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PJ Morrison made his Falkirk debut as they were held 1-1 by Forfar Athletic at the weekend.

The Motherwell goalkeeper came off the bench after 65 minutes to replace Robbie Mutch, who was sent off as he gave away a penalty.

Morrison was unable to keep out the resulting spot kick but helped his side pick up the point.

Jamie Semple was also in action in League One as Cove Rangers kept up a 100% record with a 2-0 win at Peterhead.

Paul Hartley’s side now have two wins from two, with Semple playing 73 minutes of the match.

In the Championship, Ross MacIver came on in the 58th minute for Morton as they lost 1-0 at Dundee in the Championship, while Harry Robinson was an unused substitute as Queen of the South as they lost 5-2 at home to table-toppers Raith Rovers.

Meanwhile in the Lowland League, Sam Muir again started for Gretna as they lost 3-0 at home to BSC Glasgow.

The start of lower league action in Scotland at the weekend saw a number of Motherwell’s young stars in action.

Harry Robinson started as Queen of the South travelled to face Ayr United minus their coaching staff, who were in isolation due to Covid-19.

The Championship encounter ended 2-1 to the Ayrshire club, with the winger playing 66 minutes.

Ross MacIver came on as a substitute for the last 19 minutes as Morton won 1-0 at home to Alloa Athletic.

Jamie Semple got his first league minutes for Cove Rangers as they started the League One season with a 3-1 home win over East Fife.

The midfielder played 75 minutes in the victory for Paul Hartley’s side, before being replaced by ex-Well man Broque Watson.

PJ Morrison was an unused substitute as Falkirk started their League One season with a 3-1 win at Montrose, while Sam Muir started as Gretna lost 3-0 at Bonnyrigg Rose in the Lowland League.

Two Motherwell loanees lined up against each other on their debuts in the Betfred Cup group stages.

Ross MacIver played the full 90 minutes for Morton, with Harry Robinson coming on as a substitute for Queen of the South, in a 2-2 draw last midweek.

Robinson was then an unused substitute at the weekend as Queens surrendered a two-goal lead at home to St Mirren to draw 2-2, before failing to take the bonus point on penalties.

Jamie Semple got his first top team minutes in 14 months as he made his debut for Cove Rangers at the weekend.

The midfielder replaced former ‘Well man Adam Livingstone as the League One side lost a one-goal lead against top flight Hibernian, being defeated 2-1.

He then followed that up with a goal against Brora Rangers on Tuesday night, in a match which ended level before Cove took the bonus point on penalties.

Young goalkeeper Matty Connolly was also on the bench for Falkirk as they lost 2-0 at Dunfermline Athletic in the same competition on Friday night, and again in the 2-1 win over Clyde on Tuesday.

In the Lowland League, Sam Muir made his bow for Gretna on Saturday as they lost 2-1 at home to Spartans, before also featuring in the 6-1 loss at East Kilbride on Tuesday.

Following the conclusion of the 2019/20 season, we can now update you on our first team squad going forward.

We are saying goodbye to our club captain Peter Hartley, 2019/20 ever-present Mark Gillespie and full-back Richard Tait.

Hartley leaves after three years at Fir Park, during which he made 66 appearances in central defence.

He took over the captaincy from Carl McHugh in 2018/19 and featured heavily this campaign as the club took third spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Goalkeeper Gillespie departs after two years in North Lanarkshire.

With 25 clean sheets and a 47% penalty save percentage in 67 appearances, his 17 shutouts in 2019/20 had him challenging to match Trevor Carson’s record 20, before the season was curtailed.

Richard Tait was a popular figure on and off the field at the club, having signed from Grimsby Town in the summer of 2016.

The 30-year-old made 12 Premiership starts last season, taking his overall tally to 142 in claret and amber across four campaigns.

Also departing from the first team squad are goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson, midfielder Christian Ilic, youth academy product Adam Livingstone and forward Christy Manzinga.

Rolando Aarons, Mikael Ndjoli and Mark O’Hara return after loan spells to their parent clubs Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Peterborough United respectively.

We have been discussing with Charles Dunne the possibility of a short-term deal, allowing him to get back to full fitness at the club before he is assessed over a potential longer contract.

“I’d like to thank every player who is leaving for their efforts during their time at the club,” said Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson.

“They leave us with our best wishes for the future.”

Everyone at the club would like to thank those moving on this summer, and wish them all the best.

The following players will leave after either turning down an offer of a new deal or their contract expiring

• Rohan Ferguson
• Mark Gillespie
• Peter Hartley
• Christian Ilic
• Adam Livingstone
• Christy Manzinga
• Richard Tait

The following players’ loan periods are coming to an end

• Rolando Aarons
• Mikael Ndjoli
• Mark O’Hara

The following players have been offered extended deals

• Charles Dunne
• Christopher Long
• Barry Maguire
• Peter Morrison
• Harry Robinson
• Yusuf Hussain

Motherwell had to battle hard but eventually came away with a 5-3 win at Greenock Morton in the SPFL Reserve League on Monday.

