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Extended highlights from Station Park as the Under 20s come from behind to beat Dundee 1-3 in the Development League.

Motherwell Under 20s came from behind to beat Dundee at Station Park this afternoon.

The Dee’s took the lead just after half-time but two classy finishes from David Turnbull, with a David Ferguson header sandwiched between, gave the Young Steelmen a deserved three points.

Manager Stephen Craigan made two changes to his side, with Joe Chalmers and Barry Maguire dropping out for Jack McMillan and goal scorer David Ferguson.

There was little in the first half with Dundee having by far the best chance.  Skelly latched onto a poor clearance and squared the ball nicely to John Black who poked it goalwards from six yards but much to Long’s relief he got an instinctive hand to it and somehow managed to make the save.

Dundee started the second forty-five with a bang, scoring within the first two minutes. Kyle Clark got down the right hand side and volleyed a cross in towards Long who couldn’t get enough on his parry, leaving John Black with an easy finish.

Within eight minutes, though, Motherwell were back level.

Good pressing won the ball back in the Dundee half and after Thomas fed the ball into his feet, David Turnbull steadied himself and angled a fine low finish past Gourlay.

By this point Dundee had made their available subs and with Skelly off with a knock, had to make do with the ten men.

Frustratingly for the Dens Park men, they were temporarily down to nine men when Motherwell struck again.

Ross MacLean swung in a corner straight to the unmarked Ferguson who made no mistake with his header from 6 yards.

With eleven minutes to go, Motherwell were holding onto their lead well and finished the job in the ninety-first minute.

It was a really well worked goal with Watt advancing forward and sliding in Falconer. He cooly pulled it back to Turnbull who applied a great curling finish past Gourlay.

The win sets the youngsters up nicely for next Wednesday’s Little big shot Youth Cup final with Hearts.

Motherwell U20s: Long, Watt, McMillan, Ferguson, Hall, Campbell, MacLean, Turnbull, Falconer, Thomas, R. Leitch (Hastie – 82mins)

Unused subs: Morrison, Maguire, Livingstone, Moore

This Saturday, 23^th April the Steelmen host Hearts in Matchday 34 of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

All hospitality packages include a ticket, match programme, team-sheet and half time refreshments.

You can choose from three packages:

Centenary Claret: Arrive at our Centenary Suite for 1pm. Full, four course table service with access to a pay bar till kick off and then again for an hour post-match.

Book now from only £60 for an adult and £45 for a child under 16.

Centenary Amber: Arrive at our Centenary Suite for 1pm. Full four course table service with complimentary bar and then again for an hour post-match.

Book now for £99 for an adult and £55 for a child under 16.

Millennium Ticket: Enjoy a lighter bite pre-match and at half-time with a complimentary bar for one-hour pre & post-match.

Book now for £70 for an adult and £35 for a child under 16.

Remember, Season Ticket holders can upgrade to hospitality for just £25.

01698 333333 | hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk

Extended highlights from Excelsior Stadium as Motherwell and Ross County play out a 1-1 draw in the Development League.

Motherwell Under 20s were held to a 1-1 draw by Ross County at a snowy Excelsior Stadium this afternoon.

The young Steelmen took the lead through a James Ross Own Goal but were pegged back by a second half header from Greg Morrison and couldn’t find a winner, despite having a penalty.

Stephen Craigan made two changes to the side that defeated Hamilton Accies on Tuesday; Joe Chalmers and Dylan Falconer coming in for Jack McMillan and Dylan Mackin.

They almost made the perfect start as Dom Thomas worked his way forward and got a shot off but it curled well wide of the post.

The Steelmen were getting some joy down the left, but efforts from Chalmers and Thomas failed to punish the visitors, with the latter’s shot being well turned past the post by Foden in the County goal.

It was the 25th minute before County had a sniff of goal, firstly through Tony Dingwall, who was subsequently subbed off, then MacIver who got into a great position but tamely shot at PJ Morrison.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 28th minute.

Dom Thomas got past Miller all too easily and fired a cross/shot past Foden and with Dylan Falconer lurking for a tap-in, James Ross could only poke the ball into his own net.

