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Ryan Lee.
The first half ended where it started, with ‘Well busy around the visitor’s box but without really testing Storer.
The Fir Park boss made one change at the interval, with Slattery making way for Ibrahim Said, who immediately took up an advanced position on the left.
As the play resumed around Morton’s penalty area, Said and Koutroumbis had efforts blocked at the edge of the box. The breakthrough was overdue, and it duly arrived after 52 minutes.
A very patient build-up ended with some clever footwork from Longelo creating space before whipping the ball across the goal. The angled half volley from Koutroumbis brought out a fabulous save from Storer, but as the ball rebounded from the face of the crossbar, Stamatelopoulos bundled it over the line to open his account for the season.
The Aussie striker almost added another a few minutes later, but his deft flick from Maswanhise’s cross drifted wide of goal.
Shortly after the hour mark, with Morton forced to commit more players forward, Askou made three more changes, bringing on the experienced Stephen O’Donnell and Andy Halliday along with Ewan Wilson.
And as the action around the home penalty area increased, it was the ‘Well fullback who produced a solid challenge to block Adeloye’s shot at the edge of the box.
With 15 minutes remaining and Morton chasing an all-important equaliser, Ward was forced into his first save, diving full length to hold Kerr Robertson’s powerful drive.
The Steelmen needed a second goal to kill off Morton and their hopes of claiming top spot, and it arrived seven minutes from time.
There was a bit of luck as Gordon’s through ball took a deflection off Dylan Corr and into the path of Maswanhise.
The Zimbabwe international showed little sympathy as he confidently slid the ball low past Storer.
The winger went one better in injury time when he brilliantly curled the ball high beyond the ‘keeper to claim his fourth goal of the Cup campaign.
Motherwell Team: Ward, Koutroumbis (65′), McGinn, Gordon, Longelo (65′), Slattery (45′), Watt, Fadinger (65′), Maswanhise, Just (77′), Stamatelopoulos.
Motherwell Subs: Connelly, O’Donnell (65′), Balmer, Wilson (65′), Halliday (65′), Sparrow (77′), Ross, Sule, Said (45′).
