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With players returning from injury, the cinch Reserve League match against Ayr United was a good opportunity for first-team players to get some minutes under their belt.

Joe Efford, Lennon Miller, Ricki Lamie, Stephen O’Donnell, Harry Paton, Shane Blaney, Jack Aitchison and Riku Danzaki were all notable first team players who got some game time in the match at K-Park.

Lead development coach Alan Archibald was pleased with the attitude of all players as they came away with a deserved 2-0 win, courtesy of a free kick wonder goal from Shane Blaney and substitute Mark Ferrie adding a second near the end of the game.

Motherwell ran out comfortable 2-0 victors over Ayr United in the cinch Reserve League at K-Park on Tuesday afternoon. 

Shane Blaney scored a spectacular free kick with Mark Ferrie adding a second to give Motherwell the three points.

It was an experienced development team with notable first team players Ricki Lamie, Stephen O’Donnell, Shane Blaney, Riku Danzaki and Jack Aitchison all starting. Joe Efford also made his first appearance back on the pitch since his injury in November.

With experienced players within their ranks, Motherwell controlled most of the ball in the first half. Lennon Miller had the first shot on target with a free kick from 25 yards after eight minutes but his strike was comfortably saved.

Aitchison had a go on 20 minutes, with his shot spilled by the Ayr United keeper and the ball trickled agonisingly past the post. From the subsequent corner, Blaney seen his header saved from close range at the back post.

Efford cut the ball back for Aitchison on 38 minutes, with his shot, that was going into the bottom corner, cleared by the defender.

There were no changes at half time and Motherwell looked to continue on the front foot.

Luca Ross found his opposite full back Robbie Garcia with a left footed cross but the youngster effort was gathered by the keeper.

The breakthrough would come on 63 minutes, in world class fashion. Blaney stepped up to a free kick on the left edge of the box and with an effort Motherwell fans will be well aware of, found the top corner with a laced shot curling away from the keeper. 1-0.

Miller had a go to double the ‘Well’s advantage with a half volley effort on 72 minutes, it was saved but the keeper couldn’t hold and substitute Ferrie followed in but his shot was blocked once again.

Goalkeeper Kyle Aitken was called into action for the first time with ten minutes remaining, he made a save to his left hand side before getting up quickly to block the follow up strike.

Ferrie would make sure of the points on 84 minutes. Dylan Wells burst onto Ross’ through ball, got across the defender before squaring the ball to an on rushing Ferrie who finished into the bottom corner to make it two nil and end the game as a contest.

“The more experienced players asked to play and they showed an excellent attitude towards the game.

“The young boys that came on showed energy and desire.”

With Hibernian at the top of the Reserve League, a young Motherwell side travelled to Edinburgh looking to cause an upset.

With newly appointed lead development coach Archie Archibald in the dugout for the first time, Hibernian took the lead in the first half and missed a penalty to take a two goal advantage into the second period.

Motherwell started the second half in a much more positive fashion and young Mark Ferrie got his side level to earn a valuable point on the road.

Alan Archibald has been appointed lead development coach. 

The 45-year-old will be begin working specifically with our Development and Under 18s teams after leaving his role as assistant manager at Partick Thistle in February.

Archibald takes up the role that was vacated by manager Stuart Kettlewell last month.

“I’m delighted to be here” Alan Archibald said.

“I spoke with the manager last week and it made this a very easy decision to make.

“When I was manager, one of the best parts of the job was being able to give youngsters their debuts and time on the pitch.

“I started off coaching at youth level so I’m well aware of the challenges that await.

“This is a great football club and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

With almost 500 appearances in his career, Archibald spent his playing career at Partick Thistle and Dundee United.

He retired in 2013 and became interim manager in January of that year before being given the job on a permanent basis.

Under his guidance, Thistle won the First Division, the second tier, to get the Jags back in the top flight.

Archibald would keep Thistle in the top flight, securing a top-six finish in the 16/17 season and a record amount of top-flight wins in the process, until the 2017/18 season when they lost the play-off final to Livingston.

He left Thistle in 2018 before returning less than 12 months later as Ian McCall’s assistant manager.

“I think getting someone of Alan’s calibre is a massive positive for the club,” manager Stuart Kettlewell added.

“He’s a premiership manager who has lots of experience at the top level.

“The young players here will benefit massively from him.

“I know how important the lead development role is at Motherwell so to get Alan in means I can trust and rely on that role being executed well.”

It was a difficult afternoon for a young Motherwell development side as they fell to a 4-0 defeat to an experienced Queen of the South side. 

First half goals from Dom McMahon, Lee Connelly, Ross Irving and a second half header from Peter Mendy saw Queen of the South run out comfortable victors.

Queen of the South named a strong starting eleven with ample first-team experience. Motherwell goalkeeper Josh Bogan was called into action in the early stages but was beaten on 11 minutes.