County almost got back level just before half-time as Darren Moffat clipped a ball to the back post towards the onrushing Greg Morrison but the ball took an awkward bounce and he could only volley over the bar.

The second half took a while to get going, with precious little in the way of chances., but it was County who made theirs count.

McLaughlin picked the ball up from deep and whipped in a great ball over the head of Maguire. There was a perhaps a touch of fortune about Morrison’s header as it bounced into the astroturf and looped over PJ’s head and into the net.

For all McLaughlin did well for the goal, he turned villain ten minutes later when he fouled Luke Watt inside the box.

Thomas stepped up and opted to go straight down the middle but unfortunately for him Foden’s trailing legs were enough to make the stop.

‘Well had one last chance to take all three points, again through Thomas but from six yards the County defense did enough to force him to pass but it went through Turnbull’s legs and out for a goal-kick.

The point keeps Motherwell in sixth place with two matches left to play, with their next tie being against Dundee on Tuesday.

Motherwell: Morrison, Watt, Chalmers, Maguire, Hall, Campbell, MacLean (Hastie – 71mins)  , Turnbull, Falconer, Thomas. R. Leitch

Subs not used: Long, Scott, Livingstone, Moore, Ferguson, McMillan,

Motherwell FC is today delighted to confirm Assistant Manager Stephen Robinson has extended his contract by a further year.

The Northern Irishman, who will coach at the UEFA European Championships with his home nation in France this summer, had a contract that was due to expire at the end of next month, but has penned an extension until May 2017, bringing him into line with first-team boss Mark McGhee.

The 41-year old joined on at Fir Park in February of 2015 and helped turn the club around after a miserable start to the 2014/15 campaign.

Indeed, his record as Motherwell’s Assistant is impressive, with 22 wins from 51 matches (43.13%), which includes helping the club navigate the Premiership / Championship Play-off’s last May before contributing to a top-six finish this season.

[pullquote]On the park, making the top-six has been an excellent achievement and our aim now is to try and win as many matches between now and May 15th to see where it takes us[/pullquote]

Speaking after signing his new contract, the former Spurs and Bournemouth midfielder said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Fir Park and obviously delighted to have signed this new deal.

“There have been some challenges, but it’s a pleasure to work for the club and the people around the place have been brilliant. We changed the manager back in the autumn and that always brings some uncertainty, but I cannot speak highly enough of Mark (McGhee) and we enjoy a very good relationship.

“On the park, making the top-six has been an excellent achievement and our aim now is to try and win as many matches between now and May 15th to see where it takes us.”

‘Well boss Mark McGhee added: “Stephen is an excellent Assistant and an excellent coach.

“It became clear to me very quickly when I joined the club that we had someone of real talent and integrity, who cares passionately about winning and being successful.

“He’s very well respected in the game and I’m delighted he has agreed to extend his deal.”

Motherwell FC Disabled Supporters Association will be hosting a Race Night and Player of the Year evening this Friday.

The event, in honour of Ben Miller, will be held in the Centenary Suite at Fir Park, with a 7pm start.

Come along and have a flutter on the horses, meet the two Player of the Year winners and win some prizes.

Tam Cowan will be in attendance, as Special guest MC providing his usual hilarious brand of comedy .

Tickets are £4.

For further information contact John on 07711 992161/john@mfcdsa.com or Darren on 07722912666/darren@mfcdsa.com

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell edge out neighbours Hamilton Accies in the SPFL Development League.

Under 20s boss Stephen Craigan praised his side for their improvement after a 1-0 win over Hamilton Accies at Fir Park.

Although the Steelmen took all three points against Partick Thistle last Wednesday, they weren’t at their fluid best.

However, against a much more experienced Accies side, who currently sit second in the SPFL Development League, the hosts carved out a sack of chances, albeit only taking the one to win the game.

Craigan, who admits the whole squad has one eye on the Youth Cup Final later in the month, was pleased with his players who completed the double over their Lanarkshire neighbours.

“I was delighted with a lot of aspects of our play,” the 54-times capped former Northern Irish skipper said.