A topsy-turvy game saw the young Steelmen pegged back twice, before also having to recover from going behind before running out victors.

Mikael Ndjoli scored a double, with further efforts from Harry Robinson, Ross MacIver and an own goal sealing the scoreline.

David Turnbull played an hour as he steps up his return, seeing a penalty saved late in the first half.

It took just over a minute for Motherwell to take the lead. Ndjoli got on the end of MacIver’s cross, bundling the ball over the line from close range.

After Brophy headed in the equaliser in the 10th minute, Motherwell went back in front 12 minutes later. Robinson got the assist, crossing from the right to find MacIver to finish at the back post.

Morton again levelled ten minutes from the break, with Eardley taking in a cross well and hitting the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

A spectacular Easdale strike from 25 yards found the top corner soon after to put the hosts ahead, but the chance to level would fall just before the interval.

Turnbull looked to mark his first start in a match since recovering from a knee operation with a goal, but saw a penalty saved by goalkeeper Wylie.

On the hour mark, Motherwell got level. Ndjoli got his second of the game, heading home from Sam Muir’s cross.

Six minutes later, it was 4-3. Darren Haynes put through his own net, inadvertently turning in Robinson’s cutback.

Motherwell continued to push and with four minutes to go, made it five. Robinson’s left-footed cross sailed all the way through everyone and found the net at the back post.

Motherwell have added Harry Robinson to the squad on a short-term deal until the end of the 2019/20 season.

The Northern Ireland Under 21 international impressed during a training spell, scoring for the reserve side and weighing in with a number of assists in recent weeks.

Harry, son of manager Stephen, left Oldham Athletic in the January window.

He spent the first half of the campaign on loan with Northern Irish side Crusaders and will spend the remaining few months with Maurice Ross’ side.

The reserves are back in league action on Monday, travelling to take on Greenock Morton.

Kick-off at Cappielow is at 2pm.

Motherwell exited the SPFL Reserve Cup at the semi-final stage with a 3-1 home loss to Aberdeen.

Both sides had early goals ruled out for offside, but it would be the visitors who would go ahead after 16 minutes.

Seb Ross crossed in for Bruce Anderson, who steered the ball past PJ Morrison to put Aberdeen in front.

Nine minutes later, it was 2-0. PJ Morrison pulled off a stop but the rebound from Michael Ruth crossed the line, despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts to keep it out.

Motherwell halved the deficit in the 32nd minute. Trialist picked the ball up in a central area and unleashed from 25 yards, finding the top left corner of the net with his strike.

It took Aberdeen less than two minutes to restore their two-goal cushion. Luke Turner set up Miko Virtanen to bundle over the line and send the Dons in 3-1 up at the break.

Neither side could add to the score in the second half, meaning the visitors reach the final to take on Celtic.

Motherwell’s reserve side take on Aberdeen in the semi-finals of the SPFL Reserve Cup on Monday.

Kick-off at Broadwood Stadium is at 2pm.

Motherwell lost 4-3 to Kilmarnock in a topsy-turvy game in the SPFL Reserve League on Monday.

The visitors went in at the break 2-0 up, before Cole Starrs’ hat-trick had Motherwell temporarily ahead midway through the second half.

But Kilmarnock turned it round to reclaim the lead, equalising instantly and then claiming the winner with five minutes left.

Charles Dunne made a return from a long injury lay-off, partnering Yusuf Hussain in defence as he stepped up his recovery.

It took just over half an hour for a team to make the breakthrough and it was the visitors who got in front. After PJ Morrison brilliantly saved an initial header from close range, he was unable to keep out the rebound.

Ten minutes later, Kilmarnock were 2-0 ahead from the penalty spot. Morrison guessed the right way but couldn’t keep a thunderous effort out.

With 12 minutes gone in the second half, Motherwell were given a penalty of their own as Kilmarnock went down to 10 men. Starrs saw his initial spot kick saved, but was on hand to turn in the rebound.

Minutes later, he had another shot at a penalty. Substitute O’Donnell was taken out in the box by the visiting goalkeeper, with Starrs stepping up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and level the match.

Then, with 20 minutes left to play, he had his hat-trick. Trialist’s sweeping cross to the back post was met by the onrushing striker, who was able to slip the ball home.

The lead would last just over 60 seconds. A break down the wing saw Motherwell fail to clear their lines, leaving Kilmarnock with a close-range tap-in.

But an even bigger chance would present itself with five minutes to go. An attempted back pass to Morrison was placed without seeing where he had positioned himself and, with the ball going past the goalkeeper, Kilmarnock were able to race in and finish into an empty net.