Graham Barnstaple at Bayview
Motherwell’s miserable record in the SFA Youth Cup continued after crashing out to Second Division side East Fife at Bayview.
The Steelmen were dominant in the opening exchanges but despite a couple of good chances for the usually prolific Craig Moore, the scores remained at stalemate.
However, just six minutes into the second half the home side scored what would turn out to be the winning goal from the penalty spot.
Jonatan Johansson will be furious with how the goal came about with ‘Well caught in possession on the edge of the area before eventually giving away a cheap spot kick. Mark Shaw took the resulting kick and kept his composure to drill the ball down the middle.
Tournament rules does not allow for overage players so there were wholesale changes from the side that won at Dens Park on Monday night.
Lee Hollis, Simon Ramsden, Jonathan Page, Zaine Francis-Angol and Omar Daley all dropped out, replaced by Ross Stewart, Adam Asghar, Jack Leitch, Morgyn Neill and Paul McCafferty.
Motherwell controlled the first half without managing to properly test the home keeper, Dylan Roonie, often enough. He should have been called into action as early as the first minute, Josh Watt bursting down the left but his cross was narrowly missed by Craig Moore and Paul McCafferty.
A few minutes late Neil sent Moore in one on one with long ball over the top but his shot was deflected wide by the foot of goalkeeper Roonie. From the resultant corner Neill could only head the ball just over the bar.
The home side had their first effort on goal after seventeen minutes when Shaw’s twenty-yard effort sailed high and wide of the left hand post. At the other end Moore squandered another opportunity when, clean through again, he clipped the ball over the goalie but the ball rebounded clear off the cross bar.
The onslaught continued and Stuart Carswell sent a stinging low drive just an inch wide of the post.
You would have been forgiven for thinking at that point that it was only a matter of time before the Fir Parkers got themselves ahead but, despite dominating the opening forty five minutes, they had nothing to show for their efforts.
As often happens, ‘Well were punished just six minutes after the break. Daryl Falconer shrugged off Dale Shirkie to create a shooting opportunity, but his effort was well saved by Ross Stewart. The ball fell for Nicky McGowan who was bundled to the deck by Adam Ashgar for a clear penalty.
Falconer confidently struck the ball into the bottom left hand corner after sending keeper Stewart the wrong way to give his side an unlikely lead at this stage.
East Fife defended deep for the remainder of the game, inviting Motherwell on to them but despite a couple of headers off target from Neill and Moore there was little to trouble Roonie.
The home side managed to keep the glaring opportunities to a minimum and goalkeeper Roonie was rarely called into meaningful action.
Carswell did have a couple of glaring chances in the dying stages, both of which flew over the bar.
Motherwell: Stewart, Asghar, Leitch, Murray, Neill, Hetherington, Carswell, McCafferty, Watt, Shirkie (Thomas 64), Moore
Subs Not Used: Currie, Green, Johnstone
