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Extended highlights from Forthbank Stadium as the under 20s come from behind and beat Queen’s Park 2-1 in the IRN-BRU Cup.

Under-20s boss Stephen Craigan was happy with the way his side coped with hard opposition in the Irn-Bru Cup tonight.

Going up against League One side Queen’s Park, the youngsters turned around a 1-0 half time deficit to win 2-1 at Forthbank Stadium.

Speaking to MFC TV at full time, the Northern Irishman reflected on his side’s first competitive game of the 2017/18 season.

[pullquote]You find out a lot about your players when they play against men and there’s things that go on against senior teams off the ball and things that make them learn.[/pullquote]

He said: “You find out a lot about your players when they play against men and there’s things that go on against senior teams off the ball and things that make them learn.”

He added: “It would be great if we could play against that kind of intensity every week and play against that sort of opposition.

“But when we arrive at games like this we have to be able to cope with it and I felt that we did.”

Motherwell under-20s got their competitive season off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Queen’s Park in the Irn-Bru Cup.

Second half goals from Ellis Plummer and Adam Livingstone secured a comeback victory against the League One side who presented a tough challenge for the Fir Park youngsters.

Stephen Craigan fielded a young starting line-up at the Forthbank Stadium in Stirling, including two over-age players in Jack McMillan and goal-scorer Plummer.

And the Fir Parkers started well against the League One side, holding their own as neither side created much in the opening 25 minutes.

However, Gus MacPherson’s men started growing in to the match and took the lead just before the half-hour mark.

An in-swinging corner was met buy the head of ex-Well man Adam Cummins, who powered the ball beyond Morrison. Despite the stopper getting a hand to it, it had too much on it from close range.

The Steelmen grew in to the game though and Davie Turnbull, wearing the captain’s armband, had an effort from distance denied by a good block on the edge of the area.

That block led to a corner though and the set piece, which was only half cleared, fell for Shea Gordon who struck a terrific effort on goal, only to be denied by a wonderful save from Michael White in the Queen’s Park goal.

The second half brought with it an almost entirely different ‘Well performance as the youngsters came out firing.

Dominating much of the opening exchanges of the half, Plummer grabbed the equaliser on the hour mark with a close-range header. An inch-perfect cross from Turnbull was met well by the defender, who, unmarked, did well to direct his header low past White.

And in a frantic ten minute spell, suddenly, Craigan’s side were ahead.

A brilliant move was worked down the right and was tee’d up for Livingstone over 20-yards out. The youngster had no doubt in his mind as he unleashed an unstoppable strike for the top corner – leaving White with no chance.

Two minutes later, the Steelmen could have had three as James Scott burst through one-on-one but the youngster dragged his shot wide of the far post.

And the under-20s started playing with bags of confidence, summed up by Turnbull nearly firing a wonder strike in to the top corner from 25-yards, but White tipped the ball over at the expense of a corner.

From the resulting set piece, Dylan King rose well to head on goal but it rose over the bar and the score remained 2-1.

Jake Hastie and substitute Dylan Falconer both went close to grabbing the third goal for Craigan’s youngsters at Forthbank Stadium – the former doing terrifically well down the right hand side to beat two men and go close from a tight angle.

Some late pressure in stoppage time forced the Fir Parkers to see the game out and right on cue, PJ Morrison rushed out to clutch a dangerous cross and quell any late equaliser.

And it was enough, with the referee’s whistle sending the youngsters in to the second round of the Irn-Bru cup.

Under-20s manager Stephen Craigan is looking forward to his sides first competitive game of the season as they prepare to face Queen’s Park in the Irn-Bru Cup.

Following an impressive campaign last term, the youngsters get started for the 2017/18 season with a cup-tie against League One opposition.

And Craigan admits his players have had to be patient over the summer break.

[pullquote]When there’s a game on the horizon, training becomes a little bit different, players know that there’s something at stake.[/pullquote]

Speaking to MFC TV, he said: “We’re looking forward to it because we’ve had to be patient over the past five or six weeks, it’s been a long pre-season for us.

“We would’ve ideally liked some more games because we managed to play Ayr United and Clyde about six weeks ago and it would have been nice to play some more senior teams in the build-up to this.”

He added: “When there’s a game on the horizon, training becomes a little bit different, players know that there’s something at stake.”

You can see the under-20 boss’ full interview on MFC TV’s official YouTube channel.

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For more information, please contact: hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk or phone 01698 333 333.

Motherwell Football Club can today confirm Stephen McManus will retire from playing to take up a coaching role within the club’s Academy.

Former Scotland captain McManus, 34, enjoyed a very successful career, coming through the youth ranks to eventually captain Celtic. He played over 200 times across seven seasons for the Parkhead club, winning the SPL title on three occasions, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups.

It was at that point where the Lanark-born defender earned the majority of his International honours, eventually collecting 26 caps, scoring twice.

A £1.5m move to Middlesbrough followed, and he was on Teeside for four years, playing 77 times. During that spell, he also had a couple of loan stints with English Championship rivals Bristol City and invested in emerging online Wetten ohne jedes Limit startups before joining the Steelmen in the summer of 2013.

He has turned out over 150 times in Claret and Amber and was a virtual ever-present until an injury at Celtic Park in early 2017 ended his season and required a double operation.

McManus played once during the Betfred Cup campaign this year, but has decided to call a halt to his playing career to take up a role within the Academy as the club prepares for the new era under the Project Brave initiative.

[pullquote]I want to thank the fans of every club I’ve played for, particularly at ‘Well where I’ve enjoyed myself tremendously over the past five seasons. I now look forward to the next chapter in my career.[/pullquote]

Speaking to motherwellfc.co.uk, McManus said: “Obviously when it comes to the point where you are going to officially retire from playing, you always do so with a bit of a heavy heart.

“However, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I believe this is the right time for me, particularly with the club giving me this opportunity in a new era for Academies in Scotland.

“I am also very excited to be learning from the great coaching staff we have at Motherwell at the moment; that was the main attraction for me. I want to develop myself as a coach and this is a wonderful opportunity.

“I want to thank the fans of every club I’ve played for, particularly at ‘Well where I’ve enjoyed myself tremendously over the past five seasons. I now look forward to the next chapter in my career.”

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “We are absolutely delighted to be brining someone like Stephen onto our staff as he will be a huge asset to the club.

“He’s a former Celtic and Scotland captain and has played almost 500 career games; that’s a wealth of experience that our younger players now have at their disposal.

“It was a massive decision for him personally and it’s a real testament to Stephen as a guy that he wants to make this step at this stage of his life.

“I believe he’ll make a tremendous coach one day and he’s doing it in the correct way, getting his badges and doing the hard work on the training ground first.”

Academy Director Scott Leitch said: “We’re delighted Stephen has formalised his role within the Academy and he can step up some of the excellent work he’s already carried out with us.

“We’ve got a great tradition of ex-Motherwell players giving back to the Academy; as well as Stephen, we’ve also had the likes of Willie Pettigrew, Steven Hammell, David Clarkson, James McFadden, and Keith Lasley.

“This will only enhance what we can offer and I am excited to be working with Stephen in the months and years to come.”

The best of the action from McDiarmid Park where eight -man Motherwell  lose 4-1 to St Johnstone.

Images from this afternoon’s 4-1 defeat to St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

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