A first half double from Conor Sammon and a good solid performance from Motherwell saw off the challenge of Group G leaders Queen of the South.
Only three games into the Betfred Cup, ‘Well faced a win-or-bust tie if they wanted to progress from the group and emulate last season’s terrific cup run.
And although the win was comfortable in the end, it took terrific saves from Trevor Carson at crucial stages to keep ‘Well on course to top the section.
The ‘Well ‘keeper had to produce a hat-trick of saves to prevent Queens taking the lead inside the first six minutes. Twice the ‘Well ‘keeper was at full stretch to deny the prolific Stephen Dobbie who looked certain to add to his impressive haul of seven cup goals.
An instinctive block from Carson then parried Callum Semple’s header from eight yards, as the Fir Park defenders struggled to cope with the lively Dumfries side.
Then, after Carl McHugh had steered Elliot Frear’s free kick wide of goal Motherwell, nicked the lead to settle the nerves.
Chris Cadden set off on a powerful run from his own half before sliding a pass in front of Sammon. Turning onto the pass the on-loan striker then cut the ball between the ‘keeper and his left hand post to open his Motherwell account.
As ‘Well began to dominate possession, Sammon might have grabbed a second after 26 minutes when his drive across goal was beyond the far post and Frear’s lunge.
However, Sammon was hungry for more and eight minutes from the break he doubled ‘Well’s advantage.
Richard Tait launched a long clearance downfield, which Ryan Bowman chased before heading the ball into Sammon’s path. One touch took him beyond the defender before he calmly side footed the ball beyond former ‘Well ‘keeper Alan Martin and low inside the post.
Sammon had an early chance to grab his hat-trick two minutes after the break but from a tight angle he lashed the ball over the bar.
A rash challenge on Bowman ended his participation but allowed Danny Johnson 30 minutes to make an impression.
However, the acclaim of both sets of fans came at the other end after 68 minutes when Carson produced a sensational save.
Dobbie’s header from six yards had the 447 Queen’s fans celebrating a goal, until the ‘Well ‘keeper leapt to his right and clawed the ball off his goal line to preserve his side’s two goal advantage.
And that save served to remind the ‘Well players that the game was still to be won, as they stepped up the play towards the visitors’ goal.
A great cut back from Alan Campbell set up Sammon but after his effort was blocked at the edge of the six yard box, Johnson’s attempt to force home the loose ball met a similar fate.
Nine minutes from time, Liam Grimshaw came within inches of a third goal when he met Cadden’s infield pass and his strike with the outside of his boot raced narrowly past.
Sammon was denied a hat-trick three minutes from time when Martin could only parry Cadden’s shot but the ‘keeper quickly reacted to block Sammon’s thumping effort from six yards.
The victory was enough to give Motherwell control of the section, in the knowledge that a win at Broadwood on Saturday would see them progress to the knockout stages.
