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Motherwell are in SPFL Reserve League action on Monday, with Queen of the South the visitors.

Maurice Ross’ side are at Broadwood Stadium. Kick-off is at 2pm.

Motherwell came from behind to claim victory in the SPFL Reserve League at Kilmarnock on Monday.

Goals from Jamie Semple and James Scott, cancelling out Rory McDonald’s early free kick, gave all three points to the visitors.

Several first-team squad members featured at Rugby Park, with Richard Tait, Barry Maguire, Christian Ilic and Christy Manzinga joining the goal scorers.

But it would be the hosts who would take the early advantage, after Scott was ruled to have fouled his man 20 yards from goal.

McDonald stepped up and curled home to give Kilmarnock the lead.

Kilmarnock were to be thwarted by PJ Morrison and Jack Brown as they pushed close to extending their lead, but had to settle for a 1-0 half-time advantage.

Motherwell came out the stronger and, shortly after Scott hit the crossbar with a header, Semple restored parity.

His quick free-kick was out to Manzinga on the left-hand side. The forward then returned the pass to Semple on the edge of the box, who curled his shot past the dive of the Kilmarnock ‘keeper and into the net with 62 minutes played.

Four minutes later, Motherwell were ahead.

Morrison’s long ball forward wasn’t dealt with by the defender, allowing Scott to nick in and chip the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. He then collected the ball on the other side, before knocking the ball in.

Kilmarnock then went close late on as they chased an equaliser, but Motherwell held on to get a win under their belt.

Motherwell: Morrison, Tait, Hussain, Devine, Brown, Maguire, Cornelius, Semple, Ilic, Scott, Manzinga.

Subs: Hemfrey, MacIver, Hale, Muir, Kettings, Trialist.

There’s a return to SPFL Reserve League action on Monday, as Motherwell travel to take on Kilmarnock.

Kick-off at Rugby Park is at 2pm. Entry is £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.

Motherwell and St Mirren played out a 2-2 draw at Broadwood on Monday in the SPFL Reserve League.

An experienced Steelmen side fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1, courtesy of a Christopher Long double.

However, an injury time leveller from a young Saints side meant Maurice Ross’ men had to be content with a share of the spoils.

Motherwell were able to call on several first team players with Bevis Mugabi, Mark O’Hara, Jamie Semple, Jermaine Hylton, Christian Ilic, Christy Manzinga and Christopher Long all named in the starting team. Saints’ notable names included Ethan Erhahon and Oan Djorkaeff.

It was a fairly uneventful first half, with the quality of the match negatively impacted by a swirling wind in Cumbernauld.

Finlay Gray had the first attempt of the match, his shot from distance forcing Peter Morrison to beat the ball away. At the other end, a Long shot trickled wide before Manzinga brought out a good save from David Wilson, who turned around his fizzing shot from a tight angle.

Both teams continued trade both possession and half chances, with Cameron Breadner again forcing a decent block from Morrison and Gray slicing a cutback inches wide of goal when he perhaps should have scored.

For ‘Well, Manzinga almost repeated his acrobatic effort against Gretna with a spectacular bicycle-kick attempt from just inside the box, but it was blocked en route.

Whilst the game lacked a cutting edge in the final third during the first half, Saints got their noses in front with the first attempt of the second period.

Motherwell failed to stop a deep cross from the left following a throw-in and substitute Jay Henderson got above Jack Brown to send an impressive header past Morrison.

To their credit, ‘Well responded in impressive fashion and equalised almost immediately.

Mark O’Hara’s searching diagonal ball found Manzinga in some space on the right-hand side of the penalty box. His low cross was inch-perfect for Long, who had time and space at the far post to slot home from close range.

That sparked ‘Well into action and Mugabi had a header from an Ilic corner go just over the crossbar, before Wilson denied Long his second after Manzinga neatly pulled it back and the former Evertonian youngster who fired low at goal.

The hosts were starting to dominate the game and almost scored a terrific counter-attacking goal when Hylton started and almost finished in style, only for his outside-of-the-right-boot curler to go inches wide of target.

Saints’ efforts were hindered when Gray was ordered off for a second bookable offence, putting in a heavy tackle on Hylton after being cautioned in the first half for a pull on Manzinga.

With ten minutes left on the clock, it looked as if Long had won it for the home side, collecting a positive pass from sub Adam Kettings before thundering a 25-yard rocket past Wilson into the top corner.

However, in added-on time, a free kick into the area was fumbled by Morrison, allowing Carter Frew to prod the ball into an empty net to earn his side a point.

Motherwell: Morrison, Cornelius, Brown, Muir, Mugabi, O’Hara, Manzinga, Ilic (Kettings), Long, Hylton, Semple

Subs Not Used: Connolly, Starrs, MacIver, Trialist

A youthful Motherwell reserve side lost out 4-1 at Dundee United in the Reserve League on Monday.

