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Motherwell’s reserve side return to action on Monday, 8 April when they host Aberdeen in the league.

Kick off at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie is at 2pm.

Maurice Ross’ side remain in title contention in the SPFL Reserve League, sitting two points behind joint leaders Hibernian and Celtic.

Motherwell lost out in the SPFL Reserve Cup final at Tynecastle, with two second half goals consigning them to defeat against Hearts.

Strikes from Lewis Moore and Calumn Morrison did the damage against a young visiting squad, which featured a host of 17-year-old players.

Coach Maurice Ross said that inexperience showed on the night in Gorgie.

“We had a very young side out there,” he said. “Essentially an Under 18s squad with some first team players.

“So the achievement in some respects was just getting to the final.

“Hearts looked stronger, more streetwise and more mature in their play. We looked naive, but that’s alright.

“They’re young, they are going to be naive and make mistakes.

“The boys deserve credit for getting to the final. They just came up short. I feel sorry for them, but they will and get better for this.”

An even first half saw Jamie Semple have a handful of long-range efforts, but neither keeper was seriously tested as both teams went in level at the break.

But as Motherwell looked to increase their urgency going forward, Hearts got their opener early in the second half. With the ball bouncing in the box, Moore stole in the hammer home from close range.

Midway through the second half, the killer blow was struck. A low cross from the left saw Morrison run from right to left in the box onto the ball, firing past Rohan Ferguson to seal the result.

Motherwell: Ferguson, Donnelly, Devine, Hussain (McDonald), Livingstone, McAlear, Semple, Cornelius, Rehman (Watson), McKinstry, Johnson (Starrs).

Subs not used: Hemfrey, J Brown, Bowers.

Shea Gordon made his long-awaited return to action at the weekend, as his Partick Thistle side picked up a vital three points against Morton at Cappielow.

The midfielder missed almost eight months after picking up a quad injury against Celtic back in August, but was named in the starting line-up by Gary Caldwell. Steven Anderson and a double from Kris Doolan gave the Jags the win, moving them out the bottom two in the process.

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair netted his first for his new club, but it would ultimately end in disappointment as 10-man Crewe Alexandra would lose 3-1 at home to Cheltenham.

The ‘Well defender put his side in front, brushing past Jordan Tillson on the edge of the box before driving a low across keeper Scott Flinders in the visiting goal. However, an equaliser from Kevin Dawson and second half goals from Billy Waters and Luke Varney ensured a disappointing loss for the Railwaymen.

Scotland Under 21 international Barry Maguire was a starter for Queen of the South as they secured an impressive and important win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

Stephen Dobbie had given Queens the lead from the spot, before Livi-bound Lyndon Dykes doubled their lead five minutes later. United did pull one back through Nicky Clark, but Maguire and company held on for the win.

Peter Morrison was again named in goals for Albion Rovers, who incredibly got themselves off the bottom of the table during the week with their third successive win. However, the wee Rovers couldn’t make it four on the bounce when they lost 1-0 at home to Clyde. Martin McNiff’s goal 11 minutes from time separated the sides.

George Newell missed that Rovers game through injury, whilst Broque Watson and Neil McLaughlin didn’t feature for East Fife and Stirling Albion respectively.

Motherwell go for silverware in the Reserve League Cup final against Heart of Midlothian on Monday, 1 April.

Kick off is at 7pm and tickets can be purchased now online.

You can also buy from the ticket office at Tynecastle on the night.

Entry for adults will cost £5, with over 65s and under 18s paying £2. Under 16s can get in for free.

Maurice Ross’ side topped their group, defeating Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Queen of the South and Greenock Morton to finish with a 100% record.

St Johnstone were then overcome by the youngsters in the semi-final, setting up the final clash with the Gorgie side.

Adam Livingstone has signed a new contract with the club.

The youth academy product, who made his debut for his boyhood heroes back in May 2017, has extended his deal until the summer of 2020.

The 21-year-old left back has gone on to make a further three appearances to date and manager Stephen Robinson hopes 2019/20 will be his breakthrough season.

“Adam is a player with a lot of raw talent and potential,” he said.

“We’ve asked a lot of him in terms of his football on and off the park, and to his credit, he has embraced that and deserves his new deal.

“It’s now up to him to make that left back position his own, the same way Allan Campbell, David Turnbull and Jake Hastie have cemented their spot in the team. I certainly believe he has it in him.”

Livingstone spent a short spell on loan at League One side East Fife last season and is looking forward to the challenge of joining his fellow youngsters in the Fir Park first team.

“I am delighted to have extended my contract at a club,” he said.

“The manager has been great with me. He’s been very clear about what I need to do and has even taken his own personal time to try and help improve my game.

“I am desperate to be a success here, My family and I have all been lifelong supporters of the club, and all my focus is now establishing myself.”

The reserves made it back-to-back wins with a comfortable 4-1 victory over St Mirren.

Liam Donnelly and the returning Chris Cadden were the notable inclusions in the ‘Well starting XI.

Scotland international Cadden was playing his first Motherwell match for four and a half months, having been sidelined with a knee injury.

