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Stephan Craigan insists he will keep pushing his players after they put in a brilliant performance to win 4-0 against Dunfermline.

A hat-trick from Dylan Mackin and a strike from Jake Hastie secured all three points for the youngsters at the Excelsior Stadium.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing for Craigan’s side, with both sides struggling to create too much in the opening 45 minutes.

Speaking to MFC TV, Craigan explained that he expected changes from his side after the break.

He said: “The message at half time was that we were taking too many negative touches and by that I mean our first touch was always back the way towards our goal.

[pullquote]Once the goal goes in it opened them up a bit, the game opens up a bit in general and we have players that we feel can hurt people.[/pullquote]

“We wanted to try and change that in the second half by having a positive touch by having a different body language and looking forward instead, but then if you can’t go forward that’s when you can then look back.”

He added: “I just felt that early on they pressed us high and we couldn’t break their line of midfielders or get beyond them and because we were taking negative touches we couldn’t get that final ball in behind them.

“The goal naturally changed things. Once the goal goes in it opened them up a bit, the game opens up a bit in general and we have players that we feel can hurt people.”

The second half performance was up there with the best his side have played this season, the manager admitted.

He said: “We deserved to win it tonight, even in the first half when we didn’t have as much threat we still looked like we could score goals.

[pullquote]Even after a performance like this I’m going to keep pushing them. We’ll be back in on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday – we’ll get ourselves shaped up and we go again.[/pullquote]

“But it’s just another building block – we scored four goals and got three points. Parts of our performance tonight were as good as it’s been this season. The first time we spoke back at the start of the season I mentioned consistency and players are doing that now, they’re putting in consistent performances, but its consistent performances at a high level, it’s not regular 6s or 7s, we’re getting 8s or 9s, and when you get that you’re always going to be a threat.”

And even after such an emphatic result, the Northern Irishman insisted he wants more and more from his team.

He said: “I’m pleased because I see what the boys do and what they’re trying to do but that’s also why I get frustrated and I told them this today. I see them in training and how good they are but then they can go in to games and be sloppy and give the ball away.

“But even after a performance like this I’m going to keep pushing them. We’ll be back in on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday – we’ll get ourselves shaped up and we go again.”

19-year-old Ross MacLean has got off to a flying start this season at under-20s level, scoring and assisting on a regular basis for Stephen Craigan’s side.

The midfielder has found himself on the bench for the first-team a couple of times this season and made a brief appearance in the Betfred League Cup back in July.

But while he may not be a regular or well-known name around Fir Park, that could all change very soon.

Struggling at points with injury last year, MacLean’s development as a player is firmly back on track and the youngster admits he is hitting the peak of his career under manager Stephen Craigan.

“Playing under Craigan is great for a player at my stage,” Ross said; “he knows what he’s talking about, he knows exactly what he’s doing with the team and he does a lot to help us all out.”

He added: “That was reflected in our Scottish FA Youth Cup Cup win last year – he got us playing really well and that has been carried on in to this season too and it’s clear to see because we’re top of the league now.”

[pullquote]As a team we’re all doing really well this season – from winning the youth cup last season and now being top of the table – so our aim has to be to win the league this season.[/pullquote]

A pacey, agile player boasting a natural touch and finesse on the ball, MacLean himself admits that a spot in the first team may be on the horizon if he keeps improving the way he is at the rate he is too.

Watching the development of players like Chris Cadden is something that helps spur on and inspire Ross, with the first-team star sky-rocketing in the last nine months since stepping up to Mark McGhee’s side.

“The young players are all the same, they all want to play first team football and my taste of getting in to the team for the League Cup and then again in the league makes me want to push on and follow in the footsteps of guys like Chris Cadden” said Ross, referred to commonly as Chuckie throughout the club.

He added: “As a team we’re all doing really well this season – from winning the youth cup last season and now being top of the table – so our aim has to be to win the league this season and if we keep performing the way we are there’s no reason we can’t.”

“I’m feeling good personally too, I feel fit and sharp. I just came back from my injury last year and I feel as if I’m just back to my peak fitness now and that’s been reflecting in my game.”

[pullquote]He’s got all the attributes, and for him to take the next step he just has to be that little bit more careful with the ball. If you give away the ball three or four times in the first team it can impact the game more than it does at U20s level.[/pullquote]

His manager agrees, with Stephen Craigan confident that Ross isn’t far away from making the step up that is required.

