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Mark Gillespie, Alex Rodrgriguez Gorrin and goalscorer Davie Turnbull reflected on a well-earned 3-1 win over Hibernian in the Reserve League. 

The victory means Motherwell remain undefeated this term, ahead of Thursday’s Irn-Bru cup clash.

Motherwell’s reserve side returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Hibernian on Monday.

A double from David Turnbull and a well-worked goal by Adam Livingstone secured victory for an experienced second string at Forthbank, against a Hibs team who had won two from two in the league this season.

Mark Gillespie, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, Alex Rodriguez Gorrín and Liam Grimshaw all featured for Stephen Craigan’s side, as they looked to get minutes under their belts.

But it was youngster Livingstone who opened the scoring in Stirling, in a first half in which the Steelmen were largely on top.

Turnbull was at the heart of it though, turning cleverly past Emerson Hyndman and striking a terrific effort on goal, only to find an equally decent stop from Hibs keeper Maciej Dabrowski to deny him the opener. Fortunately though, it fell kindly for Livingstone who lashed home.

Starting the second period with one change, Liam Brown being replaced by Broque Watson, the Steelmen carried on from where the left off.

And it was so nearly 2-0 thanks to a wonderstrike from Barry Maguire. However, the holding midfielder’s rising effort from 25-yards was tipped over the bar by Dabrowski.

But 20 minutes after the restart, Motherwell made it two. Some brilliant work in the middle of the park between Gorrin and Turnbull opened up the visitors from Edinburgh and the Spaniard nearly capped it off with a goal from the edge of the box.

The Hibs keeper palmed it clear though, only to scythe down Newell who raced on to the loose ball, conceding a penalty. Up stepped Turnbull, who side-footed underneath the keeper from 12 yards.

The visitors looked like they would be capable of causing problems though, particularly from short corners, and it was in such fashion that they pulled one back in the 70th minute.

Working a neat one-two, Thomas Agyepong raced in to the box and thundered a brilliant finish high past Gillespie from a tight angle.

The two goal advantage was restored for the hosts though, when Gorrin’s quick-thinking freekick teed up Turnbull who grabbed his second thanks to a deflection.

The home side held firm for a 3-1 victory at Forthbank Stadium, to remain undefeated in the Reserve League.

For the second successive week, three of Motherwell’s four loan players were in weekend action.

Ross MacLean’s Morton travelled to Firhill to take on Shea Gordon’s Partick Thistle in the Ladbrokes Championship.

Although MacLean was named amongst the starters for ‘Ton, who lost their manager Ray McKinnon to Falkirk less than 24 hours before the match, Gordon missed out again through injury.

Thistle won the match by 1-0, Chris Erskine’s goal inflicting the Greenock side’s first defeat of the league campaign, but a freak ‘ghost goal’ will no doubt overshadow the game.

Thistle striker Kris Doolan’s fired a firm shot into the net, so much so, the ball came looping back out and into play.

None of the match officials were able to spot the ball had clearly crossed the line, even hitting the side-netting, and a throw-in was the outcome.

MacLean played the full 90 and was almost the architect of a late leveller, his fizzed cross almost putting the home defence in a spin, but ultimately the Jags held on for all three points.

Jake Hastie was again named in Jim Goodwin’s starting team for Alloa’s home match against Dundee United.

United took a 71st minute lead through Paul Watson, his third goal in two games, heading in Fraser Aird’s corner kick.

However, Iain Flannigan’s perfect free kick ensured the Wasps took a point from the game. After previously hitting the crossbar, set-piece specialist Flannigan curled his next opportunity into the top-left corner from 25 yards.

Finally, Neil McLaughin was again introduced from the bench as Stirling Albion won their first game of the season at Borough Briggs against Elgin.

Cammy Thomson, Peter MacDonald and Jordan Allan had the Binos in a commanding first-half lead.

McLaughlin was introduced on the 76th minute and almost opening his account for the season with a close-range header, only to be denied by a wonderful reaction save from Elgin stopper Kyle Gourlay.

Jordan Armstrong netted his first of the season as Motherwell’s reserve side drew 1-1 at Dunfermline Athletic.

Stephen Craigan’s side now have four points from two games, having opened the campaign with a win over Hearts.

Stephen Craigan reflected on his side’s 1-1 draw with Dunfermline Reserves as an opportunity missed for another three points.

Although the Steelmen went behind in the match, they were soon level and spent much of the last hour enjoying the bulk of possession, but squandering good opportunities in the final third.

“For the first 20 to 25 minutes, I felt we were off the pace and it took until we got ourselves level for us to really kick on,” the reserves boss said.

“We had the most of the possession, but didn’t create enough clear-cut chances or work their goalkeeper enough.

“We certainly worked ourselves into good areas, but often it was the last thing we did with it that let us down.”

Despite dominating the match for long spells, Motherwell’s reserves were held to a 1-1 draw away to Dunfermline Athletic.

Jordan Armstrong’s first of the season cancelled out Lewis McCann’s opener in a competitive first half.

And although ‘Well went on to control almost all of the second 45, they could not get a crucial second goal as the game ended all square.