McMahon latched onto a through pass from the midfield and raced through on goal before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Queen’s doubled their lead on 25 minutes with a fine effort from Connelly. The striker had the ball on the left edge of box before cutting onto his right foot and found the top right-hand corner of the net past Bogan. The ball crashed off the underside of the bar and crossed the line to make it 2-0.

It was all but game over for Motherwell when Irving headed in a Queen’s cross on the stroke of half-time to make it 3-0.

A stern team talk at half time, seen Motherwell come out much improved in the second period.

Mark Ferrie, Mo Adam and Daniel Hunter all had efforts on goal but were well saved by Gordon Botterill in the Queen’s goal.

Lennon Miller made his first appearance in a competitive match since January 24, with the young prodigy getting 30 minutes from the bench in the second half.

Substitute Dylan Wells also helped improve Motherwell’s fortunes as he looked to change the game in the Steelmen’s favour.

Bogan was largely untested in the second period but Queen’s made it four with minutes remaining when Mendy converted from a cross into the bottom left corner.

Richard Foster has been appointed head of coaching. 

Joining the club and starting immediately, Foster will oversee coaches within our academy at all youth levels.

Alongside this, he will be coaching our Under 16s team and will be involved at Under 18s level. With Stuart Kettlewell’s role of lead development coach vacant, since he became first-team manager, Foster will be coaching the Under 18s until a replacement has been appointed.

Foster began his career at Aberdeen where went on to make over 200 appearances for the Dons.

In his time, he turned out for Rangers, Ross County, St Johnstone, Bristol City and Partick Thistle while also being selected for Scotland duty in 2012.

He was assistant manager with USL Championship side Detroit City for the 2022 season before returning to Scotland earlier this month.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for me at the perfect time,” Foster said.

“Motherwell is renowned for developing young players that go on to have sustained careers within the game and they have some great, young talent coming through with excellent people working here.

“This all makes me feel very fortunate to be given this role and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Defender Logan Dunachie has joined Forfar on loan until the end of the season. 

The 6ft 4in centre back spent the first half of the season on loan at Lowland League side East Kilbride.

A colossus at the heart of the defence, the 19-year-old has featured on the first-team bench twice this season but he will now join up with Ray McKinnon’s squad as Forfar pursue a spot in the play-offs after a slow start to the season.

“Logan has spent time training with the first-team and his loan move to East Kilbride was a worthwhile one,” academy director David Clarkson said.

“His height is something that could be very beneficial for any team he plays with and after speaking with Forfar, we feel this is an ideal place for him to play for the rest of the season.

“It’s a division up from where he had been playing earlier in the season so we want to see him make that step up and continue his development.”

Motherwell picked up the bonus point in the cinch Reserve League cup this afternoon against Kilmarnock at K-Park by winning the penalty shootout 4-2, with the game ending 1-1 after 90 minutes. 

Fraser Murray put Kilmarnock ahead with ten minutes remaining but Olly Crankshaw levelled the game in the 89th minute to take the game to the shootout.

Aston Oxborough would go on to save two out of Kilmarnock’s four penalties in the shootout, with Motherwell converting all four of their spot kicks.

It would be a game of few chances in the first half. Crankshaw had the ball in the net midway through the first period. The winger cut inside onto his right foot before finishing into the top corner but was adjudged to have been offside by the officials.

Oxborough was called into action to save Bobby Wales’ effort, which looked to be finishing into the corner. The Englishman got his hand to it to clear it away.

Oxborough would be involved again in the second half, with two saves from distance to keep the game level.

But Kilmarnock would dominate the ball more as the half went on and would make it count on 79 minutes. Kian Leslie crossed the ball into the danger area after some good work on the wing and Murray was on hand to head into the far corner to open the scoring.

The goal would kick Motherwell back into life and Crankshaw fired Motherwell on level terms in one of the last actions of the game. Crankshaw picked up the ball and drilled an effort from 20-yards into the bottom corner. 1-1.

Motherwell would have a golden chance to win the game after 90 minutes. Some good work from Ross Tierney would unleash Crankshaw who went through on goal but his effort was saved by the keeper.

Daniel Hunter, Stuart McKinstry and Olly Crankshaw all scored from the spot. Oxborough would save Kerr McInroy’s spot kick, with a strong hand to the bottom right.

Killie would score their next penalty however Oxborough got down well to the bottom right to save Murray’s effort from 12-yards.

Ross Tierney stepped up knowing if he finished, he would secure the bonus point for his side and he did just that, sending the keeper the wrong way.

After a lengthy time away from the action, our development team were in action against Hamilton in the cinch Reserve League cup. 

Failing to take a barrel load of chances in the first half, Hamilton scored the opener with their first sniff at goal just before half time.

After conceding a sloppy second goal, Motherwell continued to create but it would only be Kian Speirs who would get on the scoresheet.

Stuart Kettlewell insists there was elements of the games he was happy with and that his side should have won, however was left frustrated that his team didn’t make the most of their openings.