He said: “Ross’ performance against Dundee United earlier this season is probably as good as it’s been for him and that’s including his performance against Hamilton when he scored both goals to win us the game.

“I always tell Ross that it’s the final thing that you do with the ball that people remember and in that sense he needs to work on that still – but he takes up great positions both offensively and defensively, the distances he covers at times is incredible and we can look at that through the GPS system.”

Craigan added: “He’s got all the attributes, and for him to take the next step he just has to be that little bit more careful with the ball. If you give away the ball three or four times in the first team it can impact the game more than it does at U20s level, but he’s made the bench at points for the first team, he was on the bench for the Lanarkshire Derby and I’m not sure how far away he was from getting a shot, but once he does there’s an opportunity there for him.”

Motherwell U20s returned to winning ways in emphatic style tonight, overcoming an experienced Dunfermline side 4-0 at the Excelsior stadium.

And there were some spells of terrific football from the youngsters, who hit their stride in the second half and comfortably picked up three points thanks to a goal from Jake Hastie and a Dylan Mackin hat-trick.

Manager Stephen Craigan named a young team, looking to extend his sides unbeaten run to five matches, with David Ferguson the only over-aged player in the starting eleven.

Visitors Dunfermline, on the other hand, had five first-team players included in their squad, in the shapes of Richards-Everton, Fordyce, Hopkirk, Weddeburn and Hutton.

And it was David Hopkirk who had the first shot on goal of the night, arriving in the fifth minute, but it deflected kindly in to the arms of PJ Morrison and never troubled the young stopper.

Down the other end, Jordan Armstrong – starting on the left of the back four – won the Steelmen a corner after eight minutes when the youngster played a delicate through ball towards Mackin, forcing Richards-Everton to turn it behind. From the following delivery, David Ferguson rose well but couldn’t get on the end of Tom Fry’s cross.

It took nearly half an hour for the first real opportunity of the game to arise, when Mackin slipped in Jake Hastie in the 28^th minute, with the winger lacing a left-footed shot at goal from quite a tricky angle. David Hutton got a good hand to the ball to push it away and keep the game goalless.

A few minutes later and a sandwich between a number of players resulted in a free kick for the visitors just outside the Motherwell box. Hopkirk stepped up but his curled effort was wayward and soared comfortably over the bar.

A number of neat interchanges nearly led to a brilliant goal for Motherwell with just over ten minutes left in the half. MacLean’s dinked effort would have been the final touch to a fantastic team goal, but it was off target.

Hutton produced another good save in the 41^st minute of the match, getting down low to deny Jake Hastie yet again. On the rebound, Dylan Mackin had an opportunity to test Hutton once more but the big forward struck high and wide.

It was level going in to the break, with neither side really doing too much to deserve a lead but Motherwell edging the match in terms of chances.

In stark contrast to the first 45 minutes, it took just five minutes for there to be a real opportunity, with Jake Hastie being fouled clumsily in the box by Richards-Everton in the 50^th minute and the referee awarding a penalty. Hutton did well to save the penalty but Mackin was on hand to nod home the rebound and give Craigan’s side the lead.

And just minutes later it was 2-0. Jake Hastie surged forward on the break, avoiding a couple of challenges to get his cross-field ball away towards MacLean. What seemed like a good interception to stop Hastie’s pass turned out differently for Dunfermline, with Dylan Mackin stepping up to thunder a first-time left-footed rocket low and hard past the helpless Hutton.

Jake Hastie, looking as lively as ever, was inches away from adding a third for the ‘Well, twisting and turning and getting away from Richards-Everton with ease, before sending a terrific effort narrowly wide of the post.

In the 67^th minute, it looked like it was three for the hosts. A Tom Fry free kick was flicked on by Dylan Mackin towards MacLean at the back post who side footed from close range past Hutton, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

But before long it actually was three, and it was a terrific goal too. Ross MacLean collected the ball out on the right, skipping past a challenge and threading an inch-perfect diagonal through ball into the path of Jake Hastie who was cutting in from the left flank and rifled high past Hutton in to the top corner.

Substitute Ciaran Lafferty looked like he was going to pull one back for Dunfermline but his effort from just inside the box was over the crossbar and the Steelmen remained three goals ahead.

And then came Stephen Craigan’s first change of the night, replacing Tom Fry with Dylan Falconer in the 76^th minute.

