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Motherwell’s reserves fell to a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Falkirk on Monday.

Maurice Ross’ side had the lead midway through the first half, but went in behind at the break and ultimately failed to recover.

Liam Donnelly, Elliott Frear and Danny Johnson added first-team experience to the ranks, with Frear grabbing ‘Well’s opener.

Akeel Rehman set the winger free down the left side of the box, before his low shot found its way past Leo Fasan in the Falkirk goal with 19 minutes played.

Minutes later, the Bairns were level. Lavery raced onto a flick-on, before keeping his cool to beat Rohan Ferguson.

Just after the half hour mark, the visitors were ahead. Dunne surged forward from left back, beat two men and fired an unstoppable shot into the net.

Frear and Donnelly had chances to get the Steelmen level again, before Falkirk extended their lead with 18 minutes left on the clock.

Dunne was again involved, laying it on for Kidd to beat Ferguson, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.

Reece McAlear then pulled one back from McKinstry’s corner to give Ross’ side hope as the clock wore down, but the Bairns were to restore their two-goal advantage.

Lavery was fouled in the box by Ferguson, before putting his penalty past Ferguson to guarantee the three points.

Motherwell are back in action in the SPFL Reserve League on Monday against Falkirk.

The match will be played at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie. Kick off is at 2pm.

Maurice Ross says the rate at which his youngsters are developing is exciting for everyone at the club.

Motherwell’s reserves ran out 2-0 winners over St Johnstone on Monday, reaching the SPFL Reserve League Cup final with Hearts.

“I’m delighted for the players getting to the final,” he said. “They deserved it.

“We’ve gone toe-to-toe with them and deserved it. It could maybe have been 2-1, they had a few half chances.

“There is so much goes into what they are doing there. It’s not a case of turning up. It’s all planned, the majority of it.

“They are so loyal and humble. They are desperate for knowledge, and it makes my job easy.

“It’s mainly about development. But when they are developing at that rate, I am excited.”

Late goals from George Newell and Akeel Rehman were the difference between the two sides.

A youthful second string played well in an even first half, but grew into things further as the game wore on.

With 12 minutes to go, substitute Stuart McKinstry brilliantly dummied to send two defenders the wrong way on the inside left of the box. His low cross was then met by Newell, whose scuffed shot went past a helpless visiting goalkeeper.

As St Johnstone gambled on an equaliser, McKinstry was again the provider from the left for Rehman. Getting a second bite at it, he fired home just before the full time whistle to secure progression.

Motherwell: Morrison, MacDonald, Devine, Hussain, Livingstone, McAlear (Liam Brown), Cornelius (Kettings), Rehman, Newell, Semple (McKinstry), Starrs.

Subs not used: Hemfrey, Bowers, Watson, Jack Brown.

George Newell and Akeel Rehman were on target as the second string reached the SPFL Reserve League Cup final with victory over St Johnstone.

Barry Maguire was left with plenty to ponder after being sent off in Queen of the South’s home defeat to Dundee United.

The defender was caught in possession by Peter Pawlett, leading to the 20-year-old hauling him down in the box, denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity and seeing red.

His team lost out 1-0, with Nicky Clark netting the resulting penalty.

PJ Morrison and George Newell were both starters for Albion Rovers, as they lost out 1-0 at promotion-chasing Clyde.

Newell had a late, late chance to grab an equaliser for his side, dragging a stoppage-time shot wide of the post.

Neil McLaughlin played 90 minutes in League Two for Stirling Albion, as they twice threw away a one-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Elgin City.

Former ‘Well man Dylan Mackin was again on target, as the Binos conceded two in the last 10 minutes to lose out.

Broque Watson wasn’t in action for East Fife as they lost in the IRN-BRU Cup semi-final, owing to his involvement with the Motherwell Colts earlier in the season.

In England, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair got his first minutes for Crewe Alexandra in a 1-1 draw with Paul Scholes’ Oldham Athletic.

The left back came off the bench midway through the second half, as his team scored a stoppage time leveller at Boundary Park.

Maurice Ross says his reserve side’s 1-1 draw with Partick Thistle was a valuable learning experience in attacking play for the youngsters.

Motherwell controlled possession for almost the entirety of the game, but struggled to create clear scoring chances against a defensive side in wet and windy conditions at Lesser Hampden.

The team did carve out openings in the first half in particular, but fell behind in the second half and rescued a point through Conor Sammon’s equaliser.

“We were in full control, which is what we like,” said Ross. I”t’s maybe an insight for the lads what it’s like when top teams have the majority of the possession.

“Top teams move the ball with a constant eye on an opportunity to get in behind and kill you. We kept it with an idea of keeping it.

“That is where I think the development will come. We aren’t just trying to move the ball about, we are trying to move an opponent about to find a space we can exploit and move into.”

First teamers Sammon, Liam Donnelly and Danny Johnson started the match as part of a youthful Motherwell side.

