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Extended highlights from Ainslie Park where Luke Watt’s strike wasn’t enough to prevent defeat with the Under 20s losing  2-1 to Hibernian.

Under 20s manager Stephen Craigan speaks to MFC TV following his teams 2-1 loss to Hibernian Under 20s.

The inconsistency curse struck again as ‘Well U20s crashed 2-1 to Hibs in Edinburgh this evening.

Stephen Craigan’s side have been unable to put together a run of victories and after last week’s win over Falkirk, they were unable to build at Ainslie Park.

Olly Shaw put the hosts in front twenty minutes into the second half, but ‘Well, through Luke Watt, were level within five minutes.

However, with nine minutes left to play, Calum Crane lashed home a thirty-yard stunner in off the post to give the hosts all three points.

Stephen Craigan was able to call on the likes of Keith Lasley and Steven Hammell, both returning from recent injuries.

David Clarkson, Dom Thomas and Jack Leitch were also listed in an experienced looking Steelmen side.

For their part, Hibs had former Fir Park favourite Henri Anier in their starting line up as the Estonian searches for fitness after a two month lay-off.

Motherwell started brightly and Thomas tested Hibs keeper Tony Reguero inside four minutes but the Spaniard blocked his shot well before gathering at the second attempt.

Hammell fired over from distance and Clarkson had a low bouncing effort well held by Reguero.

Hibs had their first chance on sixteen minutes when Sam Stanton forced PJ Morrison into a good low save. Seconds later, they came even closer when Crane crashed the underside of the bar after the ball had fallen fortuitously to him inside the box.

Motherwell continued to look the more threatening though and Hammell had another long-range effort go over before Mackin had a low shot blocked on route after Clarkson had teed him up with a neat flick.

Stanton forced another save from Morrison before, just on the stroke of half-time, ‘Well somehow passed up the chance to take the lead. Clarkson’s initial shot looked to be going in, but hit Thomas on the way. The winger bundled the rebound off the post before Hibs got it clear.

Motherwell started on the front foot and Jack McMillan had a shot blocked before Thomas fired over from close range.

Hibs did create chances too, Jordan Sinclair forcing Morrison to stoop and catch a low bouncing effort. However, it was the Claret and Amber men who were posing the threat and Jack Leitch almost put his side in front with a neat lobbed effort that forced Reguero to tip over.

From the resulting corner, Ben Hall teed up Thomas but he could only drag it wide of target.

Another corner, minutes later, again almost had Hibs opened up but Reguero did well to block a Mackin header.

And it was an important stop as with two minutes, the home side took the lead. It came out of nowhere – Sterling wasn’t closed down and with time to throw the ball into the area, he picked out Shaw who ghosted in behind Watt and volleyed the cross high past Morrison.

Their lead barely lasted five minutes though as ‘Well soon hit back. Again it was from a corner, Thomas’ kick found Hall but his header was again blocked. However, it dropped to Luke Watt and he did well to quickly turn and smash the ball into the far corner.

‘Well pushed for a winner, but often left themselves exposed at the back and Hibs created a handful of chances on the counter. Anier was twice in on Morrison, but twice the young goalkeeper stood up to make saves.

However, after saving again shortly after, the young stopper tried to get ‘Well quickly on the attack, only for his throw-in to land at the feet of Crane who wasted no time rasping a cracker from distance that went in off the post.

Morrison did make another good save to deny Shaw before Cadden came close to levelling with a cross that almost caught out Reguero, but the keeper just managed to punch over.

Motherwell: Morrison, McMillan, Hammell (Livingstone – 60mins), Watt, Hall, Clarkson, Cadden, J. Leitch (R.Leitch – 78mins), Mackin, Thomas, Lasley (Campbell – 60mins)

Subs Not Used: Long, Maguire, MacLean, Hastie

Goals: Watt (70)

‘Well Society and Motherwell chairman Brian McCafferty has given notice that he is stepping down from both positions.

Brian was among the original four elected board members of the ‘Well Society in October 2012 and has decided to make way for someone else to help take the fans’ group forward.

He will step down from the Motherwell board after Saturday’s game against Hearts and then leave the ‘Well Society board once a replacement is elected early next month.

Brian, 68, said: “After three years, I feel the time is right to step down and allow someone else the chance to take my place on the ‘Well Society board, which is something the rules try to facilitate.

“I will of course be stepping down from the Motherwell board too as a consequence and felt fan ownership week, which sees us link up with the Foundation of Hearts for Saturday’s game at Fir Park, would be a fitting way to end.

