Match Report

Motherwell secured the top spot to earn a place in the knock out stages of the Premier Sports League Cup. Queen of the South still had a chance if they defeated Airdrie and Annan somehow pulled off the impossible at Fir Park. However there was to be no fairy tale ending and Motherwell collected the 3 points to progress.

Annan however like their previous 3 matches in this section equipped themselves well for the challenge and it took a debut goal from Justin Amaluzor in the 39th minute and a strike early in the second half from Barry Maguire secured a 2-0 win.

Annan did however create some opportunities in the second half and it took a Liam Kelly’s penalty save in the 80th minute when the Motherwell keeper did well to save Moxon’s well placed Penalty kick .The save proved invaluable to deny the Galabankies from getting a foot back in the match. Further opportunities from Iain Anderson opened up as a last gasp tackle denied the Annan striker a goal.

It was however a game where Motherwell controlled the bulk possession but defensively Annan were well organized and deprived the home team opportunities with new signing Kevin van Veen having a couple of efforts well saved by Greg Fleming.

At the other end, a low ball across the face of goal presented a golden opportunity, but ‘Well were relieved to see it go right through untouched.

Then the breakthrough came with six minutes left in the half. Carroll got down the left and fed Woolery, who turned and flashed the ball across the face. The ball was behind Van Veen but he did enough to ensure it ended up in the path of Amaluzor, who stayed cool to fire in a goal on his debut.

Better would come for Motherwell early in the second half. Van Veen was again at the heart of things, receiving the ball on the left of the six-yard box. He steered the ball backwards into the path of the onrushing Maguire, who took the chance to fire low and hard into the net.

Callum Slattery Motherwell’s recent signing from Southampton made his home debut as time wore down but the game wasn’t done there.

Carroll was adjudged to have pulled down McCartney in the box, giving Annan a route back into the game from the spot. However the Motherwell keeper pulled of a good save and ensure his team finished with a clean sheet.