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Motherwell were defeated 5-0 by Spartans at Ravenscraig on Sunday, ending their run in the SWPL Cup for this season at the quarter-final stage.

An emphatic first-half performance from the visitors all but sealed the fate of the tie, as they scored five goals in under half an hour.

A hat-trick from Beth McKay and a double from Zoe-Ann Johnstone ensured that the Spartans were well in control at the end of the half. But an improved second-half performance from the women of steel ensured that the scoreline would remain to spare further blushes.

Spartans enjoyed most of the possession in the opening stages of the match before eventually finding the net through Johnstone with 10 minutes played. The attacker found space with the ball in the middle of the pitch before spotting Morgan Hunter off her line, she turned and fired her shot into the top right corner.

Goal number two came a matter of minutes later with McKay getting her first of the match. The attacker continued to exploit the space in the middle of the pitch before unleashing her effort just inside the box. Hunter couldn’t do anything to stop the ball hitting the net.

The onslaught continued, with McKay getting her second goal three minutes later. From a corner the on-form attacker prodded the ball into the net with 15 minutes on the clock.

The Spartans blitzkrieg continued as McKay got her hat-trick with 21 minutes played. The initial cross into the box was pushed away by Hunter, but McKay was there unmarked at the edge of the box to pass into an empty net.

Goal number five came with just under half an hour played, as Johnstone get her second after converting an inviting through ball into the box. The ball was played in front of the attacker, who dribbled past her marker before firing home.

Motherwell managed to contain Spartans more effectively in the second-half and even threatened the opposition goal at times. But confidence remained low as Spartans seemed to have the tie won at the break.

Second-half substitute Mhairi Fyfe got Motherwell’s best chance of the match as the game entered its closing stages, picking up a through ball she stepped past her marker before aiming her shot. The striker was off balance however, and the keeper was able to tip it out for a corner.

That proved to be as good as it got for the women of steel after a disappointing result ends their run in the SWPL Cup.

Motherwell return to league duty next Sunday as they face Spartans once more. The match will be at Ainslie Park Stadium, with the match kicking off at 1pm.

Motherwell make their final away trip before the Ladbrokes Premiership on Wednesday, 3 April, with Aberdeen the opponents.

Cash gates will be in operation at Pittodrie. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Gate prices are as follows:

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Kerry Montgomery will come up against familiar opposition when Spartans visit Ravenscraig in SWPL Cup on Sunday.

The ‘Well captain enjoyed a successful time with the capital side between 2012 and 2015, winning the SWPL Player of the Year award in her final season.

Last season, Montgomery had the chance to come up against her former club in the semi-final of the SSE Scottish Cup and she again made a big impact, netting the second goal in an impressive 3-1 win for the women of steel.

It’s a game that she ranks as one of her favourites since joining the club in early 2018 and she is determined for a repeat showing when the two sides clash for a place in the last four.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “It should be competitive and a really good game to watch and be involved in.

“Spartans are always a tricky team to come up against, it was a club I played at previously so I know they’ll be very prepared for the match.

“I’m sure they’ll be looking for revenge after last years semi-final, we however have a completely different team from that match so will be a very different game from the last one.

“I’d love us to get through to the semi final in our first season in the top flight as a brand new team.

“It would be a brilliant achievement.

“I’m really proud to be a part of this group we have in just now, it’s a great bunch of hard working girls, eager to learn and become a name in this league.”

Motherwell have experienced a mixed start to life in the top flight of Scottish women’s football.

Four points from their opening four games mean they currently occupy fifth spot in the SWPL1 table.

Montgomery believes the start made has given the team a platform to build upon, but insists ‘Well will have to take some risks to book their place in the last four.

“Cup games are very different from league games,” she added. “We’re still building on our league performances and trying to cement our way of playing.

“In a quarter final cup match I think we’ll take a lot more risks and try new things.

“We have already shown this season that we can compete and everything we work on in training is coming together.”

Last week, ‘Well took a richly deserved share of the spoils when they came up against former boss Eddie Wolecki Black’s Celtic.

Much of the game took place in the middle of the park, with Montgomery playing a vital role.

The 30-year-old is relishing her role as club captain and is loving the challenges that come with top division football.

“The more of a challenge the more I know I need to lift my game,” she added. “I know the girls feed off of that too. So I made sure I left everything on the park in that game.

“It was a very good point away from home for us, but we need to push on now and find the cutting edge in the final third to take three points in big games.

“If Donald [Jennow] has the belief in me to let me wear the captains band then I know I need to prove every game that I’m willing to dig deep for the team and lead the very best I can.”