Maurice Ross’ side acquitted themselves well but the experience in the ranks of the hosts ultimately told.

A double for Cammy Smith, and further goals for Louis Appere and Darren Watson, were enough to overcome the visitors, who netted at 3-0 through Jamie Semple’s long-range effort.

Motherwell took time to get into the game and were punished with 22 minutes on the clock. A headed clearance by Sam Muir didn’t have much distance, and Smith did well to crash a volley home from 20 yards.

Hale and Manzinga both had chances soon after, before the hosts doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark..

With calls for offside from the ‘Well defence, Appere got in behind and netted, despite PJ Morrison getting something on it.

MacIver and Manzinga again had chances in the first period before with the latter also had a succession of efforts kept out early in the second 45.

The striker had the ball in the net during a long spell of Motherwell dominance, but his steered effort from Cornelius’ shot came with him in an offside position.

United would get another on the counter against the run of play in the 58th minute. Smith found room and although his initial shot was saved, he turned in the rebound past Morrison.

The Steelmen got the goal their play deserved with 25 minutes remaining. Semple found room from 25 yards and crashed a shot off the crossbar and over the line.

Sensing the chance to get a foothold back in the game, Well continued to push. But they were to be undone on the counter when the trialist defender hauled down Watson in the area.

The substitute forward picked himself up to fire home the penalty with 10 minutes left.

Motherwell: Morrison, Cornelius, Muir, Trialist, Brown, Semple (McGuigan), Kettings, Hale, MacIver, Starrs (McSwegan), Manzinga.

Subs not used: Connolly.

Motherwell take on Dundee United in the SPFL Reserve League on Monday.

Kick off at St Andrew’s University is at 2pm.

PJ Morrison will spend another week with Cowdenbeath on an emergency loan.

The goalkeeper was in the SPFL’s team of the week after keeping a clean sheet in the 3-0 win at Queen’s Park last Saturday.

Cowdenbeath, who have won four on the bounce, host Albion Rovers on Saturday.

Diarmuid O’Carroll is Motherwell’s new Under 18s manager.

The 32-year-old replaces Darren O’Dea, who left for Celtic earlier this month.

As a player, O’Carroll started life at Celtic, but despite a loan to Ross County in 2007 and an Under 21 cap for the Republic of Ireland, he never made the breakthrough in the east end of Glasgow.

He spent a year at Morecambe and another at Airdrie, before signing a short-term deal with Valur in Iceland.

He returned to the UK in 2011 and spent the next seven years of his career in Northern Ireland, turning out for the likes of Glenavon, Cliftonville and Crusaders.

At almost all his clubs, Diarmuid has been involved in some element of coaching and it was whilst in Northern Ireland that he started his coaching education with the IFA, where he is now waiting to start his UEFA Pro Licence course.

Most recently, as well as been a UEFA B licence coach educator, O’Carroll has been working in Las Vegas.

“I’m really happy to be at Motherwell,” O’Carroll said: “I’m joining a great coaching staff and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“Once the opportunity arose, I knew it was one I wanted to take. This club has an exceptional pedigree of developing young talent, and I hope to play my part in helping the next generation come through.”

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson added: “Diarmuid is an excellent addition and we are very much looking forward to working with him.

“We conducted a robust process with the appointment, which included a practical session on the park with our players, and we are excited by what he can bring to the group.”

Jamie Semple netted a double as Motherwell defeated Dunfermline Athletic 2-0 in the SPFL Reserve League Cup.

The midfielder grabbed a goal in either half, as the Steelmen dominated the game at Broadwood Stadium to claim their second win in the group stage.

Maurice Ross again called upon a number of first team players. Trevor Carson, Bevis Mugabi, Barry Maguire, Casper Sloth and Mark O’Hara all featured, while Christy Manzinga also featured in attack.

After both sides traded possession in the opening exchanges, the hosts started to gain momentum halfway through the first half and took the lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Ross MacIver’s cross from the right was met by Semple in the box, bundling home to open the scoring.

Semple headed against the crossbar early on in the second half, with O’Hara and Manzinga also having chances to extend the lead.

Then, with five minutes remaining, the game was put to bed. Semple found space on the edge of the box and fired in, although the visiting keeper will feel aggrieved to have not kept it out.

Motherwell: Carson, Cornelius, Hussain, Mugabi, Brown, Maguire, O’Hara, Sloth, MacIver, Semple, Manzinga.

Subs: Connolly, Starrs, Williamson, Muir, Kettings.

Motherwell take on Dunfermline Athletic on Monday afternoon in the SPFL Reserve League Cup.

Maurice Ross’ side already have a victory in the competition this season, winning their first group match 4-1 against Greenock Morton.

Kick off at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld is at 2pm.