Despite a late charge, Motherwell Under 20s went down 2-1 to Hibernian at Almondvale this evening.
The hosts completely dominated the first-half and were well worthy of their 2-0 lead, thanks to goals from Cody Mulhall and Jason Cummings.
The Steelmen rarely threatned until a moment of brilliance from Steven Higgins got the Fir Parkers back in it with fifteen minutes left on the clock.
‘Well threw everything at it in search of leveler but it wouldn’t come, leaving Jonatan Johansson to pick the bones out of a fourth successive defeat.
The Finn opted to mix it up again after the Ross County defeat last Tuesday. Currie, McNulty, Cummins, Ainsworth, McHugh and Thomas all dropped out, replaced by Stewart, Kellock, Hall, Johnstone, Higgins and Cadden.
It was a quiet opening and it took the home side almost ten minutes to pierce through the Steelmen rearguard. Euan Smith and Ross Caldwell teamed up down the right but the striker’s shot would fizz just wide of the post.
However, it was merely a warning shot across the bow as, with their next meaningful attack, Hibs scored the games’ opening goal.
Smith was again involved, finding space on the right wing before sending a teasing cross into the middle. It skidded thought to Mulhall who took a touch before slotting it past the despairing Stewart.
It could have gone from bad to worse just minutes later when Mulhall turned provider for Cummings but his snapshot hit the outside of the post and wide for a goal kick.
Hibs were well in control, dominating possession and forcing Motherwell to knock it long for the helpless Higgins, who wasn’t able to feed off scraps from his more experienced opponents James McPake and Alan Maybury.
The hosts passed up further chances when Smith dragged a shot wide of the post after a poor clearance and Mulhall fired over after a terrific ball across the face of goal.
Hibs did eventually grab a second goal two minutes before the interval, although there was a slice of good fortune attached to it.
Cummings collected on the right before cutting inside to take the shot on. It flicked off the unlucky Ross Kellock to take it past the helpless Ross Stewart and into the net.
Jack Leitch had Motherwell’s first effort on goal with what was virtually the last kick of the half, but dragged it inches wide of the post.
It brought to an end a terrible first forty-five for the Claret and Amber men.
They did, however, start the second half on the front foot and almost got back into things when David Ferguson got on the end of a Leitch corner but couldn’t get anything behind his close-range shot and the chance was gone.
Hibs had one or two half chances to kill the game; Cummings knocked it wide after bursting clear of the ‘Well defence and Caldwell blazed over from the edge of the area.
As the game approached the last quarter, Motherwell pulled one back in spectacular circumstances via Steven Higgins.
The little striker, who has had to be patient in recent weeks, got on the end of a Ferguson pass. He took an exquisite first touch and, with his back to goal, sent a deft lob over the scrambling Horne and into the net.
It transformed Johansson’s men. For 75 minutes they hadn’t mustered anything in the way of an attacking threat, but would dominate for the closing stages.
Ferguson sent a curling shot straight into the arms of Horne, Moore flashed a free kick over the bar before sending a shot agonisingly wide of the far post after outpacing McPake on the edge of the area.
In the end, if was too little, too late as the home side held out for a deserved victory. Motherwell will now look to try and get their season back on track against St Mirren next Tuesday.
Motherwell: Stewart, Ferguson, Kellock (Shirkie – 67mins), Hall, Neill, Leitch, McCafferty, Johnstone (Thomas – 53mins), Moore, Higgins, Cadden
Subs Not Used: Long, McCall, Anderson, Mackin
