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Stephen Craigan felt his side’s fast start against Kilmarnock set them up for their 2-0 victory.

James Scott’s third minute opener was followed up by a near Deimantas Petravičius finish before the half hour mark.

And the Northern Irishman said that his side could then go on to play their way for the remainder of the game.

“We’re pleased with the win,” Craigan said. “But it felt as though it looked like we hadn’t played in a couple of weeks, a few haven’t played in even longer than that.

“The longer the game went on, we looked a bit fatigued, but we started the game well which we’re pleased with.

“Getting the early goal definitely settles you down quite a bit, which allowed us to not be distracted from what we’re trying to do.”

Motherwell Under 20s picked up a comfortable three points with a 2-0 win over Kilmarnock. 

The youngsters controlled their Development League clash for the majority of the 90 minutes, and notched all three points thanks to well taken goals from James Scott and Deimantas Petravičius.

It was a perfect start for the young Steelmen at Forthbank Stadium, who found themselves a goal ahead after just three minutes. 

A lovely through ball from Liam Brown released James Scott, who did well to stay onside and coolly dispatch beyond Jasmin Koranovic in the Killie goal. 

Just over ten minutes later, George Newell released himself down the right flank by cleverly flicking a header beyond his marker and bearing down on the box. His smart cut-back nearly found the arriving Jake Hastie, but it was well cut out by Aiden Wilson. 

Just before the half hour mark, ‘Well doubled their advantage. 

The pace of Petravičius proved too hard to handle for Kilmarnock, and, bursting through on goal, the winger made no mistake from inside the area to give Stephen Craigan’s side a two goal advantage. 

That deficit remained as the referee blew for half time, but as the two sides got back underway for the second half, ‘Well didn’t let their grip of the game slacken.

A decent ball in to the box fell kindly for Newell, but a crucial touch by defender Thomas Dempsie turned the danger behind at the expense of a corner. From the set piece, the danger was only cleared as far as Ross MacLean, who sent his effort narrowly over the crossbar. 

Hastie should have made it three when a pinpoint, cross-field ball from Bowers sent the winger in on goal. But, opting for power, he pulled his effort wide of the far post. 

The visitors rarely tested Rohan Ferguson between the sticks, but when he was called in to action he didn’t disappoint. An effort from just a couple of yards was matched by the young stopper, who sprung across goal to deny the Killie striker from turning the ball home. 

Immediately down the other end, ‘Well went close through Scott, who twisted and turned to make a yard for himself, but slotted the ball wide of the post. 

The youngsters held on to their clean sheet in a controlled manner for the remainder of the game, and picked up a rather professional three points. 

Stephen Craigan’s Motherwell Under 20s side are back in league action on Monday night as they host Kilmarnock.

The match at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling kicks off at 6pm. Entry is free.

A win against Killie will put the young Steelmen fourth in the SPFL Development League ahead of Hearts.

Alfredo Agyeman scored the decisive goal win Motherwell defeated Kilmarnock 1-0 at Rugby Park earlier in the season.

Jamie Semple has been selected again to represent Scotland at Under 17 level.

The young forward has made five appearances for his country so far and will join with the squad for their forthcoming UEFA Under 17 European Championship Elite Round matches.

Scotland will kick off their group against Greece on March 21, followed by fixtures against Norway three days later and then Germany on March 27.

The eight group winners in the final qualifying round, as well as the seven runners-up with the best record, will reach the finals in May.

Watch the highlights as Motherwell Under 20s win 3-2 against Hamilton Academical Under 20s at the Excelsior Stadium.

Under 20s manager Stephen Craigan praised his side going forward but admitted there was more they could do defensively. 

The Northern Irishman kept his unbeaten record against local rivals Hamilton with a 3-2 victory at the Excelsior Stadium.

But overall, the manager called for more defensively from his youngsters.

[pullquote]We certainly looked a threat going forward and we looked as if we would score goals, but we also looked susceptible at times on the counter attack.[/pullquote]

“It’s always nice to beat your rivals, first and foremost,” he said. “But I would’ve liked us to do it with a little more finesse.

“But I’m talking largely about a team that haven’t really played together. Barry Maguire stepped up to the first team, Davie Turnbull is away with Scotland which is a great achievement for him.”

He added: “When you lose players like that from your side and you try to shoehorn players in to positions, you lose a bit of your continuity.

