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Motherwell started the Reserve League with a 4-0 win at home to Queen’s Park.

Stephen O’Donnell, Robbie Mahon, Ali Gould and Dean Cornelius all scored in a comfortable win for a Motherwell side full of first-team experience.

Queen’s Park threatened first. Louis Longridge with a shot from the edge of the box but it was a comfortable stop for Oxborough.

Heraghty was then forced into action as McKinstry’s powerful cross was diverted goalwards by Mahon. It was going in until the young goalkeeper parried it away to safety.

The Steelmen struck first in the 28th minute. A slack backpass was pounced upon by Shields who forced a good save but from the resulting phase of play Rolando Aarons’ skilful rabona cross on the right wing was fired home by Stephen O’Donnell.

Queen’s Park almost instantly replied as Liam McLeish looked certain to score with a free header but Oxborough produced a fine diving save to preserve the lead.

Just before half-time, Robbie Mahon doubled the advantage. More fine work from Aarons created space for Maguire to pull it back across goal for Mahon and the Irishman made no mistake from eight yards.

Five minutes into the second half it was 3-0. A superb counter attacking goal, started by Luca Ross who drove forward and found Mahon. His pass was then perfectly weighted for the overlapping full-back Ali Gould who fired past Heraghty.

Connor Shields nearly added a fourth on the hour mark. More good attacking midfield play saw Mahon slide in Shields. His first touch took him past the goalkeeper but from a narrow angle he could only find the side netting.

He created another good chance, just before being replaced by Louis Moult, with another well-timed run but his powerful shot was beaten out of play for a corner.

With ten to play, Motherwell added a fourth. Stephen O’Donnell cut the ball back into a dangerous area which was intelligently dummied by Mahon, and then placed into the top corner by Dean Cornelius.

The crowd very nearly got to witness Moult scoring on his return to the Fir Park turf as he raced through on goal but Heraghty made a good block at his feet.

In the end it was a comfortable 90 minutes for the Steelmen, with some valuable minutes into player’s legs as well.

Motherwell: Oxborough, Mugabi, Devine (Dunachie, 45′), O’Donnell, Gould, Maguire (MacDonald, 71′), Cornelius, McKinstry (Hunter 45′), Shields (Moult, 71′), Aarons (Ross, 45′), Mahon

Unused Subs: Connelly, Wells, Ferrie

Goals: O’Donnell (27′), Mahon (44′), Gould (51′), Cornelius (79′)

Lennon Miller and Robbie Garcia have been selected in Scotland Under-17s squad.

The squad meet up in Spain for a week long training camp.

Lennon previously featured in the UEFA Under 17s European Championship finals in May, taking Portugal, Denmark and Sweden.

Robbie receives his first call-up, catching the eye after a string of impressive performances, topped off by winning the 2022 Foyle Cup.

K-Park will be the home ground for our Women and Development Team this season.

With a new campaign looming, Paul Brownlie’s squad have completed their pre-season preparations and look forward now to their first league game on Sunday against Dundee United.

The first league match to be played at K-Park will be against Glasgow City on Sunday 14 August.

Our Development Team will kick off their 2022/23 Reserve League campaign against Queen’s Park on Tuesday 6 September with the first league match against Hamilton Academical on Tuesday 4 October.

Kick-off is 7:45pm.

Motherwell B take on East Kilbride on Tuesday night in the first round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Kick-off at K-Park is 7.45pm.

The ‘Well youngsters face a difficult task as the Lowland League side have started the season in fine form, with four wins from their opening five games.

There are also some familiar faces on show with former Motherwell players Jonny Page and Bob McHugh within the EK ranks.

Tickets

Tickets are available online.

Adults: £10
Concessions: £5

Match Officials

• Referee: Colin Whyte
• AR1: Paul O’Neill
• AR2: Tommi Kerr

When the first team announced that they would be going to Austria for a pre-season camp, young Kian Speirs could only hope that he would to join them.

A last-minute call meant he had to quickly pack his bags and get to the airport as he would join Graham Alexander and the squad for the week long camp.

After only training a handful of times with the first team, this was Kian’s first real experience of top level training and it gave him an insight into what it takes to be a full time professional.

Rounding off his time in Austria, the midfielder would get game time in a bounce game which has left him hungry for more.

Motherwell are your 2022 Foyle Cup Champions.

The Foyle Cup, based in Northern Ireland, is a 2005 age limit tournament consisting of 24 teams.

Motherwell, who were able to go on tour courtesy of a significant donation from the Well Society, were placed in group D alongside Institute FC, Ballymoney Utd and Strathroy Harps. Scoring 23 goals and conceding none, the young Steelmen comfortably progressed to the quarter-final.