Three minutes later and it was time for Jake Hastie to leave the park. The youngster was replaced by James Scott after a stunning performance.

With just under ten minutes remaining, Dylan Mackin grabbed his third of the night and his side’s fourth. Falconer fed MacLean the ball out on the right and the midfielder looked up, curled a great ball on to the head of Dylan Mackin who had a simple header to complete his hattrick.

Ryan Watters made his return from a long injury lay-off, replacing hat-trick hero Mackin with eighth minutes left.

And the Steelmen saw out the game keeping their clean sheet intact. A brilliant second half performance and a deserved win which see’s Craigan’s side remain second in the Development League table, just one point off leaders Ross County.

Motherwell: Morrison, McMillan, Ferguson, Maguire, Armstrong, Campbell, Fry (Falconer ’76), Turnbull, Hastie (Scott ’79), MacLean, Mackin (Watters ‘ 82)

Unused subs: Trialist, Watt, Livingstone

Dunfermline: Hutton, Duncan, Duthie, Richards-Everton, Fordyce, Horne (Galloway ’65), Lochhead (Crawford ’71), Wedderburn, Smith, Hopkirk, Luke (Lafferty ’65)

Unused subs: Dunn, Morrison, McLair

Extended highlights from McDiarmid Park as the Under 20s draw 1-1 with St Johnstone in the development league.

A true Motherwell legend, Joe spent the whole of his senior career with the Steelmen making 469 league appearances over sixteen years at the club.

Signed by Bobby Howitt from Irvine Victoria in 1968, Joe instantly made an impression with the Motherwell support going in goals early on in his debut against Tranmere, something he would have to do more than once in his time in claret and amber.

Many of his early appearances were as an inside forward and he netted a memorable hat-trick in a win over Montrose as ‘Well stormed to the Second Division title in 1968’69.

But think of Joe Wark and you think of the hundreds of sterling displays in the left-back role he would make his own.

A consistent performer, he was a darling of the Motherwell support and received a well deserved testimonial in 1978 against West Bromwich Albion. Unfortunately what wasn’t forthcoming was a call up to the Scotland squad which to this day the very mention of has ‘Well fans of a certain vintage shaking their heads in bemusement. Compensation, of a sort, came with a Scottish League cap in a match against their English League counterparts in 1976.

Having enjoyed title success in his first season Joe was able to celebrate the same as his career neared its conclusion when ‘Well won the First Division title in 1981’82 under David Hay.

Used sparingly by Hay’s successor Jock Wallace, it was under Bobby Watson that Joe played his last senior games for the Steelmen before hanging up his boots at the age of thirty-six at the end of season 1983’84.

There was however one last hurrah for the immensely popular full-back when he was rewarded with a Benefit Match against an Old Firm select in January 1985. Step forward twenty years or so and the Joe Wark story was told to a new generation of Motherwell fans and celebrated once more by those who had witnessed him in the flesh through his involvement with the ‘Remember Well initiative’.

Producing his own ‘Memory Book’ Joe’s career was captured through a series of reminisces and photographs for the benefit of those, like Joe, who suffered from dementia.

After a courageous battle with the illness Joe passed away in the autumn of 2015 aged 67.

U20s boss Stephen Craigan felt his side put in a “mixed” performance as they drew 1-1 away to St Johnstone tonight.

A first half header from Jacob Blyth was cancelled out by an impressive Connor McLaren strike just after the hour mark.

The draw marks the U20s fourth unbeaten match in a row and keeps them top of the Development League table.

Speaking to MFC TV after the match, the manager said: “I felt it was a mixed performance tonight and it seemed like it took us until about the 44th minute to string six or seven passes together.

[pullquote]Every game you’re not going to dominate, be the best team or have the best players, but we have to find ways not to lose games first and foremost.[/pullquote]

“I felt as though our two strikers couldn’t quite hold it up or were under pressure from the defenders, but they didn’t get enough flick-on’s or hold it up enough, but that happens sometimes.”

He added: “Every game you’re not going to dominate, be the best team or have the best players, but we have to find ways not to lose games first and foremost.

“It is a Development League and it is about developing and not to lose games is part of your development.”

[pullquote]Defensively we stood up to it tonight, the pitch is quite big and it was quite slick, so I’m satisfied with the draw but I think we’re better than that.[/pullquote]

The manager touched on St Johnstone’s ability to get crosses in to the box, which was both a fault and a sign of his sides defensive qualities.

