Motherwell’s reserve side picked up a deserved league win on Monday, taking all three points in a 1-0 victory at home to Greenock Morton.
Broque Watson’s goal early in the second half was decisive in a match the young Steelmen controlled for the most part.
Stephen Craigan made six changes to the side which defeated Dunfermline Athletic in their last outing.
Mark Gillespie, Christian Mbulu, George Newell, Conor Sammon, Danny Johnson and Akeal Rehman all dropped out. PJ Morrison, Jason Krones, Jamie Semple, Dean Cornelius, James Scott and Jake Hastie came into the side.
For all their possession, chances in the first half were at a premium. Watson troubled the ‘Ton keeper briefly with a low shot he had to turn around the post, while Semple had a shout for a penalty turned down.
The breakthrough would come just after the interval as the pair combined.
Semple’s angled run from the middle took him to the left flank. Hitting the byline, his low cross back across goal was perfect for Watson to tap in from close range.
A succession of set plays gave the youngsters a number of half chances, while substitute Alfredo Agyeman saw an effort agonizingly fall wide of the post from a deflection, after showing great pace and power to burst through.
The Steelmen have now won three and drawn one of their opening five Reserve League matches, with their sole defeat coming at Rangers.