Motherwell had to settle for a penalty shootout bonus point after a 1-1 draw with Montrose at Links Park
Shane Blaney’s header had given the Steelmen the lead but a late squaliser from Ally Shrive forced a shootout which all five Motherwell takers cooly finished with Aston Oxborough again being the hero with a save.
The first chance of the game came in the tenth minute. Motherwell had most of the ball and a neatly worked move down the left created a shooting opportunity for Halliday but he hooked his shot well over the bar.
Halliday had another chance ten minutes later, this time with his head as he nodded Stephen O’Donnell’s cross towards goal but couldn’t get enough on it to test Gill in the Montrose goal.
With Montrose sitting so deep there became a need for one of the Motherwell centre backs to step into the game. Dan Casey did exactly that and combined well with Paton but the defender’s shot was well blocked by Dillon.
The opening half hour had a similar feel to the Edinburgh City game – Motherwell with all the ball but struggling to create many chances. That air of familiarity also came as the Steelmen took the lead.
Just like against Edinburgh City, from a corner, an Irish centre back rose highest and bulleted a header past the goalkeeper. This time it was Shane Blaney who netted past Gill from Paton’s delivery.
It could easily have been two, ten minutes into the second half as Harry Paton chased down a lost cause and got in ahead of Gill but his ball across goal was inches away from Robinson who would certainly have scored.
Motherwell continued to dominate the game and Lennon Miller had two opportunities to extend the lead but couldn’t find the target with either shot from the outside of the box.
Fellow academy graduate Ewan Wilson also went close as he drove forward and got a powerful shot away but it was well beaten away by Gill.
Another chance fell to substitute Moses Ebiye as he latched onto Zdravkovski’s ball but he fired wide of the mark.
With just under ten minutes to go, Montrose almost snatched an equaliser. A long throw into the box was met by a looper header which Oxborough just got enough on to keep the ball from crossing the line.
As time ticked away Montrose pulled themselves level. A ball into the box found Alasdair Shrive and he turned his man and finished past Oxborough.
The Steelmen then had to compose themselves as a penalty shootout loomed for the bonus point.
Thankfully Stuparevic, Blaney, Miller, O’Donnell and Ebiye cooly dispatched from 12 yards and Aston Oxbrough saved Steeves’ penalty.
The bonus point means Motherwell siit top on five points with a clash against Clyde at the weekend.