All four of Motherwell’s players in the Scotland Under 21 squad started their 0-0 draw with Mexico on Friday afternoon.

Allan Campbell, Jake Hastie, Barry Maguire and David Turnbull were all picked for the match in Spain, the first of two friendlies for Scot Gemmill’s side.

Turnbull played the first half, while Hastie got 75 minutes, with Campbell and Maguire playing the full 90.

Celtic’s Mikey Johnston missed a last-second penalty for the young Scots, denying them a late victory.

The Under 21s are in action against Sweden on Monday. Kick off in Marbella at 12.30pm.

Motherwell’s international quartet are all in contention to play for Scotland’s Under 21s against Mexico on Friday.

Allan Campbell, Jake Hastie, Barry Maguire and David Turnbull are all in Scot Gemmill’s squad for the friendly match in Marbella.

Midfielder Campbell already has plenty experience at Under 21 international level, but his three team-mates are in the selection for the first time.

Kick off against Mexico is at 3pm.

Motherwell are in SWPL Cup action on Sunday, as Spartans travel to Ravenscraig.

Having defeated the Edinburgh side in the SSE Scottish Cup semi-final last season, the women of steel face them for the first time in the 2019 campaign.

Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

The Opposition

Spartans started the season with a bang, picking up a highly credible draw against last season’s title contenders Hibernian.

Debbi McCulloch’s side followed that with defeats to Celtic and Glasgow City but they’ve also picked up a league win against Stirling University, and a victory in their cup first round match with Hamilton Academical.

Spartans were comfortably mid-table in 2017, but had a nervous year last season as they found themselves nearer the bottom end of the league.

This campaign they have four points from their four league games, though they trail Motherwell on goal difference. They currently occupy sixth place in the table, the same position as at the conclusion of the 2018 campaign.

Despite competing in different divisions last season, Motherwell did meet this afternoon’s opponents in the semi final of the SSE Scottish Cup in October 2018.

On that occasion it was Donald Jennow’s side who would emerge the victors with goals from Megan Burns, Kerry Montgomery and Caitlin Russell earning them a place in the final.

Sunday’s match will be the first of two meetings between the teams in the space of a week, with the sides facing off again in the league next Sunday at Ainslie Park.

Position

Motherwell: SWPL1 – fifth – four points

Spartans: SWPL1 – sixth – four points

Motherwell’s recent form

A 0-0 draw at Celtic last time out for Motherwell showed the progression the new-look side have made, holding the ambitious side with a hard-working performance.

A 13-0 SWPL Cup win over Hutchison Vale demonstrated the goalscoring prowess remains. In the league, an opening day win over Stirling University has since been followed up by a controversial defeat at Forfar Farmington, and a home defeat to high-flying Hibernian.

The Well Lottery gives you the chance to win up to £25,000, while also backing young talent at the club.

Priced at £1 per entry, we’ve also got smaller prizes of £1,000 and £25.

What’s more, if you sign up now, you can win two tickets for our Ladbrokes Premiership match with St Johnstone on 30 March.

HOW TO JOIN THE WELL LOTTERY

To join the Well Lottery, you can now choose one of the following options:

• Sign up online here
• Fill in the lottery leaflet provided and return via the freepost address provided to Unity.
• Download a lottery leaflet from the Well Lottery website and return to Unity by post.

Once you have signed up, you will receive a letter welcoming you to the lottery which will tell you your lottery numbers. You will then be entered into the draw for as long as you wish to play.

HOW DOES THE WELL LOTTERY WORK?

For as little as £1 per week, you’ll have the chance to win up to £25,000. At least 50p of every £1 played goes straight to youth development but most importantly, there are no ongoing costs to the club.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

Every £1 is split three ways. At least 50p of every £1 comes straight to Motherwell FC, which is put towards the club’s youth development and academy programme. The other 50p covers the cost of the administration of the lottery, and goes towards the fantastic prize fund.

HOW DO I WIN?

Every player of the Well Lottery will be allocated a six-digit lottery number for every entry they wish to play. This idea is to match your number with the winning number that is drawn on a Saturday in the correct sequence. Every entry in the Unity lottery has an equal one in 63 chance of winning a prize.

For example:

325764 – random winning number

326574 – your lottery number

This is a three-number match, winning five entries into the next draw.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE WON?

Players are notified automatically, and prizes sent out by post, so you do not need to claim your prize. If you would like to check the winning number each week, these can be found on Unity’s website and here on the official Motherwell FC website.

WHAT IS UNITY?

Unity is a platform on which charities run their own fundraising lottery. It is run by an external lottery manager, Sterling Lotteries, who administer hundreds of charity lotteries for clients across the country.