“At times we played well, but the fact we looked a little bit suspect defensively is a little bit concerning.”

Motherwell under 20s maintained their near four-year unbeaten record against local rivals Hamilton under Stephen Craigan.

A James Scott brace and neat finish from Alfredo Agyeman secured a 3-2 victory at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie for the Fir Park youngsters.

Stephen Craigan made seven changes from the disappointing defeat to Ross County at Stirling five days ago.

Out went Jason Krones, Barry Maguire, Stephen Hendrie, David Turnbull, George Newell, Deimantas Petravičius and Ryan Bowman. They were replaced by Luke Watt, Kyle MacDonald, Adam Livingstone, Ross MacLean, Jamie Semple, James Scott and Alfredo Agyeman.

And in a controlling first half, Adam Livingstone caused all sorts of problems for the visitors down the left flank, comfortably beating his man on a number of occasions and producing pin-point crosses in to the box.

In the 18^th minute, ‘Well deservedly took the lead when the left wing back crossed for the head of Jamie Semple, who nodded down for James Scott to thunder home from seven yards.

Nine minutes later though, the game was levelled and in truth it was a composed goal for the visitors.

Pulling down a neat clipped ball over the top, Ryan Tierney took his time before squaring for Lewis Smith, who finished with aplomb beyond PJ Morrison.

Livingstone was at the heart of things again when his cross, this time from the right flank after taking a corner, was met by the head of Scott. The big striker nodded his effort on to the bar, but Agyeman was on hand to coolly side foot home.

Accies were awarded a rather cheap freekick right on the edge of the box and capitalised on it in the 59^th minute.

Ross Cunningham’s freekick clipped the top of the wall, crashing on to the crossbar and, unfortunately, crashing off the helpless Morrison’s back before crossing the line.

Scott had his second of the game in the 67^th minute, racing on to substitute Jason Krones ball over the top, controlling excellently before finishing past Fulton in to the far corner to put ‘Well in front for the third time.

With just stoppage time remaining, Morrison was adjudged to have handled the ball outside of the box to afford Accies a decent chance to snatch a point. From the freekick, the visitors squared the ball for Marc Kelly, but he scooped his effort over the bar and ultimately squandered a half-decent chance.

Under 20s manager Stephen Craigan says he expects more from some of his players after a disappointing loss against Ross County.

The youngsters slipped to a 2-1 defeat in the Development League, and the Northern Irishman expressed his unhappiness after the match.

Whilst he called for more from some of his players, he also credited Ross County on their victory at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling.

“The message to them before the game was ‘go out there and make your mark on the game, do something different than what you normally do.'”

“In general terms, I’m disappointed. But, credit to Ross County, I thought they were good in the first half.

“They had a real appetite about them and that’s something you have to try and match in football.”

Extended highlights from Forthbank Stadium as ‘Well under 20s lose 2-1 against Ross County in the Development League. 

Motherwell Under 20s slipped to a 2-1 defeat in their Development League clash against Ross County.

A Jake Hastie goal wasn’t enough for the youngsters, who looked set to salvage a point before James Wallace won it for the visitors with ten minutes remaining.

Manager Stephen Craigan named a strong side, calling on five players with first team experience, dropping a number of his youngsters to the bench following their cup exertions on Sunday.

But things got off to the worst possible start when Max Ashmore thundered an unstoppable strike high past Morrison in to the top corner, after just 30 seconds.

Craigan was forced in to an early change when youngster Jason Krones made way for Kyle MacDonald, midway through the first half.

Ryan Bowman nodded a decent header on target as ‘Well pushed for a leveller, but the home side went in to the break a goal down.

A change of shape and another substitution at the break saw Hastie introduced to the action in place of Stephen Hendrie, and Craigan’s side began to push for that all-important goal.

In the 74th minute, that goal arrived and it was well-worked, with a slice of fortune too.

After playing second fiddle for so long, surviving numerous scares, a deep ball towards the back post was headed back into the danger area by Barry Maguire, for Hastie to bundle home, via his face.

The tricky winger was involved just minutes later, beating his man in the County box before being bundled to the deck. There were half shouts for a penalty, but the referee waved play on.

Down the other end though, and with just ten minutes remaining, the Staggies fired themselves back in front.

A cross from the right flank found James Wallace in the box, who took a touch before firing a low effort beyond Morrison and over the line, despite the best efforts of Shaun Bowers.