Motherwell Under 20s came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Kilmarnock at Livingston this evening.
The visitors took the lead when Dean Hawkshaw smashed home from close range before Aaron Splaine doubled the advantage three minutes later.
‘Well hit back when recent signing Theo Robinson flicked home a corner before substitute Dylan Mackin brought his side level after Killie had been reduced to ten men.
Both teams had chances to win it, but a draw was probably just about the right result.
Robinson was Motherwell’s most experienced player with Chris Cadden, Luke Watt, and David Ferguson the others with first-team experience.
It took 13 minutes for either team to register a shot on goal, Killie’s Ross Barbour testing PJ Morrison with a curling shot that forced the young keeper to tip over.
Motherwell’s response came via Cadden, who was presented with a chance following a deflected Jack Leitch free kick, but the midfielder screwed it wide.
Both teams continued to create, Watt seeing a shot deflect over before Scott McLean brought out another good save from Morrison, who dived low to his left to deny the forward, who had good clear of the ‘Well rearguard.
However, the young keeper would be powerless to prevent the opening goal soon after, Hawkshaw collecting a Greg Taylor cutback before drilling high into the roof of the net.
It went from bad to worse for ‘Well when the visitors doubled their advantage. Ferguson’s pass to Campbell was intercepted and worked the ball to Splaine, via McLean, who fired hard past Morrison.
Motherwell tried to regroup and Adam Livingstone shot over after linking well with Robinson, before Ben Hall almost connected with a corner at the back post, but couldn’t quite reach.
Just before the interval, Hall and Robinson were again involved, this time combining to set up Cadden but leaning back, the youngster ballooned his shot over the bar.
Motherwell started the second half brightly, with Robinson forcing Oliver Davies into the save with a low, curling free kick. Down the other end, Morrison had to make another super block to deny McLean, who had danced around three ‘Well challenges.
It was back and fourth with both teams creating. Robinson came within an inch of reducing the arrears, only for his shot to come back off the post. Then, almost straight away, Morrison was again involved, stopping Jack Whittaker who had wriggled away from Hall.
Motherwell were denied what looked like a fairly good penalty shout when Robinson was tripped in the box. The ball broke out to Livingstone whose fizzing low shot forced Davies to save at the expense of a corner.
From the resulting kick, Motherwell did score and Robinson finally got on the score sheet. Leitch’s whipped corner was perfect for the Jamaican International who adjusted his body and neatly flicked it into the net.
That goal gave Craigan’s men the upper hand and Leitch and Robinson both came close shortly after, but both were denied either by keeper Davies or last-ditch blocks.
Kilmarnock did regroup though and Whittaker twice tested Morrison from distance, both times the young keeper was up to the task.
There was another penalty shout for ‘Well when Syme and sub Mackin came together in the box, but it didn’t look like much on first viewing.
If the referee got that one right, he probably called Adam Hodge’s yellow card wrong just two minutes later. The defender scythed the counter-attacking Cadden high, later and reckless, with the only fortune being the young midfielder was off the ground enough to take the impact without serious injury.
However, it wouldn’t be long before Kilmarnock were actually reduced to ten men, when Splaine was sent off for a second booking… For kicking the ball away!
With a man advantage, it was all Motherwell and both Watt and Mackin flashed headers wide of target. A driving run and cross from Cadden had no takers but ‘Well did eventually grab an equaliser with ten minutes left to play.
Watt fired a low, hard shot into the mix, with the ricochet allowing Ryan Watters the chance of a shot. His low effort hit Hodge and spun out to Mackin who tucked home.
Motherwell could and perhaps should have gone on to win it. Cadden fired a long range effort wide, McMillan slid a low shot inches wide of target before, in the dying seconds, Dylan Falconer sent a header straight at Davies.
It was an eventful and entertaining game with both teams probably leaving West Lothian accepting of a point, albeit in different circumstances.
Motherwell: Morrison, Watt, McMillan, Ferguson, Hall, Campbell, Watters (Falconer – 87mins), Leitch, Robinson (Mackin – 63mins), Livingstone (Hastie – 74mins), Cadden
Subs Not Used: Potts, Maguire, Moore, Turnbull