Motherwell continue the fight for a top six spot with two final home games before the Ladbrokes Premiership split.

St Johnstone visit on Saturday, 30 March, before Rangers come calling on Sunday, 7 April.

Tickets are available online now for home fans for St Johnstone and Rangers.

Our prices for the two games are:

Tickets are also available from the Fir Park ticket office at the stadium Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (4pm Friday).

Don’t miss our great hospitality packages

There’s another way to watch the match at Fir Park, with our hospitality packages giving you the chance to take it in in more comfort and style.

The Centenary Suite

Priced at £120 for adults for our pay bar offering, or £160 for an inclusive bar for the game with Rangers, or £80 and £120 respectively for St Johnstone, you can enjoy a three-course lunch, before taking in the game in comfort in our Phil O’Donnell stand.

With half-time refreshments and a chance to unwind in our suite after the match, it’s the perfect way to watch a match with us at Fir Park.

You can buy quickly and easily online for the games with St Johnstone and Rangers right now. Alternatively, give us a call on 01698 333333 to speak to one of our hospitality team.

Fancy something different?

If you’d prefer just light refreshments before the game, but arguably an even better seat in the house in our director’s box, then there’s also our Millennium Suite.

With complimentary drinks one hour before and after the game, snacks on arrival and at half-time and a ticket for the match, for £75 per person you can come and enjoy our hospitality.

You can buy online for the game with St Johnstone right now. We are sold out for Rangers.

Alternatively, give us a call on 01698 333333 to speak to one of our hospitality team.

Want to watch the game indoors?

Sometimes the elements don’t make for the best occasion to sit out in the stand. Don’t worry though, we’ve got your covered with our Cooper and South Stand boxes.

Our Cooper Boxes provide an easy way to get in from the cold with a seat in our glass-fronted boxes. What’s more, you can also enjoy half-time refreshments in the Cooper Bar.

Priced at £40 for a season ticket upgrade or £48 to buy, or £65 and £68 respectively for Rangers, we’ve got availability online now for St Johnstone and Rangers.

Our similar boxes in the South Stand come with a range of great packages for you to enjoy, or better still use to entertain at any of our Premiership fixtures.

Our South Stand Box package is our ultimate one, providing you with a three-course meal, inclusive drinks, armchair seating and half-time refreshments for £130 per person, or £190 for Rangers.

Our Bois Club package allows you to arrive 90 minutes before the game and enjoy a hot buffet and inclusive drinks for an hour before kick off, as well as half time pies, for £70 per person. You can upgrade to spirits for an extra £20.

Grab these deals online now for the games with St Johnstone and Rangers right now. Alternatively, give us a call on 01698 333333 to speak to one of our hospitality team.

There’s also our Cooper Bar

Our Cooper Bar is also open from 11am on the day of the match, and offers a casual setting for you to catch up with friends ahead of the game.

With great burger and beer deals, plus plenty activities for the kids, it’s a great place to build up to the match.

A trip to Edinburgh and a first chance to jump into the top six.

This is the Story of the Match from the trip to face Hibernian.

Maurice Ross believes the reserves are playing at a level that makes them an attracting proposition for supporters to come and watch.

The second string came from behind to defeat Kilmarnock 2-1 on Monday, with the coach pleased the team didn’t let going a goal behind affect them.

“I would pay to watch the players play like they did today,” said Ross. “But they are now showing it every week.

“If your principles are to score goals and contain teams, but you go one down, do those principles change? They don’t, and they didn’t.

“We keep harping on at them. We’ve got a way of playing we think is right, and to me we are seeing that every single week.

“The game was played with a level of quality and, for me, that’s great.”

Carl McHugh, Elliott Frear, Conor Sammon and Danny Johnson all started for the second string, with Johnson on target along with Jamie Semple.

Motherwell controlled possession throughout the match, but struggled to carve out scoring chances in the opening 45.

Then, early in the second half, they fell behind as Danny Higgins rifled the ball into the top left corner of the net, after Rohan Ferguson had come out far to try and catch a cross under pressure and lost it.

The goalkeeper made up quickly after, saving Ally McDonald’s penalty.

That proved the catalyst, and soon James Scott turned provider for Johnson, who lifted an effort from the edge of the area over goalkeeper Devlin Mackay and into the net.

Within a minute, Semple saw his opportunity 25 yards from goal and saw a fierce long-range effort beat the goalkeeper and put the hosts ahead.

A number of young academy graduates lined up alongside more experienced heads, and Ross says their progression is clear to see.

“We have boys at 17 years old who are playing like they are 21,” he said.

“With their mums and dads, and others, watching on, I hope it shows the progress they are making.”