Motherwell failed to follow up on last week’s victory and keep their momentum as they suffered a 3-2 loss away to Dunfermline this afternoon.
And despite an enjoyable opening 30 minutes for the onlookers at New Central Park, the game had next to no talking points in a dull second half.
An early setback was turned around when Jacob Blyth thundered the travelling Steelmen level after ten minutes, before Davie Turnbull gave Stephen Craigan’s youngsters the lead.
But a wonder strike from full back Conner Duthie in the 30th minute was ultimately the winning strike and secured all three points for the hosts.
Stephen Craigan included four senior players in his side in Russell Griffiths, Lee Lucas, Lionel Ainsworth and Jacob Blyth, and despite falling behind after just five minutes, the Steelmen responded well.
Dunfermline forward Callum Smith capitalised on a mix up in the Motherwell defence to stride through a grab an earlylead for the home side
However, the Steelmen responded terrifically and were on the front foot for the majority of the opening exchanges despite being a goal down.
However, Craigan’s youngsters didn’t take too long to draw level when Blyth thundered a strike past the helpless Dunfermline keeper in the tenth minute.
Three minutes later and they led thanks to Davie Turnbull when Tom Fry’s cross found the midfielder who stabbed it home.
Much like the ‘Well responded positively, the home side found a new gear and clawed their way back in to the lead.
Terrific work from full back Conner Duthie allowed forward David Hopkirk to get a shot away from a tight angle. Despite getting a hand to it, Griffiths couldn’t quite turn it round his post and it nestled in the bottom, far corner.
On the half hour mark, the hosts took the lead and it was a wonder goal too. Duthie, who’d been lively from the off, cut inside from left back on to his right foot and fired an unstoppable strike in to the top corner.
There weren’t many chances in the remainder of the half until the ball dropped for Adam Livingstone 25 yards out, but his effort spun off target.
The second half was much the same, with substitute Dylan Mackin’s speculative curling effort from range in the 88th minute the only time Motherwell went close to equalising.
It was an opportunity to keep pace with league leaders Hibernian missed for the youngsters, who face Celtic next in the Development League on Monday night at the Excelsior Stadium.