A 3-1 victory against Inishowen YL seen the lads move on to the semis.

In the last four, Motherwell took on Derry City under 18s on Thursday night.

During the match, Richard Twambe suffered a horrific injury which has left the forward in hospital awaiting an operation.

It was agreed by both teams that the match should be abandoned and re-scheduled for the following (Friday) morning.

Despite witnessing the injury to their teammate, young Motherwell regrouped and went again. A convincing 3-0 victory booked a spot in the final, where they would face Altrincham FC.

Producing another fine performance, Motherwell once again won 3-0 and lifted the Foyle Cup, with Shay Nevans, Ally Goul and Adam MacDonald getting on the scoresheet.

“The boys have been brilliant during this tournament,” academy director Steven Hammell said.

“It allowed the group to form new bonds as we had some under 16s make the step up so it was as much a pre-season as a tournament.

“It’t been an excellent tournament and experience for this group. Despite a hectic schedule, they have coped remarkably and it should stand them in good stead for the future.

“To come to an unknown place and to win against unknown teams, is something they should be proud of.

”I would also like to thank the Well Society for their vital donation to allow us to take part in this competition. It’s so encouraging for the Academy to have the support and backing that it gets from the supporters, who are directly playing a part in unearthing what we hope will be future first-team players.”

The Motherwell squad on tour was:

Lennon Miller, Robbie Garcia, Max Ross, Brannan Mcdermott, Ally Gould, Arran Bone, Scott Williamson, Adam Macdonald, Dylan Wells, Olly Whyte, Richard Tambwe, Luca Ross, Shay Nevans, Mark Ferrie, Zack Tomany and Kyle Aitken (T)

Steven Hammell (Academy Director), Brian Kerr (Development Team Manager), David Clarkson (Head of Intermediate Academy), Paul Burns (Head of Junior Academy), Tom Jones (Performance Therapist) and Kelly McKenna (Physiotherapist)

Motherwell have been given a home tie with East Kilbride in the first round of the SPFL Trust Trophy. 

First round matches are due to take place on 9/10 August.

Should Motherwell progress to the second round, we will face Annan Athletic.

Second round ties are scheduled to take place on 23/24 August.

Kick-off time and venue will be announced shortly.

Academy midfielder Bailey Rice has rejected an offer of a professional contract and has joined Rangers for an undisclosed fee.

The youngster was part of an exciting, and much-coveted, 2006 squad which has enjoyed notable success during their progression through the Club Academy Scotland age groups.

Although a number of the players had significant interest from big clubs on both sides of the border, we were able to promote nine of the ten proposed graduates to full-time this summer.

“Although it’s disappointing to lose Bailey at this stage of his development, we respect his decision,” academy director Steven Hammell said.

“On the flip side though, we are absolutely delighted that so many of the group we had earmarked for graduation into our professional set-up have placed their trust in us and the pathway we think we can provide to first-team football.

“We have already seen so many of them train and integrate with the first-team squad in the first week of pre-season and that’s something that should not only give them all encouragement, but additional hunger and desire to kick on.”

Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Bailey for his effort and commitment during his time with the Academy and wish him every success in his future career.

Ten academy graduates have signed professional deals with the club.

In the backline, defenders Robbie Garcia, Arran Bone, Brannan McDermott and Wishaw boy Max Ross are joined with 15-year-old Josh Bogan between the posts.

In midfield, Dylan Wells and Lennon Miller put pen to paper on their first professional deals.

Pacy wingers Luca Ross and Shay Nevans turn professional this summer alongside striker Mark Ferrie.

“This is a group we are excited about,” Motherwell’s academy director Steven Hammell said.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from clubs for several of these players and we have put a lot of hard work into keeping them here.

“It’s important that they understand the pathway to the first team here at Motherwell and the hard work they have to put in to reach it.

“In the short time the players have been back this season, some of the boys have already had a taste of working and training with the first team.

“We are all looking forward to seeing the progression of the boys over the course of this season and beyond.”

Former Motherwell midfielder Brian Kerr is enjoying a successful season with the Under 18s as they work on the final stages of their academy tuition.

The head coach oversees the oldest and most promising talent in the club’s youth set up, with the aim of pushing as many as possible towards first team football in the near future.

The boys have been consistently sitting around the third place spot in the league table and recently enjoyed the chance to play on the Fir Park pitch for the first time.

With the season drawing to a close, Kerr reviews how the players have been progressing, and his hopes for the new campaign.