Motherwell U21s make Challenge Cup history by reaching last eight
The omens didn’t look good for Sligo Rovers before their Challenge Cup trip to Motherwell.
Their flight from Northern Ireland to Glasgow was cancelled on Friday night, forcing them to travel on the day of the game.
After touching down in Glasgow, they learned that there was to be a pitch inspection at Fir Park.
Unfortunately for Sligo and their 100 or so fans, the game went ahead as Motherwell made history by becoming the first colts side to reach the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup.
Goals from Jake Hastie and Christian Mbulu were enough to send Stephen Craigan’s Fir Park side through in front of 1,000 supporters.
“They have shown they can play against senior teams,” Craigan told Motherwell TV.
“I’m nothing but proud. They are a great team to work with. They frustrate the life out of me, but I probably frustrate the life out of them.
“It’s a great result for us.”
East Fife cause shock of day
St Mirren’s colts failed to follow the young Well into Tuesday’s quarter-final draw, losing 4-2 at home to Queen’s Park despite twice being ahead.
Midfielder Scott McLean scored twice for the League Two visitors, who had head coach Mark Roberts in official charge for the first time after a 1-0 league win last weekend against Clyde as caretaker.
Meanwhile, League One side East Fife caused the shock of the day by knocking out Championship outfit Queen of the South 2-0 thanks to goals from Kevin Smith and Anton Dowds.
It was a seventh win in a row for Darren Young’s side.
Dunfermline Athletic also stumbled to defeat at home to their part-time Championship rivals Alloa Athletic, with Alan Trouten’s goals either side of a Louis Longridge double taking the game to penalties.
Victory in the shootout ended a seven-game run without a win for Jim Goodwin’s side, who also drew 0-0 at East End Park in the league last month.
Two teams from the National League were taking part for the first time this season, but neither of the English sides will be in the quarter-finals after Sutton United lost to Bohemians.
The side sitting sixth in the League of Ireland edged out the team lying ninth in England’s fifth tier after a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw in Dublin.
Midfielder Davis Keillor-Dunn scored twice as Championship side Ross County defeated League One’s Montrose 3-1 in Dingwall.
THIRD-ROUND RESULTS
Bohemians 0-0 Sutton United (Bohemians win 4-3 on penalties)
Connah’s Quay Nomads v Coleraine (19:45 BST)
Dunfermline Athletic 2-2 Alloa Athletic (Alloa win 5-4 on penalties)
East Fife 2-0 Queen of the South
Motherwell Under-21 2-0 Sligo Rovers
St Mirren Under-21 2-4 Queen’s Park
Soccer News
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October 13, 2018 at 12:30PM