Manager Stephen Craigan made four changes to the side that beat Hearts 2-0 last midweek. Barry Maguire, Christian Mbulu, Jamie Semple and David Turnbull dropped out, replaced by Liam Brown, debutant Akeal Rehman, Broque Watson and Ryan Bowman.

Motherwell made a positive start and had the first chance of the match after just four minutes, Pars ‘keeper Cammy Gill saving Ryan Bowman’s attempted bicycle kick.

That was the only real action of an otherwise quite opening to the match, that was until Dunfermline took the lead after 24 minutes.

A Kallum Higginbotham free-kick was only partially cleared, landing at the feet of former Dundee United winger Aidan Connolly. His curling shot was brilliantly palmed away by Peter Morrison, only for Lewis McCann to react first to the rebound, heading home from close distance.

‘Well went immediately on the search for a leveller and within a minute, Broque Watson brought out a good save from Gill who turned his low effort around the post.

Half chances came and went via Neil McLaughin and Kyle MacDonald, before Craigan’s men grabbed a deserved equaliser.

Liam Brown’s corner to the back post found Bowman in acres of space. His header was somehow blocked on the line, only for Armstrong to smash home from a few yards out.

‘Well almost got themselves ahead less than 60 seconds later. Watson’s lung-busting run and cross finding Newell in the box, but his header was straight at Gill who held on.

The visitors started the second half on the front foot and Liam Brown went close to putting the visitors in front. The midfielder arrived late at the back post to connect to a Rehman corner, but his shot went a yard or so wide.

MacDonald had a low shot off target, Jason Krones had a powerful header from a corner drop just wide and McLaughlin saw a close-range shot blocked over for a corner, as the Steelmen went in search of a second goal.

The game had a long pause for the unfortunate Kieran Swanson, the Pars defender falling awkwardly after getting back to block a Watson cross from the right. He was stretchered off and looking in considerable pain – everyone at Motherwell wishes him well.

When the game restarted, Pars had their only real chance of the half.

‘Well shot themselves in the foot, giving it away cheaply in midfield, allowing the hosts to break. When the ball fell was worked out to the right, Connolly cut inside and fired towards goal, but Morrison was equal to it, getting down low and his left hand post to save.

The final chance to win the match came in the dying stages of added on time. A cross from the right looked to be falling perfectly for Jamie Semple, only for the faintest of touches from a Pars defender to knock it off his toe and out for a corner.

Motherwell’s reserve side play their second league fixture of the 2018/19 campaign on Tuesday, as they travel to face Dunfermline Athletic.

Liam Brown, George Newell and Jordan Armstrong speak to preview the match, which comes after the opening day victory over Heart of Midlothian.

Kick off at New Central Park in Kelty is at 2pm.

Three of Motherwell’s four young loanees were action for their respective teams this weekend.

Jake Hastie and his Alloa teammates made the long journey north to take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the Caledonian Stadium.

Inverness took a first-half lead through Brad Mckay, only for captain Andy Graham to level before the interval. However, shortly after the break, Wasps defender Zdravko Karadachki received his marching orders for a foul inside the box. Shaun Welsh made it 2-1 from 12 yards.

Caley had a golden opportunity to put the contest to bed with the game’s second spot kick, only for Coll Donaldson to hit the bar and there would be a late sting in the tail as Hastie would earn the third penalty of the match, brought down inside the area by Shaun Rooney with just four minutes left.

Iain Flannigan kept his nerve, slotting past Mark Ridgers to earn the visitors a very good point in the Highland capital.

Ross MacLean was named in the starting team for Morton’s fixture against Ross County at Cappielow.

Ex ‘Well man Iain Vigurs released Don Cowie to score and put the Staggies ahead just before the hour, but a cracker from Michael Tidser levelled things for ‘Ton before another former Steelman, Bob McHugh, netted the winner with 12 minutes left on the clock.

Neil McLaughlin, fresh from his goal for Stephen Craigan’s reserves against Hearts in midweek, started for Stirling Albion against Peterhead at Forthbank.

The youngster was withdrawn shortly after the hour, replaced by former Fir Park front man Darren Smith, however it didn’t stop the Binos slipping to a 2-0 defeat, courtesy of goals from Jamie Stevenson and Rory McAllister.

Shea Gordon missed out on Partick Thistle’s visit to Tannadice. The Northern Ireland youth international picked up an injury in last weekend’s Betfred Cup defeat to Celtic and wasn’t available for the match that eventually ended 3-1 to the Terrors, with goals coming from Craig Curran and a Paul Watson double.

Chris Erskine grabbed a late consolation for the Jags in an otherwise disappointing afternoon.

Motherwell’s Irn-Bru Cup second round tie with Dundee Colts will be played on Thursday, 6 September.

Stephen Craigan’s side will face the Dee at Dens Park, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

Motherwell won their first round tie for the third successive season, eliminated Lowland League side East Stirlingshire following quick-fire goals from David Turnbull, Broque Watson and Jake Hastie.

Dundee edged out fellow Colts side Hibernian on penalties, after a 2-2 draw at Dens.

Tickets for the match will be priced at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions.

George Newell and Neil McLaughlin grabbed the goals as Motherwell Reserves opened their league campaign with a win over Hearts.

After success against East Stirlingshire in the IRN-BRU Cup last week, Stephen Craigan’s side made it back-to-back victories in the match at Forthbank.