“I would like to thank all ‘Well Society board members, past and present, and other volunteers for their help, sacrifices and dedication over the past three years.

[pullquote]”I’d like to thank everyone at Motherwell FC for their support and also both John Boyle and Les Hutchison for making community ownership possible and keeping the prospect alive during some difficult times for the club last year.[/pullquote]

“All ‘Well Society members have helped save the club from serious financial difficulty and/or foreign ownership and I hope other Motherwell fans can join in the coming months to give the club a secure long-term future. I will continue to help and support the project.”

Les Hutchison added: “The Board and the Club would like to thank Brian for his dedication toward Motherwell Football Club. It is vital that the excellent work Brian undertook on behalf of the Society, as a member of the Club Board, continues and we look forward to the nomination of a replacement with the skills required to operate as a Director of a significant business.”

To streamline and smooth the replacement process, the resulting vacancy on the ‘Well Society board will be filled via an election process that is currently taking place for a previous vacancy.

Instead of one new member being elected, the top two candidates will join the board to take it back to the full quota of seven.

Members should still vote for one candidate only and can do so via the forms they were sent by email or post. The deadline is midnight on December 8.

A new chairperson will be chosen after the two vacancies are filled. Further details on that process will follow next month.

Our Flexi-ticket package allows supporters to choose when to visit Fir Park and watch the mighty Steelmen with prices starting from £30.

Buying a tile in the tunnel or brick on the wall of the Davie Cooper stand is the perfect gift for those supporters who pay homage to Fir Park every other Saturday, leaving your special message for fellow fans to read or inspire the players on a match day you can have your say!

For £5 you can enter our Christmas raffle for the chance to win sponsorship of our match against St Johnstone on 30th December. The offer includes four course hospitality for 20 friends or family, complimentary bar pre & post-match with the highlight having the exclusive right to choose and meet the man of the match! Tickets available via www. motherwellbuyonline.co.uk

We have limited places available at our party nights on 11th & 18th so why not join us at Fir Park for your festive celebration. Click here for more details.

Heart of Midlothian visit Fir Park Saturday 28th November and we’ve a fantastic lunch menu available.

It’s a 3pm kick-off, so why not combine an afternoon meal with a competitive Ladbrokes Premiership game against the Jambos in one of our atmospheric hospitality suites.

All 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

Stephen Craigan’s Under 20s side will return to action tomorrow (Tuesday) night when they take on Hibernian at Spartans’ Ainslie Park.

The youths, who returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Falkirk seven days ago, will hope to build and push their way up a tightly-packed SPFL Development League table.

If other results work out, a win could propel the side into ninth of the seventeen-team league and within touching distance of teams above, with games still in hand.

Tuesday’s opponents Hibernian have made a fairly pretty poor start to the season and sit second bottom, although they did enjoy a good away win over Dunfermline recently.

The match will take place at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh, with kick-off at 7.30pm.

Extended highlights from Dingwall where Motherwell suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, losing 3-0 to Ross County.

Action images from today’s 0-3 defeat to Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

[svgallery name=”rosscounty211115″]

Mark McGhee spoke of his anger as Motherwell were soundly beaten 3-0 by Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.

Goals from Curran, Dingwall and Boyce gave County a comfortable victory in a day to forget for the 180 ‘Well fans who made the long journey north to a frozen Dingwall.

And McGhee pulled no punches when summing up his side’s performance.

“We were very poor; we were well beaten,” he admitted to MFC TV after the match

“At times we flattered a little bit in the front areas, almost creating a few good chances but weren’t clinical enough.

“Defensively we were diabolical and struggled throughout to contain them and had to hang on at times. We were lacking all across the park.

“It was a hugely disappointing performance and result.”

[pullquote]Defensively we were diabolical and struggled throughout to contain them and had to hang on at times. We were lacking all across the park.[/pullquote]

‘Well were missing a number of key experienced placed, something that certainly contributed to the poor performance.

With Lasley and Hammell been missing for a number of weeks, McManys suspended and Chalmers and Fletcher picking up injuries in training, options were limited.

He continued: “We’ve had a situation where we’ve lost Stephen McManus, Keith Lasley and Steven Hammell; we’re playing without a lot of experience we could have in the team,” he said.

“We’re playing with Marvin Johnson at left back. We’ve been forced into these things, that wasn’t a choice, it was all we could really do.

“Hopefully, we’ll get through this period when we’ll have these boys back where we can work out a better, more complete shape and we can get back to getting decent results.

“The way I want to play is winning football but in a way that makes us much more difficult to beat. That involves having these boys back, working harder and eventually bringing in one or two that will help them.”