Motherwell confirmed top spot in Group G and will now be seeded in tomorrow’s draw, thanks to a 3-0 win over East Fife.
Two goals inside four minutes, just after the half hour mark, from Lennon Miller and Conor Wilkinson, ensured that Motherwell would progress with ease.
With East Fife reduced to 10 men for the second half, when ex-Fir Park defender Jonathan Page was issued with a red card just prior to the interval. Callum Slattery made it three in the second half.
A single point would be enough to see Motherwell finish top of group G and qualify for the last 16 of the Viaplay League Cup. However, Stuart Kettlewell’s men knew that they required all three points and a hefty goal difference to secure one of the three seeded places in the next round.
The ‘Well boss recalled Aston Oxborough between the sticks and Bevis Mugabi directly in front of him forming a back three. A five-man midfield, which included Harry Paton, was designed to support Conor Wilkinson, who in the absence of the injured Jon Obika was the only recognised striker.
The Fifer’s arrived at Fir Park undefeated in the group matches and also knowing that a win would take them into the last 16.
The heavy downpour just prior to kick-off didn’t dampen the expectations of the ‘Well supporters as the Steelmen immediately took the game to their Second Division opponents.
Although Blair Spittal, was deployed in a more attacking role just behind Wilkinson, it was young teenager Lennon Miller with another impressive performance who posed more of a goal threat.
However, it was the Fifer’s who were denied the opening goal after five minutes. Jack Heally latched on to a cut-back at edge of the six-yard box and only Paul McGinn sliding across to get a firm boot in front of the ball prevented the shot testing Oxborough.
Motherwell’s response was deep cross from Lennon Miller which Allan Fleming plucked out of the air with Spittal rising in hope of getting his head to the ball.
Two minutes the East Fife ‘keeper was forced into his first save. Spittal’s free kick found McGinn six yards from goal and his low shot was well blocked by Fleming’s legs.
With Dan Casey operating wide on the right the Steelmen continued to press down that side of the pitch seeking to prise open the visitor’s defence and find that crucial first goal.
The next threat came after 25 minutes when McGinn’s terrific long ball found Spittal free on the left but as he raced towards the visitor’s goal his path was blocked by two defenders.
A minute later Miller had two strikes in quick succession, with his right and left foot, blocked on their way to goal.
As the play around the visitor’s box continued Spittal fed the overlapping Pape Souare. Instead of playing the ball across a packed six yard box the defender elected to drive the ball towards goal with Fleming happy to beat the ball round his near post.
The Fifers, though, didn’t look overawed by the occasion and after 31 minutes a free kick into Oxborough’s six yard box found efforts from Page and then Alan Trouten blocked.
The visitor’s rued that chance to open the scoring as play immediately switched to the other where ‘Well produced the opening goal.
Slattery’s pass sent Miller into the box on the left and the 16 year-old held off his marker to cut the ball back across the ‘keeper and into the far corner of the net for his second goal of the campaign.
Before the Fifers could respond they found themselves 2-0 behind.
Wilkinson had options to either side as he gathered the ball 28 yards from goal but the striker elected to strike a low left drive into the same corner, for his first goal for the club, to give the Premiership side a comfortable advantage.
East Fife’s task was made even more difficult three minutes from the break when referee Kevin Clancy considered Page’s stamp on the grounded Spittal deliberate and showed the central defender a red card.
That act was almost compounded when Slattery curled the resultant free to within a metre of making it 3-0 at the interval.
Facing 10 men in the second half the Steelmen were set to increase their goals advantage and secure one of the seeded spots.
Stephen O’Donnell replaced McGinn at the break and five minutes into the second half Macedonian midfielder Davor Zdravkovski, made his debut at the expense of Harry Paton.
To its credit the depleted Second Division side restricted Kettlewell’s men to very few opening as the half progressed into the last 30 minutes.
In the 66th minute Slattery did well to keep possession at the edge of the box and after dragging the ball right of centre he sent his low drive beyond Fleming to make it 3-0.
The ‘Well boss made an immediate double substitution bringing on teenagers Ewan Wilson and Mark Ferrie.
Wilkinson then had a great opportunity to grab his second. Firstly, he raced through the middle only to fail in his attempt to nutmeg the advancing ‘keeper. The rebound found the ball working its way to O’Donnell and his firm cross was touched home by Wilkinson only to see the assistant’s flag raised for offside.
That was the ex-Walsall striker’s last chance to add to his tally as a nasty head injury saw him helped from the field after 76 minutes and replaced by Barry Maguire.
A quick throw-in from Miller gave Spittal a shooting chance from 20 yards but his effort flew a couple of metres wide of target as ‘Well chased a fourth goal.
