Motherwell and 10-man Ayr United played out a competitive 3-3 draw in the first match of the new cinch Reserve Cup.
Ayr took an early lead before Mark Ferrie levelled midway through the first-half.
An own goal had the Steelmen ahead early in the second half before two defensive blunders had the Honest Men 3-2 up with 15 left to play. Ferrie levelled again before a number of spurned chances cost David Clarkson’s side.
In complete contrast to the 4-0 Reserve League win over Queen’s Park, it was a very young and inexperienced side in claret and amber. Dean Cornelius was the only inclusion with meaningful first-team experience, but David Devine, Robbie Mahon and Lennon Miller could count on some game time at senior level.
The visitors got off to the worst possible start as Ayr took the lead after just 70 seconds. Breaking quickly from a Motherwell free-kick, the hosts burst down the right flank and sent a testing ball into the area. Moffat’s glancing header sent it straight to Jayden Lawson Mitchell who took a nice touch before slotting into the corner.
Motherwell quickly recovered from that early blow to get themselves back into the match. Lennon Miller had a shot sail over the bar and Robbie Mahon fired high and wide of target.
They did eventually draw level after 25 minutes. Dean Cornelius’ neat through pass was perfect for the supporting Danny Hunter, who took a touch and blasted it across goal where Ferrie was on hand to finish neatly from close range.
Although the direction of the game was being played much more towards the Ayr goal, ‘Well would need Matty Connolly to make a dramatic double save to keep the scores level. The first was a David Bangala shot from close range that the young keeper turned around the post. The second, from the resulting corner, was a sliding effort from Michael Hewitt at the back post that he was able to tip away, before comfortably collecting Moffat’s hooked on effort on the rebound.
As the first-half was coming to a close, Ayr were reduced to ten men when young full-back Alex Jeanes was sent off for a second bookable offence after a crunching tackle on Miller.
With a man advantage, ‘Well started the second half on the front foot and a Ewan Wilson shot from distance set the early intentions for David Clarkson’s side. It was quickly followed by the second goal. Wilson was again involved, this time sending a nice ball down the left channel for Hunter, who had again made a supporting run from midfield. He again fired the ball across goal which cannoned off Hewitt and flew past McAdams for 1-2.
It was almost three just minutes later when Luca Ross cannoned a shot off the post. Cornelius, Miller and Ferrie all combined in the area, before the ball fell fortuitously to the winger, but his first-time effort bounced off McAdams’ right hand upright with the keeper stranded. Shortly after, McAdams did react well to a Hunter shot that he tipped over the bar for a corner.
Motherwell’s lack of a killer instinct to grab a decisive third goal was to prove crucial. It gave Ayr encouragement to get back into the match and with their next meaningful attack, the Honest men equalised. A simple near post corner wasn’t dealt with and it bounced off a defender and into the net for the second own goal of the afternoon.
Incredibly, Ayr got themselves back in front just five minutes later, and it was another defensive disappointment for the Steelmen. A loose pass across the back four was gifted to Lawson Mitchell who marched in on goal, rounded Connolly and slotted home.
To be fair to the visitors, they quickly regrouped and got themselves back on level terms just three minutes later. Hunter’s raking pass to the wide left position found Wilson in an advanced area. His first-time cross wasn’t properly dealt with by Hewitt, allowing Ferrie to pounce and fire a low shot into the far corner.
Motherwell went all out to find a fourth and winning goal. They were gift-wrapped the perfect opportunity to do so when they were awarded a penalty with ten minutes left on the clock when Ross was bundled to the ground by Kinlay Bilham. Ferrie had the chance to grab a hat-trick, but his low shot cannoned back off the left hand post and cleared.
‘Well continued to push and Ferrie stung the palms of McAdams with a firm shot from distance before Miller missed a close range header in the dying seconds after sub Dylan Wells had twisted the full-back up and hung up a cross into the six-yard box. Sadly, they couldn’t get it and had to be content with a point. The match went to spot kicks to determine who took a bonus point, and Ayr shaded it 5-3 when Wilson’s effort coming back off the cross bar.
Motherwell: Connolly, M.Ross, Wilson, Devine (Bone – 61 mins), Gould, Cornelius (MacDonald – 61mins (Dylan Wells – 81 mins)), Hunter, Miller, Mahon (Nevans – 70 mins), Ross, Ferrie
Subs Not Used: Aitken
