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Stephen Craigan’s Motherwell Under 20s side are back in league action on Monday night as they host Kilmarnock.

The match at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling kicks off at 6pm. Entry is free.

A win against Killie will put the young Steelmen fourth in the SPFL Development League ahead of Hearts.

Alfredo Agyeman scored the decisive goal win Motherwell defeated Kilmarnock 1-0 at Rugby Park earlier in the season.

Jamie Semple has been selected again to represent Scotland at Under 17 level.

The young forward has made five appearances for his country so far and will join with the squad for their forthcoming UEFA Under 17 European Championship Elite Round matches.

Scotland will kick off their group against Greece on March 21, followed by fixtures against Norway three days later and then Germany on March 27.

The eight group winners in the final qualifying round, as well as the seven runners-up with the best record, will reach the finals in May.

Watch the highlights as Motherwell Under 20s win 3-2 against Hamilton Academical Under 20s at the Excelsior Stadium.

Under 20s manager Stephen Craigan praised his side going forward but admitted there was more they could do defensively. 

The Northern Irishman kept his unbeaten record against local rivals Hamilton with a 3-2 victory at the Excelsior Stadium.

But overall, the manager called for more defensively from his youngsters.

[pullquote]We certainly looked a threat going forward and we looked as if we would score goals, but we also looked susceptible at times on the counter attack.[/pullquote]

“It’s always nice to beat your rivals, first and foremost,” he said. “But I would’ve liked us to do it with a little more finesse.

“But I’m talking largely about a team that haven’t really played together. Barry Maguire stepped up to the first team, Davie Turnbull is away with Scotland which is a great achievement for him.”

He added: “When you lose players like that from your side and you try to shoehorn players in to positions, you lose a bit of your continuity.

“At times we played well, but the fact we looked a little bit suspect defensively is a little bit concerning.”

Motherwell under 20s maintained their near four-year unbeaten record against local rivals Hamilton under Stephen Craigan.

A James Scott brace and neat finish from Alfredo Agyeman secured a 3-2 victory at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie for the Fir Park youngsters.

Stephen Craigan made seven changes from the disappointing defeat to Ross County at Stirling five days ago.

Out went Jason Krones, Barry Maguire, Stephen Hendrie, David Turnbull, George Newell, Deimantas Petravičius and Ryan Bowman. They were replaced by Luke Watt, Kyle MacDonald, Adam Livingstone, Ross MacLean, Jamie Semple, James Scott and Alfredo Agyeman.

And in a controlling first half, Adam Livingstone caused all sorts of problems for the visitors down the left flank, comfortably beating his man on a number of occasions and producing pin-point crosses in to the box.

In the 18^th minute, ‘Well deservedly took the lead when the left wing back crossed for the head of Jamie Semple, who nodded down for James Scott to thunder home from seven yards.

Nine minutes later though, the game was levelled and in truth it was a composed goal for the visitors.

Pulling down a neat clipped ball over the top, Ryan Tierney took his time before squaring for Lewis Smith, who finished with aplomb beyond PJ Morrison.

Livingstone was at the heart of things again when his cross, this time from the right flank after taking a corner, was met by the head of Scott. The big striker nodded his effort on to the bar, but Agyeman was on hand to coolly side foot home.

Accies were awarded a rather cheap freekick right on the edge of the box and capitalised on it in the 59^th minute.

Ross Cunningham’s freekick clipped the top of the wall, crashing on to the crossbar and, unfortunately, crashing off the helpless Morrison’s back before crossing the line.

Scott had his second of the game in the 67^th minute, racing on to substitute Jason Krones ball over the top, controlling excellently before finishing past Fulton in to the far corner to put ‘Well in front for the third time.

With just stoppage time remaining, Morrison was adjudged to have handled the ball outside of the box to afford Accies a decent chance to snatch a point. From the freekick, the visitors squared the ball for Marc Kelly, but he scooped his effort over the bar and ultimately squandered a half-decent chance.

Under 20s manager Stephen Craigan says he expects more from some of his players after a disappointing loss against Ross County.

The youngsters slipped to a 2-1 defeat in the Development League, and the Northern Irishman expressed his unhappiness after the match.

Whilst he called for more from some of his players, he also credited Ross County on their victory at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling.

“The message to them before the game was ‘go out there and make your mark on the game, do something different than what you normally do.'”

“In general terms, I’m disappointed. But, credit to Ross County, I thought they were good in the first half.

“They had a real appetite about them and that’s something you have to try and match in football.”

Extended highlights from Forthbank Stadium as ‘Well under 20s lose 2-1 against Ross County in the Development League. 

Motherwell Under 20s slipped to a 2-1 defeat in their Development League clash against Ross County.

A Jake Hastie goal wasn’t enough for the youngsters, who looked set to salvage a point before James Wallace won it for the visitors with ten minutes remaining.

Manager Stephen Craigan named a strong side, calling on five players with first team experience, dropping a number of his youngsters to the bench following their cup exertions on Sunday.

But things got off to the worst possible start when Max Ashmore thundered an unstoppable strike high past Morrison in to the top corner, after just 30 seconds.

Craigan was forced in to an early change when youngster Jason Krones made way for Kyle MacDonald, midway through the first half.

Ryan Bowman nodded a decent header on target as ‘Well pushed for a leveller, but the home side went in to the break a goal down.

A change of shape and another substitution at the break saw Hastie introduced to the action in place of Stephen Hendrie, and Craigan’s side began to push for that all-important goal.

In the 74th minute, that goal arrived and it was well-worked, with a slice of fortune too.

After playing second fiddle for so long, surviving numerous scares, a deep ball towards the back post was headed back into the danger area by Barry Maguire, for Hastie to bundle home, via his face.

The tricky winger was involved just minutes later, beating his man in the County box before being bundled to the deck. There were half shouts for a penalty, but the referee waved play on.

Down the other end though, and with just ten minutes remaining, the Staggies fired themselves back in front.

A cross from the right flank found James Wallace in the box, who took a touch before firing a low effort beyond Morrison and over the line, despite the best efforts of Shaun Bowers.

Watch all 11 goals from Sunday’s thrashing of Stranraer in the Scottish FA Youth Cup fourth round.

Stephen McManus hailed the professional attitude of the Under 20s after they secured an 11-0 victory over Stranraer.

The assistant manager was pleased to see his side come away with the win on an afternoon they showed a ruthlessness at both ends of the pitch.

Speaking at full time, McManus reflected on the convincing fourth round performance.

“The boys were terrific and I thought they were very professional in the way they went about their business,” the former Scotland captain said.

“We spoke to the boys ahead of kick off and asked for a few things from them today which, sure enough, they delivered.

“The boys up front maybe haven’t shown that ruthlessness in front of goal that is needed to break through that barrier and get into the first-team plans, but today they showed that.

“When you play a side that are not in the division as you, you have to be very competitive in both boxes to ensure you come away with the win.”