Graham Barnstaple at Fir Park
Motherwell U20s bounced back from Sunday’s Youth Cup disappointment with a battling 3-1 win over local rivals Hamilton Accies at Fir Park.
The Steelmen were two one up at the break thanks to goals from OMAR DALEY and BOB McHUGH, with Accies replying through Jordan Kirkpatrick. The game was sealed when EUAN MURRAY scored early in the second half.
Jonatan Johansson made six changes from the side that lost at the weekend and was bolstered by over age players Daley, McHugh and Axel Bossekota. There was also game time for defenders FRASER KERR and ADAM CUMMINS following their recent runs in the first team.
The opening stages of the game saw both sides jockeying for position with neither creating a chance of note in the opening twenty minutes. It was therefore a bit of out the blue when Motherwell eventually took the lead in the 21st minute.
Bob McHugh picked up a loose ball just inside the Hamilton half and drove at the visitor’s defence. With Daley peeling away to the right and Bossekota to the left, the former Scotland U19s strike slid an inch perfect pass to the Jamaican. The former Bradford winger unleashed a right-footed shot which left Scott Christie in the Accies goal with no chance as it flashed past him high into the net.
The lead only last seven minutes as Accies drew level with their first real chance of the game. The ‘Well defence failed to deal with a cross from the left, and the ball fell to Kirkpatrick at the edge of the box. The winger took one touch to set up a shot that was bent high into ROSS STEWART’s top left hand corner.
Six minutes later the Fir Parkers restored their advantage, this time Daley was the provider and McHugh the finisher. Daley twisted past three defenders to provide the shooting chance to McHugh who somehow saw his shot squeeze past the stranded Christie with the aid of a deflection.
‘Well were forced into a couple of changes with Stuart Carswell and Bossekota picking up injuries and were replaced by ADAM ASGHAR and CRAIG MOORE.
The visitors started the second half brightly and came close through shots from Conner McGlinchey and James Martin.
The visitors were having a bit more of the ball so it was slightly against the run of play when Motherwell made it 3-1 just twelve minutes after the re-start.
Sub Asghar won a free-kick near the edge of the box after a crude trip by Kilday. Bob McHugh took the resulting kick but his blistering strike was well saved by Christie low to his left. The rebound sat up nicely for Euan Murray to slide in and volley home from close range.
Both sides had chances throughout the second half with the Accies coming closest when Gary Fraser’s long range effort hit the bar with Stewart beaten. At the other end Christie had to be at his best to keep out a powerfully hit Daley strike.
Johansson will be no doubt be pleased to get the East Fife defeat out the system as the Steelmen record back-to-back wins in the Under 20s league for the first time this campaign.
Motherwell: Stewart, Kerr, Leitch, Cummins, Murray, Johnstone, Daley, Carswell (Asghar – 46), McHugh, Hetherington (Watt – 71), Bossekota (Moore – 37)
Subs Not Used: Currie, Neill, Thomas, Shirkie
Goals: Daley (21), McHugh (34), Murray (57)