Craigan said: “They were a threat and I’m sure, if you include corners, that they must have put about 30-35 crosses in to our box tonight.

“It’s not good from our point of view to not be stopping those crosses but we defended them well and we had to go and stop those crosses.”

He added: “So from that point of view defensively we stood up to it tonight, the pitch is quite big and it was quite slick, so I’m satisfied with the draw but I think we’re better than that.”

Tickets for the Ladbrokes Premiership match with Celtic on Saturday 15th October at Parkhead (3.00pm KO) are now on sale from the ticket office. 

And the club can today confirm that the Well Shop will be selling tickets this Saturday (8th October), and next Saturday (15th October) between the hours of 10am and 1pm.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• Concessions are listed as 65 and over and 16 and under
• Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 07745 494631/ 07711 992161 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk

Motherwell U20s extended their unbeaten run to four matches with a 1-1 draw away to St Johnstone tonight.

A first half header from Jacob Blyth was cancelled out by a second half strike from Connor McLaren on an evening where missed opportunities ruined both sides chances of taking all three points.

Kieran Kennedy started alongside goal-scorer Blyth as they both returned to fitness after significant spells out of action.

And it was a bright start for Blyth, who headed inches over the bar within the first two minutes.

It only took the Englishman five minutes and two opportunities to grab a goal though; despite the fact his header didn’t actually hit the back of the net.

The linesman was on hand to make the final call, deciding the summer signings header had indeed crossed the line despite St Johnstone stopper Ben McKenzie’s efforts to gather it.

Jake Hastie and Ross MacLean looked lively early on, providing pace and directness to the Steelmen’s game and looking to utilise the two centre forwards in the starting eleven.

And it was the former who went close and would have scored the second goal of the night had it not been for a great save by McKenzie.

Afforded too much time on the edge of the box, the youngster composed himself and unleashed a rocket of a left-foot towards goal, but it was too central and McKenzie got a strong pair of hands to it to deny him.

25 minutes in to the half and it should have been 2-0 to the Fir Parkers.

Some excellent, hard work by Ross MacLean down the right robbed the hosts in their own penalty area. Instead of shooting from a tight angle the midfielder wisely laid it off to Dylan Mackin who was free in the box, but the striker dragged his shot wide of the post from ten yards out.

The opening 45 quietened down as the game grew a bit scrappy at points, but Craigan’s side held on to their narrow lead going in to the break.

And the hosts were by far the stronger side in the second period, with a number of glaring opportunities to win the game after they drew level in the 65^th minute.

And it was a neat finish from Connor McLaren.

The midfielder raced in to the box with three ‘Well defenders in his way, but he did enough to create space on his right foot and lace a low, hard shot past Morrison.

From then on chances were few and far between for Motherwell as St Johnstone seemed to edge towards a winner.

Over age selection Graham Cummins went close with two efforts in two minutes for the hosts, heading once over the bar and once against the bar, but couldn’t hit the target.

Centre-back Jason Kerr should have nicked the points for St Johnstone in the final seconds of the match, rising high to head at goal but missing the target.

In the end, it was a hard-fought point for the youngsters who remained top of the Development League table and extended their great run of results.

Fancy good value drinks and an atmosphere to take in the World Cup qualifiers this Saturday night? Why not come along to the Centenary Suite Bar here at Fir Park.

The bar will open at 6pm before Scotland vs Lithuania kicks off at 7:45pm.

And there are some great value drink offers, including £2.80 pints of Foster’s or Kronenberg, as well as bottles of Bulmer’s at the same cost.

Situated in the Phil O’Donnell stand, the bar will again be open from 6pm for Scotland’s away clash with Slovakia on Tuesday night at the same kick off time of 7:45pm.

Motherwell football club would like to thank our partners for their support at the game on Friday evening.

Blue Parrot sponsored the game and chose Ben Heneghan as their man of the match. Ben was presented his award by Greg Anderson from Blue Parrot.

Match ball sponsors Rentokil chose Craig Clay as their man of the match and the award was presented to him by Iain Marks.

Match Attax Young Man of the Match was awarded to Scott McDonald by Scott Maxwell. Unfortunately, Scott couldn’t accept the award and Stephen McManus stepped in.

The Club would also like to thank Magnum Sounds for the provision of the PA system in the Centenary Suite.