[pullquote]As a group, we spoke about our performance last week and we felt we were slightly off it, so it was important we started the game well and showed a good appetitive for it.[/pullquote]

“You know when you play Hamilton they will test you, they will put you under pressure, they’re competitive; they’re also a good team too. They’re sitting second in the table and have players progressing into the first-team.

“It obviously helps getting the early goal, but in general, I was pleased with the improvement we made from last week.

“There’s two games until the Cup Final and for us it’s about getting consistency from them, it’s about them maintaining their form and finding their peak fitness and keeping up the good habits, and today was a good starting point.”

Motherwell edged out neighbours Hamilton Accies in a hard-fought 1-0 win at a rain-soaked Fir Park this afternoon.

The game’s only goal came before most fans inside the Phil O’Donnell Stand had even taken their seats, MacLean converting from close range.

The hosts created numerous chances in a competitive ninety minutes, but couldn’t convert again to make the match more comfortable.

That victory leaves Motherwell hot on the trail of St Johnstone, Aberdeen and St Mirren with just three games to go.

‘Well made two changes to the side that came back from behind to beat Partick Thistle last midweek. Dylan Falconer and Jake Hastie dropped out, replaced by Dom Thomas and David Turnbull.

Motherwell made an excellent start and opened the scoring after just 17 seconds. Thomas broke down the left hand side and his cross bounced all the way through to MacLean who fired home with the aid of Rico Quitongo deflection.

Astoundingly, the same two players combined just three minutes later as the Fir Parkers threatened to run riot. Again it was Thomas who created, his cross from the left bounced through to MacLean but this time Martin blocked the shot with his legs.

Luke Watt then brought out another good save from Martin as the Claret and Amber men looked for another goal, the keeper turning away his 20-yard shot.

Accies’ first chance came after seven minutes, when space opened up for Steven Boyd, but he ballooned it high and wide of target.

The game settled down though and almost twenty minutes past before it came alive again, and it was almost a bizarre own goal from Canning that doubled the hosts’ advantage. The Accies player/boss attempted to chest a Watt cross back to Alan Martin, but it missed the keeper and dropped a yard wide of the post.

Accies finished the half better thought and Tierney had a shot blocked inside the area before Redmond almost capitalised on a short Ben Hall header back to his keeper, but the midfielder lost his footing at the vital time.

Both teams emerged from the dressing rooms to a heavy downpour, but it didn’t dampen the home side’s attacking threat, and they should have doubled their lead after just three minutes.

Watt’s cross from the right rebounded out to Robbie Leitch, but he could only watch on in despair as his low shot was somehow blocked off the line by Ronan Hughes before landing fortuitously in the hands of the grateful Martin.

Five minutes later, Mackin got in behind the Accies defence, but with keeper rushing out, the striker could only slide a shot wide of target.

At the other end, Boyd curled a free kick over the bar but it wasn’t long before ‘Well were back on the attack.

A neat through pass sent MacLean racing in on Martin, but the Accies keeper again denied with a smart save. The rebound eventually worked its way to Thomas on the left, but Mackin could only head his hung up cross wide of target.

The visitors remained a threat on the counter though and on one such occasion, a Martin cannon almost had Boyd in and although he was able to knock it past Long, David Ferguson mopped up the danger on the cover.

It was the Accies keeper who would remain the busier though and he had to again save to keep Stephen Craigan’s men. Mackin did well to pinch it from Canning as the experienced defender drove out of defence. When he received the return pass, his quick-fire shot forced the 27-year old to again turn it away.

Martin’s save from Robbie Leitch ten minutes later was for more comfortable as ‘Well looked to kill the match.

However, it was Accies who almost got themselves level late on. After Redmond ballooned an effort, Long had to turn away a header from Hughes in the dying seconds to ensure the Steelmen earned all three points.

Motherwell: Long, Watt, McMillan, Ferguson, Hall, Campbell, MacLean (Moore – 89mins), Turnbull, Mackin (Falconer – 85mins), Thomas, R. Leitch

Subs Not Used: Morrison, Maguire, Livingstone