The trio would all contribute scoring chances in the first 45, with Johnson going close and Sammon having a goal disallowed for offside.

Jamie Semple also had two big chances towards the end of the opening period, but twice missed the target.

Ross’ side continued to dominate in the second half, but they struggled to create chances early on and were punished on the counter.

Having escaped an arguably more-dangerous counter attack situation 10 minutes before, ‘Well were done when Dean Watson slid in Ally Roy, who was composed enough to steer past Rohan Ferguson one-on-one with 65 minutes on the clock.

Motherwell continued to press on from going behind and finally got the goal their play deserved with eight minutes remaining.

Sammon found a yard of space on the left side of the six yard box, before brilliantly turning his body, spinning and rifling the ball into the far corner of the net.

“We got done with their goal but we didn’t panic,” added Ross. “We should have been three up at half time, but a draw isn’t a problem. It’s a development game, results aren’t the most important thing.

“We want to see they’ve got an idea of how to win football matches. They came up against a team sitting deep with nine behind the ball, but we were in the position where we could move the opponent around.”

Motherwell’s reserve side take on Partick Thistle in the SPFL Reserve League on Monday afternoon.

Kick off at Lesser Hampden is at 2pm.

James Scott has signed a three-and-a-half-year extension to his contract with the club.

The striker, a regular scorer for reserves, has already notched up four substitute appearances for the first team, after making his debut as a 17-year-old back in April 2018.

His deal was due to expire in May of this year, but his development has been rewarded with a new contract that will expire in the summer of 2022.

“We have extremely high hopes for James and he is already knocking at the door for a first-team spot,” Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson said.

“We will continue to push him and develop him as he is a very talented boy. He is still very young and learning the game, but I have high hopes for him.”

“He has only just turned 18, but I hope to see him breaking into the first team in the near future.

“We are continuing to have positive discussions with one or two other young players, and hope to have an announcement on that front soon.”

The young striker added: “I am really happy to have signed a new contract with the club.

“I’ve already had a taste of playing in the first team, and now I want to push even more to get playing time as soon as possible.”

Maurice Ross says he watched his reserves side with a smile on his face, after seeing hard work in training come to life in the 2-0 win over Queen of the South.

A second straight win in the Reserve League saw a youthful team emerge victorious, thanks for second half goals from Cole Starrs and Liam Donnelly.

James Scott was the creator on the hour mark, holding off his marker and sliding in Starrs to slot home from eight yards.

Adam Livingstone’s free kick from the left then found Donnelly at the back post, with the defender doing well to keep his header from a bouncing ball under the bar.

Motherwell dominated large spells of the first half, having a host of chances, with Scott in particular being denied on three occasions by the Queens ‘keeper.

“We struggled a wee bit with the final ball because we weren’t getting enough penetration from our good play in the first half,” he said.

“We re-emphasised it for the second half and it ended up that I’m sitting at the side of the pitch smiling.

“Anyone who saw us against Hamilton and then this game, they will see there is good football being played.

“It is controlled football. That for me, as a coach, is great to see.”

The first few weeks of Ross’ time at Fir Park has been working on getting his young charges to play without fear.

“I just want them to play, but to act on instinct based on what we’ve done in training through what we can control,” he added.

“What if you’ve not got that day where you are on fire? Your thought process should correct you.

“It’s about keeping a level of consistency in that you need to be aware of what you are doing instinctively.”

Defender Barry Maguire featured for Queen of the South as they crashed out the William Hill Scottish Cup, losing 4-1 to Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The Doonhamers pushed their Premiership opponents hard and were level at just after the hour, Stephen Dobbie’s thunderbolt having cancelled out Niall McGinn’s opener. However, an Andy Considine header and a double from Sam Cosgrove booked Derek McInnes’ side a spot in the quarter-final.

Broque Watson made his debut for East Fife as an 82nd minute substitute in their cup defeat at home to Partick Thistle. On-loan St Johnstone defender Steven Anderson had the Jags ahead, but despite creating a couple of promising openings, the Methil side bowed out the competition. Shea Gordon wasn’t involved for the visitors but is getting close to making his return from a lengthy injury.

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair will have to wait for his Crewe debut as he was named amongst the subs for the Railwaymen’s 3-3 draw away to Maccelsfield in English League Two. The visitors thought they had won it with a goal in the 95th minute, but incredibly, there was still time for Town to square the match in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

George Newell and Peter Morrison were both starters for Albion Rovers in their 3-0 home defeat to Elgin. City defender Darryl McHardy scored a hat-trick, as the Wee Rovers remain rooted to the bottom of the League Two table.

Neil McLaughlin was an unused sub as Stirling Albion kept pace with Annan in the chase for a play-off spot with an important 2-1 away win at Berwick Rangers. Former ‘Well youngster Dylan Mackin was on the scoresheet for the Binos, who sit just four behind the Borderers with 14 games remaining.