Three goals in the final eight minutes gave Motherwell Under 20s all three points in a seven goal thriller at Airdrie this afternoon.
The game looked done and dusted after 83 minutes as the Terrors had a 3-1 lead, but a goal from Luke Watt and a Dylan Mackin double completed an incredible turn-around.
Stephen Craigan made 2 changes to the side that lost to St Mirren a fortnight ago, David Turnbull dropped out for regular Alan Campbell and Jake Hastie came in for the injured Ryan Watters.
The tone of the game was set within ninety seconds of kick-off when Brad Smith’s slack pass was intercepted by Hastie who then slid in Mackin and he made no mistake, cooly slotting though Booth’s legs.
It was the perfect start for the young Steelmen, against a Utd side that had a handful of players in it that had tasted first-team action.
The quartet of Coote, Telfer, Connolly and Murray caused problems all afternoon and with eleven minutes gone, the latter had won Utd a penalty after Morrison raced off his line but was beaten to the ball, hauling the United man down inside the box.
Morrison was shown the yellow card and Moore stepped up, sending him the wrong way from the spot to put United on level terms.
By now it had became apparent how open this contest would be and after a spell of end-to-end football, it was Motherwell who nearly took the lead after Hastie found himself in a central position, beat his man but shot straight at the grateful Booth who gathered it to safety.
Motherwell were made to rue that missed chance two minutes later when Utd took the lead in unfortunate circumstances.
Reghan Tumility, Utd’s right back, got down the wing and whipped in a great ball to the head of Simon Murray but Morrison was on hand to superbly tip his close-range header over the bar. From that corner, there was a scramble and somehow Morrison ended up scooping the ball into his own net. It was cruel on the young goalkeeper, who had made a fine save just moments earlier.
The game then reverted to its end to end nature, with Simon Murray and Ali Coote passing up notable opportunities, but it was Motherwell who almost nicked the equaliser.
Cadden and Watt combined, with the full-back curling in an inviting ball which found Jake Hastie at the back post but at the vital moment the ball to a wicked bobble and struck his knee, eventually flying over the bar.
With a bit more luck the Steelmen would have been level just before half-time, when Watt’s cross deceived Booth and rattled back down over the cross bar, which would be the last action of the half.
Stephen Craigan made a change at half-time, with Hastie making way for Livingstone as ‘Well changed shape to a 3-5-2.
United came out the traps quickest and had the bulk of the ball. Again, Murray found himself inside the box with plenty of space but Hall got there in the nick of time and deflected his shot over the bar.
It felt like a goal was coming, such was the nature of the game, and in the fifty-fifth minute United added to their advantage.
Connolly jinked into the box and his snap-shot was parried out to the feet of Moore who coolly slotted home from 10 yards.
‘Well almost replied immediately, when Mackin played in his striker partner Dylan Falconer. He got past the onrushing Booth but his shot was superbly slid off the line by Souttar.
From then Utd piled on the pressure and had plenty of chances to add to their lead and bury the game but a combination of Morrison and the bar kept the scoreline within grasp.
Time was running down as the contest turned into an old-fashioned slobber-knocker, with both sides looking dangerous on the attack.
But then the momentum swung Motherwell’s way.
Luke Watt looked like he had run out of space and options but managed to expertly turn away from three United defenders and lashed a sweet right footed shot past Booth into the top corner.
Incredibly, Motherwell were level moments later. Ben Hall’s header was judged to have been blocked by Moore’s hand and, with no complaints from the Utd man, the ref pointed to the spot. Dylan Mackin did the rest, sending Booth the wrong way.
It was an incredible end to a highly entertaining game but it wasn’t done yet.
With a minute left on the clock, the ball was flung into the box, Falconer won the header and it landed at the feet of Mackin. He didn’t have to be asked twice and fired it past the helpless goalkeeper completing a sensational turnaround for the young Steelmen.
Motherwell U20s: Morrison, Watt, Hall, Ferguson, McMillan (Maguire), McLean (Leitch), Campbell, Cadden, Mackin, Hastie (Livingstone), Falconer
Motherwell U20s subs: Long, Turnbull, Moore
