Motherwell’s reserve side returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Hibernian on Monday.
A double from David Turnbull and a well-worked goal by Adam Livingstone secured victory for an experienced second string at Forthbank, against a Hibs team who had won two from two in the league this season.
Mark Gillespie, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, Alex Rodriguez Gorrín and Liam Grimshaw all featured for Stephen Craigan’s side, as they looked to get minutes under their belts.
But it was youngster Livingstone who opened the scoring in Stirling, in a first half in which the Steelmen were largely on top.
Turnbull was at the heart of it though, turning cleverly past Emerson Hyndman and striking a terrific effort on goal, only to find an equally decent stop from Hibs keeper Maciej Dabrowski to deny him the opener. Fortunately though, it fell kindly for Livingstone who lashed home.
Starting the second period with one change, Liam Brown being replaced by Broque Watson, the Steelmen carried on from where the left off.
And it was so nearly 2-0 thanks to a wonderstrike from Barry Maguire. However, the holding midfielder’s rising effort from 25-yards was tipped over the bar by Dabrowski.
But 20 minutes after the restart, Motherwell made it two. Some brilliant work in the middle of the park between Gorrin and Turnbull opened up the visitors from Edinburgh and the Spaniard nearly capped it off with a goal from the edge of the box.
The Hibs keeper palmed it clear though, only to scythe down Newell who raced on to the loose ball, conceding a penalty. Up stepped Turnbull, who side-footed underneath the keeper from 12 yards.
The visitors looked like they would be capable of causing problems though, particularly from short corners, and it was in such fashion that they pulled one back in the 70th minute.
Working a neat one-two, Thomas Agyepong raced in to the box and thundered a brilliant finish high past Gillespie from a tight angle.
The two goal advantage was restored for the hosts though, when Gorrin’s quick-thinking freekick teed up Turnbull who grabbed his second thanks to a deflection.
The home side held firm for a 3-1 victory at Forthbank Stadium, to remain undefeated in the Reserve League.