The young Steelmen got off to the best possible start when David Devine opened the scoring after just 85 seconds.

Jamie Semple’s near post corner was met perfectly from the big centre back, and his downward header across the goalkeeper found the back of the net.

The visitors were dominating and added a second just 17 minutes later.

Semple’s free-kick towards the penalty spot was only partially cleared and when it dropped for Cadden on the edge of the box, he unleashed an unstoppable volley past David Wilson and into the net.

Motherwell continued to push for a third before the interval.

Semple had a free-kick in a good area that sailed over the cross bar, Broque Watson brought about a smart save from Wilson with a low shot from inside the box and Donnelly fired over at the back post after good build-up play and cross from Adam Livingstone.

The second half was a similar story to the first, with ‘Well dominating much of the proceedings.

Watson had the first effort of the second half, connecting with a back-post header that was comfortable for Wilson to catch.

Shaun Bowers was introduced on the hour, in place of Cadden, and he almost got amongst the goals himself, finishing off a superb passing manoeuvre, only to see his close range shot well stopped by the Buddies keeper.

However, it was only a matter of time before a third goal arrived and when it did, it was a deserved one for the excellent Jamie Semple, who got himself on the scoresheet with a sweet low strike from the edge of the area.

Akeal Rehman came close to a fourth shortly after, cutting inside on his left foot, but Wilson was on hand to turn his low shot around for a corner.

‘Well introduced two 16-year-olds from the bench, with Jack Brown replacing David Devine and Liam Motherwell making his first bow for the reserves, taking the place of Kyle MacDonald.

The only blotch on the copybook for the visitors was a Saints goal five minutes from time. Matthew Grant forced the error inside the Motherwell box, before squaring it for the unmarked Josh Jack, with the sub having the simplest of tasks to tuck home.

However, there was no danger of a comeback and just to make sure, Liam Donnelly added an exclamation point with a fourth on the stroke of full time. Semple had been brought down on the edge of the area, allowing the former Northern Ireland Under 21 captain to step up and curl home a stunning strike to make the points safe.

Motherwell: Ferguson, Donnelly, Devine (Brown), Hussain, Livingstone, MacDonald (Motherwell), Cadden (Bowers), Watson, Rehman, Semple, Starrs

Subs Not Used: Hemfrey

With a week to go until their SPFL Reserve Cup final, Motherwell are on league duty on Monday.

Maurice Ross’ team travel to face St Mirren at the Ralston Training Complex. Kick-off is at 2pm.

Maurice Ross believes the reserves are playing at a level that makes them an attracting proposition for supporters to come and watch.

The second string came from behind to defeat Kilmarnock 2-1 on Monday, with the coach pleased the team didn’t let going a goal behind affect them.

“I would pay to watch the players play like they did today,” said Ross. “But they are now showing it every week.

“If your principles are to score goals and contain teams, but you go one down, do those principles change? They don’t, and they didn’t.

“We keep harping on at them. We’ve got a way of playing we think is right, and to me we are seeing that every single week.

“The game was played with a level of quality and, for me, that’s great.”

Carl McHugh, Elliott Frear, Conor Sammon and Danny Johnson all started for the second string, with Johnson on target along with Jamie Semple.

Motherwell controlled possession throughout the match, but struggled to carve out scoring chances in the opening 45.

Then, early in the second half, they fell behind as Danny Higgins rifled the ball into the top left corner of the net, after Rohan Ferguson had come out far to try and catch a cross under pressure and lost it.

The goalkeeper made up quickly after, saving Ally McDonald’s penalty.

That proved the catalyst, and soon James Scott turned provider for Johnson, who lifted an effort from the edge of the area over goalkeeper Devlin Mackay and into the net.

Within a minute, Semple saw his opportunity 25 yards from goal and saw a fierce long-range effort beat the goalkeeper and put the hosts ahead.

A number of young academy graduates lined up alongside more experienced heads, and Ross says their progression is clear to see.

“We have boys at 17 years old who are playing like they are 21,” he said.

“With their mums and dads, and others, watching on, I hope it shows the progress they are making.”

Motherwell’s reserve side are in league action on Monday, as they host Kilmarnock.

Kick off at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie is at 2pm. Entry is free.

Four Motherwell loanees were in action over the weekend, as the season races towards its close.

Broque Watson got over an hour as East Fife travelled to Arbroath, in an important game in their hopes of taking a play-off spot.

In the end, league leaders Arbroath prevailed 2-1, but Watson’s side remain in the top four.

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair enjoyed a more productive weekend, getting half an hour as Crewe Alexandra ran out emphatic 6-1 winners over Crawley Town.

The left back came on with the Railwaymen already 5-1 up, but played his part as they kept their faint play-off hopes alive.

Elsewhere, Neil McLaughlin played the first hour in Stirling Albion’s 3-1 loss to Clyde, leaving them now 13 points off the play-offs with just seven games to go.

Shea Gordon meanwhile was an unused sub for Partick Thistle, as they drew 1-1 at Falkirk in their basement battle. The result leaves them in ninth spot, a point behind the Bairns.